Big water change

[kschweer]

What do you guys think is the maximum volume water change you can safely do? Is 30-40% safe?

 

[whyzee429]

In what length of time?

 

[kschweer]

At one time.

 

[Giancarlo]

There is an article on Advanced Aquarist where a hobbiest does 100% water changes each week...

 

[Kbra]

I think the real question is how much of a swing are you making on the parameters. You can swap out 100% if the water chemistry is close enough...

 

[kschweer]

So you guys think if I can keep things close enough I can get away with 40%?

 

[Glenn]

My tank is a 120, and with the amount of rock it's probably 110 actual gallons of water. The sump holds about 20 gallons. Each water change is 50 gallons (one bag of salt - it's just so much easier to work with) so I'm essentially doing 38% water change. Jump make sure you get the temp, salinity, and pH close to the main tank.

 

[whyzee429]

I know you meant at one time, I just didn't know if you meant weekly or monthly. I used to do about 40% monthly in my 75, but now I just do 5gal weekly and everything seems fine.

 

[kschweer]

Sorry I didn't realize what you were asking. I'm trying to clear up my frag tank that has turned cloudy and brownish out of no where. I'm thinking about 30% a week till I can clear it up

 

[reefhead]

I think the real question is how much of a swing are you making on the parameters. You can swap out 100% if the water chemistry is close enough...

+++++1

 

[Troylee]

Sorry I didn't realize what you were asking. I'm trying to clear up my frag tank that has turned cloudy and brownish out of no where. I'm thinking about 30% a week till I can clear it up

A reactor full of carbon and a seperate with some rawaphos will clear it just fine..;)

 

[kschweer]

I have been running both carbon and GFO with no luck

 

[ZoaFan08]

220g here and I do 75g every 2 weeks. I do massive water changes because I don't dose anything.

 

[Kbra]

220g here and I do 75g every 2 weeks. I do massive water changes because I don't dose anything.

Have you considered 35 gal a week instead to be somewhat more stable?

 

[ZoaFan08]

Have you considered 35 gal a week instead to be somewhat more stable?

Don't always have the time to do it weekly.

 

[shred5]

I think the real question is how much of a swing are you making on the parameters. You can swap out 100% if the water chemistry is close enough...

Exactly.
But what people do not realise is those parameters are not just salinity and temps... Dropping anything to fast can cause problems even phosphate. The biggest problem other than temps and salinity is clarity (yellowing) of the water. All of a sudden there is allot more light and it can cause bleaching.

If your water is brown try some polyfilters and see what color they turn. My fear is the brown color is coming from rust. Allot of these Chinese internal pumps are epoxy filled and they are not encapsulating them enough with epoxy and the pumps are exposed to saltwater and rust. I had this happen with one of my skimmer pumps. What a mess took me forever to figure it out.

 

[fraggingfish]

Do you happen to have the article for 100% water change?

So it's basically removing your livestock and placing it in freshly brewed saltwater?

Or does one gradually pour and remove over a time span?

 

[Giancarlo]

Feature Aquarium: EcoReef One: A New Kind of Nano Reef — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

Thats the link to the article, though im not sure if i am allowed to post links?

 

[fraggingfish]

Great read, that's what I figured, he mentioned a 90% water change and then gradually replace it all.
It is a nano tank so it's volume is not as great as our 220 or more.
Thanks

 

[DaveA]

You're much better to do a 10% water change 2-3 times per week. If you have a problem, you can do a 10% change twice a day until it clears up. Maybe 3 times a day. It's much better to do smaller changes and make the chemistry changes much more slowly. Plus, with a smaller change, you can change easier, as the water will only lower the level in your sump, so you can more easily just remove water and add the new water to your sump.