Water Change Percentages?

[Dustin1300]

In another thread we've been discussing the salt most SPSers use: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17894695#post17894695

My question is how much water you change weekly? If not changing water do you use a nitrate reactor, etc. Please answer poll, outline percentage change, system volume, and load on tank

 

[Dustin1300]

I change out just shy of 10% currently. I have a system just below 90 gallons. My LiterMeter III does automatic water changes daily of 5 liters (~1.32 Gallons) which I dialed back from 8 Liters (2.11 Gallons) recently to see if I had noticed any large difference. The old percentage came around ~15% and felt like I was just flushing money down the drain and changing water too much.

 

[Nanook]

20% monthly.

 

[allsps40]

I think I do about 5-10% weekly, 5 gallons a week on a 50 gallon system.

 

[bazineta]

I have a Biocube 29, which, after volume taken by sand and rock, holds about 18 gallons, so I do a 2 gallon change weekly.

I used to procrastinate about this terribly, as mixing the water was a major chore, but since building a saltwater mixing station, it's practically effortless.

I do envy the folks with the LiterMeter-based auto-changing setups though; that's my new laziness target.

 

[Dustin1300]

I do envy the folks with the LiterMeter-based auto-changing setups though; that's my new laziness target.

I love having the LMIII for automatic water changes and is one of the best investments I've made. Takes a lot of maintenance out and gives me additional free time to focus on other maintenance in the aquarium.

 

[sullyfish]

I have a 30 gal rubbermaid that I fill 3/4 to top that goes in every saturday ( 300 gallon system ). My new w.c. system makes it easy, just two valves to operate and its done in 5 min.

 

[twiggyb]

I change 15g out of my 65, 5g out of my 30, 5g out of my 12 which is really only like 7, and 5g out of my 10 every monday.

 

[Dustin1300]

I have a 30 gal rubbermaid that I fill 3/4 to top that goes in every saturday ( 300 gallon system ). My new w.c. system makes it easy, just two valves to operate and its done in 5 min.

If I had the space with a fish room I'd use this method and use the LMIII for dosing something else to the tank but with what I have now I have to use the LMIII because it has great draw height. I'm looking for a house in spring and where the fish tank will be built is a high consideration in my mind. Maybe not in my wifes though

 

[Denadai]

I will do 10% each two weeks in my new reef

 

[Western_reefer]

25%(7 gallons) every week, or 100%(28 gallons) in a month. My tank is a 28 gallon HQI JBJ Nano. Its an SPS/LPS dominated tank.

 

[Waterobert]

I used to do 15-20% water changes weekly, however I found out that my system did as well with only 5-10%.

 

[Dustin1300]

I used to do 15-20% water changes weekly, however I found out that my system did as well with only 5-10%.

Exactly why I started the poll. I know that so many variables exist in this situation though because some have a light bioload of fish, others have a huge bioload because of hording the fish

I was doing about 16% water changes weekly and have dialed it back to 10% water changes. Things still look the same and I made this change about a month ago.

 

[anderson99]

I was doing about 16% water changes weekly and have dialed it back to 10% water changes. Things still look the same and I made this change about a month ago.

I am doing ~20% water change/week and I was just thinking the same thing. Will switch to 10% in the near future.

Dustin - PM sent

 

[phenom5]

I do around ~12% weekly. The largest section of my sump is 10g, so that's what I do for WC's on my 75g. Easy, doesn't take too long, but I'd love to have a LMIII.

 

[Dustin1300]

I am doing ~20% water change/week and I was just thinking the same thing. Will switch to 10% in the near future.

Dustin - PM sent

Sent you a PM. Let me know if you need any further clarifications

 

[Dustin1300]

Lets keep the polls open. Want a sample size of at least ~100

 

[EvMiBo]

5g/week on 50g display + 10-15g sump, roughly 10%. Every 6-9 days.

 

[Western_reefer]

Exactly why I started the poll. I know that so many variables exist in this situation though because some have a light bioload of fish, others have a huge bioload because of hording the fish

I was doing about 16% water changes weekly and have dialed it back to 10% water changes. Things still look the same and I made this change about a month ago.

I don't have a large bioload at all.....yet lol, all I've got in terms of inverts/fish right now are: 1 Damsel, a few snails, and 2 large Cleaner Shrimp. lol

 

[Dustin1300]

I don't have a large bioload at all.....yet lol, all I've got in terms of inverts/fish right now are: 1 Damsel, a few snails, and 2 large Cleaner Shrimp. lol

The real bioload you have here is just the one fish. I would not even consider the inverts