water changes

R

ruarox

New member
what is the standard % for water changes and do you base it on tank size or actual amount of water in system(minus volume due to live rock/sand) thanks i have been doing 20-30g every other week
 
A good number is 10% weekly based upon total water volume. Sometimes I'll do a bit more than 10%, but it's a good starting point. ;)
 
I have a pretty heavily stocked tank and live by the "dilution is the solution to pollution" philosophy, so I do 10 gallons 2x week on my 90 gallon, based on the "perfect water change schedule" article I read on wetwebmedia.com. It's a bit more than I probably need to do, but its convenient amount for me with the system I have and I love the results. With a 125 you ought to try doing at least a few gallons 2X/week. With a few basic tools (bucket, powerhead, some vinyl tubing) you can get into a rythm that makes it quite easy. The improvement in color and growth you'll see is good motivation as well.
 
I do approx. 10 gallons a week on a 28g bow with 30g sump. Like he said, once you get into the hang of it, it takes no time. I think I did mine today in 30 mins, and that includes heating the new water and cleaning out the sump return area of debris.
 
For my system, 13 gallons a week seems to keep the parameters steady enough that I don't have to use any additives whatsoever.
 
The water change is the one place where "small and steady" isn't necessarily the best. Provided that you match the temperature, salinity, O2 content, etc with your new water, you remove more waste by doing a large change less frequently.

I personally try to do 10 gallons each week in my 75gal, but if I miss a week or two, I don't panic.
 
the thing with water changes is that if you do a 10% to 15% water change then you only take out 10% to 15% of the waste...so doing frequent water changes you will be able to "dilute" the waste before they can build up again as opposed to larger water changes less frequently where they have a chance to build up
this happened in my 12 gal i did large water changes less frequently and the nitrates went through the roof...over 300ppm
but now on my 30 i do frequent water changes and nitrates are at zero
 
i have had my 200 gallon tank for 2 years now. i change my water once a month about 30 gallons. i take 30 out and put usally about 40 back becasue of evaporation. i have about dozen healthy fish and my levels are perfect 0 nitraits. my water is 79 degrees and 1013 salinity. you will get 100 diff. opinons but go with the one opinon whos fish are never sick:)

just like i was taught by an old timer, always take money advice from someone whos do finacially well!!, you wouldnt take money advice from the poor guy?
 
One of the tings with your advice tony45power is that many people can keep their tanks working great by doing either small changes once a week or larger changes once a month. Technically their is no one best way. Learning is a trial and error process take all the advice weigh it out then see what works for you. All tanks though basically the same have different content and people, animals, and plants have different habits. Some people like to feed a bit too much and some fish are messy eaters. All things taken into account you have to try and see what works. It may be small changes once or twice a week or large changes once a month, the key is to test and see how everything looks physically. Then get into a routine.
 
I'm gonna hear it for this but here goes...

I had a 90 gallon and did frequent water changes - 8 gallons once a week. After a couple of years, an accident with the 90 took me to a 75. I then got into summer boating, and a coming child and my regular maintenance slowed to just adding water to keep up with evaporation and cleaning out the skimmer collection cup.

For almost a year I did no water changes... just added water to top off the tank. I didn't feed. Low bio load of a Maroon Clown, Flame Angel, Bubble Tip Anemone, Digitata, Ricordia, mushrooms, and green star polyps, as well as some snails and a couple of hermits.

Becuase of the neglect to the tank, I started about two weeks ago to syphon out the crud in the tank along with massive amounts of hair algae. I did two 8 gallon water changes in 5 days, and took readings last night. Nitrate/Nitrite/Amonia were all zero, and pH was 8.2.

Even as I write this I'm amazed at the fact that the tank didn't crash, and even better yet that I came out with fantastic readings for my chem tests after two small water changes. :eek1:

I'm not advocating not doing water changes, but I really have to question how often they need to be done if I can go a year without really doing much at all. Granted I didn't get massive coral growth, and in one instance a coral died becuase it was smothered by algae. With better flow, and better skimming, I'm sure algae would have been keep to a minium...

Needless to say, I won't be trying to break records for not touching a saltwater tank. I've begun the long road to recovery... new lights, soon a new skimmer, and yes... regular weekly (or two) water changes of 8 gallons.
 
Kpyto

I have to actually say very interesting and cool to what you have to say. A fact to a system is that all things being equal it should technically be able to run for extended ammounts of time with minimal input.

The oceans work on their own, conscidering the size the bioload is small. The rivers top them off with fresh water and though food is produced by plant life and the sand filters the system.

Being in at a disadvantage of having tiny systems compared to real life we do have to do extra work to keep the systems clean and healthy but if the bioload is very small and having proper bacteria in a DSB a good ammount of live rock a skimmer and some plantlife a tank could technically never be touched, except in the case of topoffs and breakdowns.

I am sure some people will knock this idea to pices but you have given pretty good proof that it can be done. Congratulations on your system surviving and your upcoming child.
 
Thanks nightshade...

Actually, this tank is a Bare Bottom tank, but it does about about 105 lbs of live rock. But like you said, a small bio load was probably the key.
 
ok...so water change, with salt added to match salinity -- but do you have to heat the water? Do you add "Prime" to the RO/DI water?
 
Make sure the water temp is the same as the display. Make sure the slainity, PH and Alk is the same also. I don't add anything else to the water. Let it mix for a while before adding. I usually let it mix overnight before the change. I do 5 gal. weekly in my 54.
 
I add nothing to my RO/DI water - just salt to match tank salinity, and I also heat the water to the same temp as the tank. Definately wait overnight for the salt to mix in really good before doing the water change.
 
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