Water change

[Cjtabares]

I want to do bigger water change, but I don't have the room for the extra water. Right now I do 10% once a week. I was thinking of doing a 2% water change every day and then once a week still do the 10%. Would this be worth the extra work?

Thanks
Chris

 

[JasonandRay]

I have found every other day works the best. I do 2% every other day, and i would drop the 10% down to 5 or keep it at 10% and do that every other week. I can do a 2 gallon w.c. in less then 30 seconds once it became a habit

- Jason

 

[Cjtabares]

I read an article or saw a chart that showed why smaller but more frequent water changes weren't as good as large less frequent ones. I dont think it was a big difference in the size of water changes most of us do, but I was just looking for the article to read before I started doing this. Does anyone know the one I am talking about and where to find it?

 

[JayM]

It's pretty simple math. If you have pollutants or nutrient problems, lowering them by 2% doesn't help, but lowering them by 10% does

 

[DoctaQ]

there isnt much difference from 0-10% no matter how you break it up. i think this is the thread you are looking for
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

 

[dcforester1]

It's pretty simple math. If you have pollutants or nutrient problems, lowering them by 2% doesn't help, but lowering them by 10% does

Lowering them by 2% every other does add up. I talked to Randy about this, and he does constant water changes. I started doing them, but having acouple of issues. I dont know the science behind it, but I am going to try it, and see what happens.

Im going to be doing 1 1/2-2gal a day, out of 90gal system. I will keep you posted.

Derek

 

[Cjtabares]

there isnt much difference from 0-10% no matter how you break it up. i think this is the thread you are looking for
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

ok i dont think this is the one a read, but i think this one has a lot more information. Thank a lot

 

[stingythingy45]

Wow 10% a week?
I must be lazy,I do 10% bi monthly.lol
But,on occasion I will do a change monthly.
I have no nitrate or phosphate issues and the corals thrive and the color is quite good.

 

[pesto]

I do a 20% water change once a month. All parameters are great! Can't understand why you would want to take on that added work . . . unless you have water parameter issues.

 

[Cjtabares]

After looking at charts like the one in the link above, I would think a smaller more frequent water change would be better on the system. The diffrence in the removel of impurities is only around 1%. That is not that much diffrence and I would think all your parameters would stay more stable. With the 2 gallon water chage I would also be adding suplements back into the water.

 

[stingythingy45]

After looking at charts like the one in the link above, I would think a smaller more frequent water change would be better on the system. The diffrence in the removel of impurities is only around 1%. That is not that much diffrence and I would think all your parameters would stay more stable. With the 2 gallon water chage I would also be adding suplements back into the water.

What do you plan to keep in this tank?
Do you run a skimmer or have a refugium with chaeto?
Do you supplement anything now?

 

[DoctaQ]

wow, looks like i change a ton of water then, upwards of 20% a week, then again i have no skimmer

 

[Cjtabares]

What do you plan to keep in this tank?
Do you run a skimmer or have a refugium with chaeto?
Do you supplement anything now?

I am going to keep Lps and sps. I have a junk skimmer that I am going to upgrade. Removed the refugium when I started zeovit. I don't supplement anything as of right now, all my parameters have been good with the weekly water change, untill this week. The only thing that needs to be suplemented is alk. I am sure this will change as my frags turn into colonies and if I ever set up the frag tank I want.

wow, looks like i change a ton of water then, upwards of 20% a week, then again i have no skimmer

I would like to do about 20% a week if I had the room for the water, but my system is in my bedroom.

 

[stingythingy45]

wow, looks like i change a ton of water then, upwards of 20% a week, then again i have no skimmer

It really depends on the tank size.Many folks have very good luck just changing water weekly.
If I changed 20% (35 gallons)weekly,I'd be even more broke than I am now.lol
Town water cost along with salt mix and supplements.

 

[JasonandRay]

After looking at charts like the one in the link above, I would think a smaller more frequent water change would be better on the system. The diffrence in the removel of impurities is only around 1%. That is not that much diffrence and I would think all your parameters would stay more stable. With the 2 gallon water chage I would also be adding suplements back into the water.

I do every other day and it works great for me. my 2 cents it works for me and ive never seen my tank better, try it for a month or 2. See how it is then decide from there, everyones system is different.