WMAS Discussion Forum : Water Changes

WMAS Discussion Forum : Water Changes http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Tue, 14 Jul 2026 01:00:03 +0000 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:08:10 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=45690 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Water Changes : I do water changes whenever.....Honestly...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391984&title=water-changes#391984 Author: Luckedout
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 9:08pm

I do water changes whenever.....

Honestly I didn't notice much change in my tank the last couple of times I did water changes. When I've noticed the most change was when I increased/improved my flow and changed my lighting.
]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:08:10 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391984&title=water-changes#391984 <![CDATA[Water Changes : I always top off with RO water,...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391982&title=water-changes#391982 Author: FlooringGuy
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 9:04pm

I always top off with RO water, Not Salt Water.]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:04:53 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391982&title=water-changes#391982 <![CDATA[Water Changes : I am kind of like Will on this...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391960&title=water-changes#391960 Author: bfessler
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 7:16pm

I am kind of like Will on this one but I do one, whenever I have time to do one, which usually winds up being 15% to 20% every 6 weeks to 3 months. I'd like to say that everything looks better because of the water change but I also do my major tank cleaning at the same time so I think it's more likely that the clean glass and filter materials make the tank look so good when I do a water change. I do keep water parameters in line using BRS 2 part between water changes and using a Kalk Reactor in line with the top off water.

Edited by bfessler - December 28 2010 at 7:18pm]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 19:16:00 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391960&title=water-changes#391960 <![CDATA[Water Changes : This is a good question and a...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391943&title=water-changes#391943 Author: Will Spencer
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 5:34pm

This is a good question and a much debated topic. I personally do water changes every...time I feel like it. That usually ends up meaning about 15-20% every 3 or 4 months. It's probably been 3 months since I've done one, but I'll likely do one next week. At any rate that would seem to mean I don't find them very important. However, I actually do think they are important. Why? Because my tank looks awesome after a water change.

Almost every "Expert" in the hobby will tell you how important water changes are. Anthony Calfo suggested weekly 100% water changes last time he spoke here. (Of course that was for a nano tank, but still...)

Nearly every single public aquarium that has the ability does 100% water changes anywhere between daily to monthly. Many of them do this with natural seawater pumped into the aquarium directly from the ocean, but it still counts as a water change. I'd bet most of their professional aquarists would tell us how important these large water changes are even though they also have massive filtration systems.

On the other hand I have seen some beautiful tanks that have rarely if ever had a water change. One example I can think of is the Winterbottoms tank. Shawn claims to have never done a water change and his tank is fantastic and it has been for years.

Let the debate go on...
]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:34:36 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391943&title=water-changes#391943 <![CDATA[Water Changes : I do 10-20% every 2-6 months....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391942&title=water-changes#391942 Author: MadReefer
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 5:32pm

I do 10-20% every 2-6 months. It's kind of random and depends on how things look. I'm always switching things up and I've never had a tank setup for more than about 1.5 years so I don't have a standard that works for me for many years.]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:32:46 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391942&title=water-changes#391942 <![CDATA[Water Changes : If you look back at the history...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391936&title=water-changes#391936 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 5:03pm

If you look back at the history of this hobby, water changes were a definite must on the maintenance list.
That was before we knew how to keep things in line with adequate biofiltration and inexpensive supplements. Some atypical tanks are so overstocked with fish and overgrown with coral that the rule book gets thrown out the window. Wink

I'd say that 75% of ~1000 reef tanks I've seen can do just fine with a 10% monthly water change. The key is setting them up with efficient biofiltration and knowing what and when to supplement. I end up changing 10% every 1-2 months. Smile

]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:03:03 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391936&title=water-changes#391936 <![CDATA[Water Changes : Personally I think when a tank...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391935&title=water-changes#391935 Author: wickedsnowman
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 5:02pm

Personally I think when a tank is established water changes aren't all that important. I wouldn't go as far as to say don't do them cause there still is beneficial elements in new salt water that most people don't dose for... but I think most people change their water way to much. Like Smacky said LR, LS and macro is way more effective for filtration. With you asking if you will still need them based on your evaporation rate. That kind of makes me think you might be doing top offs with salt water. If that is the case you need to check your salinity for sure.]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 17:02:21 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391935&title=water-changes#391935 <![CDATA[Water Changes : we tend to do about 10% every...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391930&title=water-changes#391930 Author: Josh95
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 4:45pm

we tend to do about 10% every 2 weeks then 15% the other 2 weeks]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:45:13 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391930&title=water-changes#391930 <![CDATA[Water Changes : wow i only do 10% about every...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391926&title=water-changes#391926 Author: wickedsnowman
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 4:35pm

wow i only do 10% about every 6 weeks sometimes even a little longer]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:35:24 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391926&title=water-changes#391926 <![CDATA[Water Changes : Evaporation and water changes...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391916&title=water-changes#391916 Author: smacky
Subject: 45690
Posted: December 28 2010 at 3:38pm

Evaporation and water changes are two VERY different things. Saltwater does not evaporate from your tank, only fresh water evaporates from your tank and should be replaced with pure, clean, preferably RO filtered water.

Water changes do export some nutrients, but keep in mind that it also introduces other things to your tank. Just one example, silicates are added to salt mixes to keep it from clumping. Silicates are a food source for nuisance algae. Also a 10% water change will only reduce nutrient levels in the water by 10%. Effective biological filtration through LR, LS and macroalgae is, in my opinion, much more effective.
]]> Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:38:34 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45690&PID=391916&title=water-changes#391916