fishguy449
New member
Is it possible to change water too often or too much at one time? Would it depend on the conditions of the tank (stabilized, in trouble, etc.)?
Too Much Water Change?
- Thread starter fishguy449
- Start date
I wouldn't change more than 25% or so of the water at a time, so as to reduce any stress on the tank. In emergencies, some people recommend higher, but it would depend on the conditions, IMO. In general, a few smaller changes will do the job as well and be less stressful.
This article goes into the topic in some detail:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php
This article goes into the topic in some detail:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php
I agree. Any water change that brings organisms out of the water is very stressful. I'd avoid that except in emergencies, where even a 100% change may be the best option.
I like to change water daily so there are no sudden changes in water parameters. I change about 1% per day.
I like to change water daily so there are no sudden changes in water parameters. I change about 1% per day.
fishguy449
New member
I have a 10g nanoreef that was doing great until I decided that I didn't like all the macro algae (caulpera prolifera, green algae, cheato, grape, and a brown "shelf-type). So I decided to clean about 1/2 of it out. Must have knocked the balance out of whack - was doing great for about 4 years. First I lost a CB shrimp and a astrea snail. Then a newly acquired neon blue striped crab. Corals are shrinking, especially trumpet, although colored polyps are recovering. Started doing 20% water changes every 4 days or so. Maybe I should just let it recover on it's own?
Maybe the phosphate is now high? Ammonia from stressed things? You might measure those.
Maybe run carbon if you released any toxins in the pruning.
Maybe run carbon if you released any toxins in the pruning.
fishguy449
New member
Phospate tested <0.1. I loaned my NH3 test kit to some students that are cycling tanks at the school where I teach. I'll have to test for that tomorrow.
If it were my tank, and didn't know what the trouble was (if any), I'd be doing some small daily water changes. 1-5% types.
fishguy449
New member
Tested 0 on NH3. Have begun the small water changes. Thinking about bringing a cup full of substrate from my 75g reef into the nano to maybe help out.
How are the corals looking?
fishguy449
New member
All button polyps are looking as they were. 2 toadstool frags are good. Long polyp encrusted gorgonian doing great (seems hard to phase that one anyway). Zoos are open, although not as much as I've seen before. THe only one that worries me is the candycane. It seems to be going thru this phase where a couple of the polyps will shrink down until the "stripes" are erect and protruding. Then they will come back somewhat. THen a couple of other heads will go thru the same phase. It worries me because they are usually so full that it looks like a head of cauliflower. Oh yeah, I have a droopy Kenya tree frag, but it's always drooped, evere since I had it.
Does the expansion of the candycane have any correlation to the water changes you were doing?
fishguy449
New member
I can't say for sure. There was a time when I thought so. But then I went with no water change for a few days and a few of the canes came back and a couple other shrunk. Is it possible it is due to flow? I've directed a microjet towards it although I see now that only a moderate rate of flow is suggested. I'm going to move the jet and see what happenns.
Could be all kinds of things. Lighting, flow, being irritated by tank organisms (fish, crabs, etc), water chemistry, etc. Moving the powerhead away sounds like a good thing to try.
