Manuel Martinez
New member
My last water change was about three months ago, and all my water parameter are perfect. Why would I need to do a water change?
Why would I need to do a water change?
- Thread starter Manuel Martinez
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ludnix
New member
To replace any elements that might have been used up since the last water change. When you say your parameters are perfect, does this include tests of magnesium, alkalinity, and calcium? If you think everything has been tested and is in appropriate levels you may have no reason to do a water change. Most of us however have no way of testing trace elements and such a water change is an easy way to be sure we are replacing them.
Manuel Martinez
New member
Ludnix
Alkalinity, Calcium, N2, N3, Ph, Ph and Phos are on the correct level. I'm no sure about Magnesium, but I'm using S-Plus to add magnesium.
Alkalinity, Calcium, N2, N3, Ph, Ph and Phos are on the correct level. I'm no sure about Magnesium, but I'm using S-Plus to add magnesium.
HiJacK
New member
Re: Why would I need to do a water change?
How is this possible? What are you stocking? If it was possible to do w/c every 3 mo's or so I would do it also, but don't want to risk killing anything.
When I had my freshwater setup, I was able to get by without doing w/c for 3 mo's.
How is this possible? What are you stocking? If it was possible to do w/c every 3 mo's or so I would do it also, but don't want to risk killing anything.
When I had my freshwater setup, I was able to get by without doing w/c for 3 mo's.
Manuel Martinez
New member
I have about 90 pounds of live rock, 6 inch sand bed and large refugium.
pledosophy
Active member
I don't have to do water changes on all of my systems. I do dose to replace things that are used. So far so good. There are many threads on the subject. Some people are more succsessful then others in not doing water changes. If your stock is on the low side, your natural filtration on the high side, and your not keeping certain corals, it's not that bad of a course to take IMO.
I do have to do water changes on my mixed reef to keep things happy.
JME
I do have to do water changes on my mixed reef to keep things happy.
JME
pledosophy
Active member
Check the link for another thread about it and a description of my very infrequent water change tank.
HTH
HTH
scubasteve247
New member
i dont see the reason why you would not want to do one. even if you have more then adequate filtration. if you have a coral of any kind, or a fish of any kind. IMO it seems foolish to not do a water change. Our understanding of water chemistry has made leaps and bounds since i first started keeping saltwater aquariums as a child.
however there is still much to be learned about the chemical dynamics between fish and corals. And for this reason I highly encourage the regular partial water change.
however there is still much to be learned about the chemical dynamics between fish and corals. And for this reason I highly encourage the regular partial water change.
pledosophy
Active member
Some of us think it is foolish to do them when they are not needed, and of no benefit to the tank or it's inhabitants.
scubasteve247
New member
the solution to pollution is dilution. plain and simple
no tank is without pollution ie waste, lack of trace elements or improper ionic balance
sure our corals will grow, our fish will live in less the optimum conditions, but why settle for less with something we care so much for and invest so much in.
no tank is without pollution ie waste, lack of trace elements or improper ionic balance
sure our corals will grow, our fish will live in less the optimum conditions, but why settle for less with something we care so much for and invest so much in.
commonstranger
New member
I have to agree with scubasteve on this one. I dont mind doing the extra work and knowing Im doing the best I can to keep my tank healthy. I also look at it that if something does go wrong I can say I did everything I could to try and prevent it.
ludnix
New member
I can go quite a while without doing a water change in my system, but I noticed much better growth from my corals when I did weekly water changes. While testing nitrates, mag, calc would appear to be in proper levels but I can't deny that I see slowed growth when the water changes are infrequent.
Everyone has a different tank and there's more than one right way to do things in this hobby, if you don't see any ill effects from skipping water changes than there's little reason to worry about it.
Everyone has a different tank and there's more than one right way to do things in this hobby, if you don't see any ill effects from skipping water changes than there's little reason to worry about it.
greenbean36191
Premium Member
The simple answer is to regulate things that you can't test. Like other people have said, you help keep trace elements up, but it's also to reduce undesirable things you can't test for. Depending on what method you use to dose for calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium, you can elevate ions such as sodium (which you can't skim or filter out) and sulfate in the tank. Also, foods import lots of elements in very high levels as compared to NSW, often including heavy metals.
john rochon
New member
and the list goes on and on. every notice how your tank responds to a water change after an extended period of time.
things just look so much better. honestly, this is a silly question
things just look so much better. honestly, this is a silly question
