water changes

[SoCalSURFrider]

Just had a question..... So if my parameters are all ok and all the test are good... How long can I hold off to a water change? Its been 4 weeks since my last water change and still all test show very good results.... Dont know if I should do a water change just to do it OR can I hold off still? I dont have a RO/DI system yet so water changes can be very expensive....

 

[joeychitwood]

Water changes add trace elements (in the commerical salt mix) which are slowly depleted by the growing tank inhabitants, so even if your parameters are good, these elements must be replenished.

 

[cloak]

I've used tap water for 8 years. No problem. RO/DI isn't exactly the save all, end all.

It's all husbandry.

 

[MarcoPolo]

my experience with aquarium is that prevention is much easier to deal with vs. fixing problems. regular water changes are a good way to prevent issues down the road. even though your water quality might look good ... doing a water change will help ensure it stays that way. general rule of thumb is that water changes should be done at least every 4 weeks. you don't need to change much if your parameters are ok...but still change some (10-30%)

 

[goldenfamaliy]

I do a 7 gallon water change on my 75 gallon each week on saturday. The tank loves the change, and I like doing them. I wish I'd use tap water, but the phos in ours is way too high, and so are the nitrates.

 

[danielc316]

i've gone about 4 weeks also, but ran into trouble this past month. now i'm doing the changes like once a week or latest 2.

 

[frank2926]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13318325#post13318325 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cloak
I've used tap water for 8 years. No problem. RO/DI isn't exactly the save all, end all.

It's all husbandry.

That is not exactly something you should post in a beginner forum. Yes there are some places that have a good water supply and RODI is not needed, (it also couldn't hurt). Most places in this country DO not have a water supply that is clean enough to run a reef tank. Chloramines, phosphorus, and nitrates are not something you can remove with "husbandry".

 

[crvz]

4 weeks is about as long as I like to go between water changes, and I'd recommend one for you now. With a 200 gallon tank, I'd think the $150 for a simple RO/DI would be one of the top priorities.

 

[an411]

I think the more frequent the water change the better if you do them every week the better. I agree frank2926 RO/DI should be used unless you have some serious clean water where you are living and even then its still couldn't hurt to remove some impurities

 

[sqreef52]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by cloak
I've used tap water for 8 years. No problem. RO/DI isn't exactly the save all, end all.

It's all husbandry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

the joys of living in cali...the water definitely isn't as hard as some other places...i use tap too and haven't had any problems...

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

the water definitely isn't as hard as some other places

Hardness is not the concern with tap water. Copper and other contaminants are. Copper is known to totally vary house to house, so even more so than almost any other husbandry procedure, saying that it worked for one person (which it obviously does) has no bearing on whether it will work for others. Extensive studies by water companies and the EPA clearly show excessive copper in large numbers of homes, and the EPA limit is way higher than is OK for a reef tank.

I discuss tap water issues here:

Tap Water in Reef Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2004/chem.htm