I want to do less water changes

[rtparty]

What you are doing is working and the idea is to change up your routine? What’s the hope here? Less work?

Water changes are so much more than just nutrient export. They are the easiest and cheapest insurance we have

 

[FlameangelLover]

How does the tank look? Are there any actual problems with livestock, or are you chasing “desired” numbers?

A bunch of GHA but besides that it looks healthy. Also I just noticed my Rodi filter was a bit old so I’m guessing that was the reason

 

[FlameangelLover]

What you are doing is working and the idea is to change up your routine? What’s the hope here? Less work?

Water changes are so much more than just nutrient export. They are the easiest and cheapest insurance we have

Your right I should stick to the routine it’s just I’m so busy I can’t keep doing weekly water changes

 

[FlameangelLover]

You could probably go a month without as long as you are monitoring your chemistry. I haven't done a WC in my acro dominant tank in 1.5 years (but I also do something very unique for my water chemistry).

lol I always find that so dope. I want to learn to dose reef moonshiners . What do you dose

 

[Reefer Matt]

A bunch of GHA but besides that it looks healthy. Also I just noticed my Rodi filter was a bit old so I’m guessing that was the reason

Do you have a high demand tank where alkalinity swings a lot? If not, switching to biweekly or monthly larger water changes should be okay. I’d look for the source of the PO4 and try to mitigate it if that’s the real issue, and make sure the test kit is accurate.

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

lol I always find that so dope. I want to learn to dose reef moonshiners . What do you dose

I use RMS. It's VERY good but requires daily/weekly/monthly dosing of quite a bit of different elements. You have to fully commit to it for it to be successful.

 

[FlameangelLover]

Do you have a high demand tank where alkalinity swings a lot? If not, switching to biweekly or monthly larger water changes should be okay. I’d look for the source of the PO4 and try to mitigate it if that’s the real issue, and make sure the test kit is accurate.

Alk doesn’t move to much me mainly dosing myself keeps it pretty stable. I think I’ll take your advice and give biweekly a try and monitor my parameters closely. I really do think it was my Rodi filter for Po4 but we will see!

 

[FlameangelLover]

I use RMS. It's VERY good but requires daily/weekly/monthly dosing of quite a bit of different elements. You have to fully commit to it for it to be successful.

I love this hobby because it gives me something to do so I really don’t mind lol.

Just don’t want to do weekly water changes lol

 

[Reginald Reefer III]

Your PO4 is not an issue. Your NO3 is the issue sitting at zero. Get that to 10-15ppm and you will be in good shape.

 

[rtparty]

Your right I should stick to the routine it’s just I’m so busy I can’t keep doing weekly water changes

I totally get it. I miss weeks all the time. One thing that I’ve done at times is do them less often but increased volume. Say 15% every 2 weeks. The amount of time and work between a 10 and 15% change is very little so spacing them out 2 weeks and doing 15% is a good compromise IMO

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’ve never seen it go over 0.15 but lately it goes from 0.02-0.10 then it’s water change day by the time it’s 0.10( I use Hannah)

N is non detectable on my salifert test kit

IMO, those values are too low, not too high.

I'd do the same water changes and feed more.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/
from it:

4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Hi Guys I’m one year into my reef tank journey !!!!!!

I do weekly water changes mostly to keep nutrients down (my elements stay fairly consistent besides alk but I dose sodium carbonate so we good)

I no longer want to do weekly water changes any tips to get this to every 2 weeks or possibly ever 3 weeks?

I run a HOB filter with carbon cartridges and have 3 fish and don’t plan on getting more. It’s a 40 gal breeder . I also have a HOB skimmer but I honestly don’t think it does much lol

See below for stocking



View attachment 1772641233

First, congrats You just beat the odds! About 90% of reef tanks fail in the first 12 months but you just joined the 10% who succeed and are likely to enjoy this hobby for a long time.

I completely understand the desire to reduce water changes or maintenance in general, but the best advice anyone can give you right now is simple: keep doing what you are doing if you want to keep experiencing the same success. It is very common for reefers to forget that what got us here is also what will get us where we want to go.

That said, in my own tanks, if I want to reduce water changes it is usually on larger systems where the volume makes frequent changes a bit more challenging. In those cases, a refugium has been the most effective tool for me.

 

[Mebbid]

Your right I should stick to the routine it’s just I’m so busy I can’t keep doing weekly water changes

Have you thought about making the water changes easier instead? What's your process?

 

[FlameangelLover]

Your right I should stick to the routine it’s just I’m so busy I can’t keep doing weekly water changes

Have you thought about making the water changes easier instead? What's your process?

Okay maybe this will help. So here’s my process and feel free to help me !

Step 1: I work from home on Mondays so around 4 I start the RO water going (in the basement :(
Then it’s done around 6. One 5 gallon bucket is about 12% for me.

