water change frequency for a fowlr with biopellets

[rwb500]

Imagine a good size (~200g) fowlr tank, heavily fed. the tank has a lot of lice rock and a big skimmer. An appropriate amount of biopellets are used to keep nitrates near zero. phosphates are also regulated with gfo, chaeto, or even adding some nitrate to make the bacteria use up more phosphate. alk, mag, and ca are kept within reason via additives.

are water changes necessary on a system like this? Im sure people are doing tanks like this, i just cant find any.

thanks.

 

[rwb500]

the discussion over in the fowlr section actually got going pretty good:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19263287&posted=1#post19263287

i would say that my question has pretty much been solved, but if you want to add something its probably best to do it over there. i am still interested in how sensitive fish are to the little things we cannot test for. obviously fish, with all of their regulatory organs, are less sensitive to a lot of the little changes that can bother/kill coral.

 

[Big E]

If you want to have your fish live & thrive for 15-20 years, like they should, do water changes.
How much & how often should be based on your fish load.

Bio pellets, skimmers, ect. help take out certain wastes & elements, but don't replace what water changes can do.

 

[rwb500]

thanks, thats basically what i realized over in the other topic. good to hear someone else confirming it though.

 

[Big E]

One thing to keep in mind.................water changes aren't always about dillution & removing waste. They also replenish what is being used up or taken out of the water...........most people seem to ignore this important aspect.

Skimmers & some other waste extractors are indiscrimmate & take good things out too.