Water changes...larger systems

BIGG D

BIGG D

New member
Hey everyone! Looking for a little advice.

I stepped up to a larger system a few months ago. 175 bowfront tank with about a 150 gallons in sump/fuge volume. With my smaller tank (75) I was accustom to doing 20% water changes every other week and I believe regular water changes to be the single most important practice in keeping a successful system.
That being said...doing water changes of this magnitude really sucks! Both the task and the expence of doing this every other week is begginning to take the fun out of this deal. I am working on some plans to get this a little more automated which will make the task easier, but will only add to the expense.

So...

*Does anyone stretch this out to maybe a monthly task?
*If so...do you dose anything.

I have heard of folks that dont do water changes at ALL.
I dont have the "coconuts" for that just yet, but there must be a way to extend this out and still maintain a successful system.

Thanks all!
 
just posted in another thread about almost this very thing, but there are a couple factors to these questions. What kind of bio-load do you have? How much live rock and sand do you have?
.. To be honest, (dont tell anyone) I go through my busy times (can you say lazy?), and I have seen no ill effects with going a month without a water change, but I try to do a garbagecan full of fresh saltwater every week or two as much as possible. I actually got a system worked out so that its not a big hastle, so I have been doing pretty good. As long as I have water made up, it takes only about 10 or 15 minits to do the change. I drain 2 tubs out of my display tank, and that leaves enough water in my sump to leave my pumps running. bring my new water to my tank, by pulling the rubbemade can full of water next to my tank. Drop a powerhead into the new water, hook a hose to the powerhead, and pump it into the sump.
... Yes you can go without a water change for a while, perhaps you can do without, but I just had to try to find a way to do it that would work for me. Everyones system is different, and what is working for me, might not work for the next person.
... As for dosing, it would depend on what your system consumes. If you have it packed with corrals and fish, you may have to add calcium or whatever, but testing would be the smart way to check this anyway... IMHO
 
Thanks Harley,
Yeah...I see the other thread, but is more aimed at "how do you do water changes" rather than addressing the schedule and the chemistry.

As far as my bio-load goes, right now its pretty light. But I intend to go heavy.

Dosing. I understand dosing calcium, Mg, Alk and keeping PH buffered, but I didnt know if there were other "elements" reefers dose to keep the system healthy with out a regular water change.

Good point about rock and sand

My current set up...
* 175 DISPLAY
* 100 GALLON RUBBERMAID SUMP (2 70 GAL STOCK TANKS)
* ASM G-5 SKIMMER (2 SEDRA 9000'S) rated for like a 700 gallon tank!
* 200lb LR

In the works...
* 58 gallon dedicated refugium with DSB.

I hope the addition of this large refugium can put me on track to less frequent water changes. Whadayathink???

...and I hope to acheive a more automated set up like you have!

Thanks for the input brother!
 
I have a 200 gallon and do a 50 gallon water change once a month. I have a Large Chevron, Med. Imperator, Small Queen, Flame Angel, Mandarin, Clownfish, CBB Buttlerfly, and loaded with Frogspawn, some Candy Cane, and softies.
 
65G weekly in a 350 DT with 150G in (2) sumps. Also plumbed into the system is a 30G frag tank. Heavy bioload. Though it is likely unnecessary, I add iodine and strontium with my water changes, adding it to the new saltwater.
 
I have a twv system of roughlly 1300 gallons. I have two 105 gallon cylinders I use for water changes, basically one is inline the other is new saltwater. To do a water change I simply close one ball valve and open the other and 100 gallon water change is done. That being said I do get lazy. I went several months with no water changes and saw very negative results. High nitrate levels for one. I am now in the process of doing many water changes to try and bring down the nitrates and replenish any trace elements I may have lost. 100 g water change sounds large but when you are dealing with a 1300g system it's just a drop in the bucket. So I feel your pain.
 
I think w/c are definitely beneficial, if you don't change too much to prevent stress. I do a 10% w/c bi-weekly.
I also see it as an opportunity to give my whole tank an extra clean ;)

Leonardo
 
I just started my 180 gallon and I plan on doing more frequent, but smaller water changes as I go along and adjust accordingly.

I'm thinking about 5% to 10% weekly since my 65G reef is on a weekly schedule, I will make enough water for both water changes and take care of it at that time.

I strongly believe that there are benefits of doing smaller more frequent water changes than one major change at a time for the sake of stability.

I hope this helps.
 
Hmm...
I had not really considered a schedule of small weekly or daily water changes. Whatever the schedule sounds like some type of automation is part of everyones build. I mean, nobody has chimed in telling me they haul orange buckets back and forth every weekend.

Surprisingly have not heard much from the other end of the schedule. Who else is draggin this out to 30 days

Whose not doing them at all? What is your dosing schedule?

I know your out there!
 
No buckets for me. I have two 30 gallon brute trash, one with the clean salt water going in the tank and an empty brute can for the water change - water coming out.

I have not lifted a single bucket in about a year. :)
 
Why?

Why?

A very wise mentor of mine in the hobby observed that we ask our livestock to live in their own sewer... the least we can do is flush it once a week...

When I do my water changes, I always remember the above...

LL
 
BIGG D said:
Hmm...
I had not really considered a schedule of small weekly or daily water changes. Whatever the schedule sounds like some type of automation is part of everyones build. I mean, nobody has chimed in telling me they haul orange buckets back and forth every weekend.

Surprisingly have not heard much from the other end of the schedule. Who else is draggin this out to 30 days

Whose not doing them at all? What is your dosing schedule?

I know your out there!
Click to expand...

I think the issue with waiting so long is the magnitude of the changes. For me, 40-50g per week is a heck of a lot better than 150-200g all at once.

As far as the necessity of doing them, I think its very important to do them especially in a large tank.

A large tank can initially go a lot longer without one. However, if you ever find yourself needing one, you are in a much bigger pickle. In other words, if you let things get out of whack in a large tank, there is no quick fix to bring you back.

If things get hairy in a small tank, you could do a 100% water change no problem.
 
Lightsluvr said:
A very wise mentor of mine in the hobby observed that we ask our livestock to live in their own sewer... the least we can do is flush it once a week...

When I do my water changes, I always remember the above...

LL
Click to expand...


Your friend is wise indeed.
 
The one good piece of advice is that the easier you make your water change routine the more likely you are to actually do it :) The more automation the better. On my new tank with a basement sump I just have to turn two valves and a 60G water change is done in about 5-10 minutes.

Mike
 
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