How exactly do you do a ten gallon NO water change setup?

[sally666]

I heard about people having a saltwater tank and never having to do any water changes at all.

Can this be done in a 10 or 20 gallon FOWLR tank? And what kind of equipment would I need? And what would the setup be? And would keeping the number of fish to less than 1-2 help?

I know in freshwater tanks you can have a no water change planted tank tank setup. I want to know how you can go about this in saltwater tanks.

I want to make keeping a saltwater aquarium easy and maintenance free.

 

[tbrown]

I don't do water changes in my 8 gallon but I have to dose because of it. Same with my 70 gallon.

 

[sally666]

I don't do water changes in my 8 gallon but I have to dose because of it. Same with my 70 gallon.

What do you mean by "I have to dose because of it."? If I have an ATO auto top off hooked up to my tank, my tank is maintenance free, right?

 

[sally666]

I don't do water changes in my 8 gallon but I have to dose because of it. Same with my 70 gallon.

What do you mean by "I have to dose because of it."? If I have an ATO auto top off hooked up to my tank, my tank is maintenance free, right?

 

[tbrown]

What do you mean by "I have to dose because of it."? If I have an ATO auto top off hooked up to my tank, my tank is maintenance free, right?

Do you have nutrient export in place? Corals and algae will export nutrients. However, they also export alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium as well.

 

[tbrown]

I have an auto top off but that only replaces evaporated water, nothing else. ATO should be full of RODI water which doesn't replenish anything.

 

[Dread Pirate Dave]

I heard about people having a saltwater tank and never having to do any water changes at all.

Can this be done in a 10 or 20 gallon FOWLR tank? And what kind of equipment would I need? And what would the setup be? And would keeping the number of fish to less than 1-2 help?

I know in freshwater tanks you can have a no water change planted tank tank setup. I want to know how you can go about this in saltwater tanks.

I want to make keeping a saltwater aquarium easy and maintenance free.

Sounds like you want to put a lot of effort into avoiding a simple water change on a 10 or 20 gallon fowlr.

It'll take some amount of testing, along with dosing trace elements as needed. I don't think a fowlr would use that much though. Some people use these:

https://reefmoonshiners.com/
https://www.captiv8aquaculture.com/home
Your main issue will be removing excess nutrients from your water. (maybe let the algae go wild and pull it out by hand)

 

[sally666]

Do you have nutrient export in place? Corals and algae will export nutrients. However, they also export alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium as well.

Will adding this algae plants from ebay "export nutrients" from the tanks?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3766247042...BFZlVr+YdK1UqhGBVTZ2UzaA==|tkp:Bk9SR8rGgcrkZg

 

[tbrown]

Yes. Macro algae is a great nutrient exporter.

 

[JTP424]

You've got to find the right balance to make it work.
You have to find a way to reintroduce necessary nutrients that are often replenished with water changes (i.e. dosing) While also finding a way to export the bad nutrients! (I.E. macro algae etc)
Keeping in mind you need to keep replenishing the good, and taking away the bad...without tipping the scales one way or another. A solid testing set would be crucial.
Good luck!