question on water change

[laredo300c]

ok so i have a 55gallon reef sumpless, and i do a 2 gallon water change every five days which adds up to about 12 gallons a month (20% or so)....would you guys recommend doing 12 gallons, once a month or just the way i have been doing the water changes, and is there a difference....i have been battling green hair aglae and just cannot get rid of it.

 

[Denbf58]

are you using ro/di water for your changes . what are your prams

 

[Mariner]

All things being equal, you'll export more nutrient/waste by changing a larger water volume less often. In other words, a 12 gallon change every four weeks will take out more gunk than a 3 gallon change once per week for four weeks. That being said, a larger water change is more shocking to your inhabitants; so although you take out more waste, you have to balance the benefit of that against possible short term stress to fish and corals.
Personally, I normally change 10% per week, more if I'm starting to have an algae problem. I'd recommend this in your case.
I'd also look into starting a refugium with macro algae for nutrient export if you don't have one going already.
HTH,
Mariner

 

[WaterKeeper]

How long has your tank been up and running Laredo?

 

[laredo300c]

it's been up and running for 3 years never lost a fish and have build up my reef in the last 14 months buying manageable corals carefully ....i'm reading tonite on how to post pics cause i hate posting without pics.....not using ro water have always used distilled water from corner windmill water service station.....never had algae up untill 6 months ago

 

[WaterKeeper]

Do you run a phosphate reactor? Have a DSB?

 

[laredo300c]

ok for my 55gallon i have:
1 koralia #3
1 koralia #4
50 lbs of live rock
cpr bak pak skimmer
regular marineland hob filter running only carbon
nove extreme t5 (4x54w)
thats it

 

[spleify]

Have you ever tested the water you get from the corner store for PO4 and/or NO3? Do they ever change there filters.

I would also suggest trying to get a PO4 reactor and a refugium going.
I would also suggest you try doing larger water changes, like maybe 10% every week for a while until you get things under control.
I would definitely recommend testing the water you are using, and even more strongly recommend purchasing your own RO/DI unit.

HTH

Good luck

Spleify

 

[laredo300c]

just did a 6 gallon water change and i have been looking into purchasing a ro/do unit......which is a good one and how hard is it to install and maintain such unit...thanks

 

[Mariner]

Not much to an RO/DI system -- if I can hook one up, anyone can.
Melev has a good unit at a decent price, and a good Q&A explaining some of the basics. Other RC sponsors have good units as well (check the RC sponsors page). They all use about the same basic components. I bought mine used from a fellow reefer and found that I could order replacement filters from several different places for it.
HTH,
Mariner

 

[laredo300c]

wow that looks complicated...does not look simple at all...maybe it's just me...

 

[mnmsea]

I had hair algae. When I got a phosban reactor - it cleaned it up. I do not use RO water. I have well water and hope to avoid the whole RO thing also! Try the phosban reactor - not that expensive and I have it in my sump.

 

[laredo300c]

thanks how about for me , im sumpless what do you run in your phosban reactor

 

[Mariner]

loredo,
You can run Phosban in a bag in your hob filter. My 75g is sumpless and that's what I do. Works great.
As far as RO/DI goes, I went four years hauling RO water from a dispenser at Walmart. It worked fine, but I finally bit the bullet and got the RO/DI this year. It is SOOOOOOOO much more convenient, cheaper and the water quality is better too. Bite the bullet; you'll be glad you did.
Mariner