Step 2. Put the the wave maker and my salt in the water and let that sit for a hour or so. Reef crystals is pretty dummy proof

Step 3. Drain water and do any tank cleaning that is required

Step4. Lug the dirty 5 gallon bucket outside and dump

Step 5. Use pump to input new water

I think maybe having RO water ready would probably make this easier but the hardest part by far is the lugging buckets around

 

[FlameangelLover]

Hi Guys I’m one year into my reef tank journey !!!!!!

I do weekly water changes mostly to keep nutrients down (my elements stay fairly consistent besides alk but I dose sodium carbonate so we good)

I no longer want to do weekly water changes any tips to get this to every 2 weeks or possibly ever 3 weeks?

I run a HOB filter with carbon cartridges and have 3 fish and don’t plan on getting more. It’s a 40 gal breeder . I also have a HOB skimmer but I honestly don’t think it does much lol

See below for stocking



View attachment 1772641233

First, congrats You just beat the odds! About 90% of reef tanks fail in the first 12 months but you just joined the 10% who succeed and are likely to enjoy this hobby for a long time.

I completely understand the desire to reduce water changes or maintenance in general, but the best advice anyone can give you right now is simple: keep doing what you are doing if you want to keep experiencing the same success. It is very common for reefers to forget that what got us here is also what will get us where we want to go.

That said, in my own tanks, if I want to reduce water changes it is usually on larger systems where the volume makes frequent changes a bit more challenging. In those cases, a refugium has been the most effective tool for me.

You’re right man. I need to stop being lazy. It’s only 5 gallons a week. I know people who do 10 gallons a week. It would probably be best if I just continued with the normal water changes

 

[Mebbid]

Your right I should stick to the routine it’s just I’m so busy I can’t keep doing weekly water changes

Have you thought about making the water changes easier instead? What's your process?

Okay maybe this will help. So here’s my process and feel free to help me !

Step 1: I work from home on Mondays so around 4 I start the RO water going (in the basement :(
Then it’s done around 6. One 5 gallon bucket is about 12% for me.

Step 2. Put the the wave maker and my salt in the water and let that sit for a hour or so. Reef crystals is pretty dummy proof

Step 3. Drain water and do any tank cleaning that is required

Step4. Lug the dirty 5 gallon bucket outside and dump

Step 5. Use pump to input new water

I think maybe having RO water ready would probably make this easier but the hardest part by far is the lugging buckets around

Yeah, thats literally the hardest way to do it.

You could get a 35g brute trash can, fill it with water and mix it. Youll have 6 weeks of water changes mixed and on hand. Just think, only mixing salt water every month and a half? Heck yeah.

You could up the game a little bit by putting a water pump in the container, hooking it up to a piece of tubing long enough to reach your tank, and using a wifi controllable plug (I use kasa plugs and love them) turn it on and off to fill your tank (for the love of god dont leave the tank while its filling)

You could up the game even more by getting a python water changer, use a Y connection and some valves so you can drain as much as you want out of your tank, turn a couple valves, and refill it through the same hose. Could even do that with a 5 gallon bucket of salt water if you wanted.

Lastly, you could go one step further and run some ro lines up from the basement and set up auto water changes.

 

[FlameangelLover]

Your right I should stick to the routine it’s just I’m so busy I can’t keep doing weekly water changes

Have you thought about making the water changes easier instead? What's your process?

Okay maybe this will help. So here’s my process and feel free to help me !

Step 1: I work from home on Mondays so around 4 I start the RO water going (in the basement :(
Then it’s done around 6. One 5 gallon bucket is about 12% for me.

Step 2. Put the the wave maker and my salt in the water and let that sit for a hour or so. Reef crystals is pretty dummy proof

Step 3. Drain water and do any tank cleaning that is required

Step4. Lug the dirty 5 gallon bucket outside and dump

Step 5. Use pump to input new water

I think maybe having RO water ready would probably make this easier but the hardest part by far is the lugging buckets around

Yeah, thats literally the hardest way to do it.

You could get a 35g brute trash can, fill it with water and mix it. Youll have 6 weeks of water changes mixed and on hand. Just think, only mixing salt water every month and a half? Heck yeah.

You could up the game a little bit by putting a water pump in the container, hooking it up to a piece of tubing long enough to reach your tank, and using a wifi controllable plug (I use kasa plugs and love them) turn it on and off to fill your tank (for the love of god dont leave the tank while its filling)

You could up the game even more by getting a python water changer, use a Y connection and some valves so you can drain as much as you want out of your tank, turn a couple valves, and refill it through the same hose. Could even do that with a 5 gallon bucket of salt water if you wanted.

Lastly, you could go one step further and run some ro lines up from the basement and set up auto water changes.

Hmmm I love this !!!

I can def have salt water ready! Or atleast RODI ready

And then I can use the system so the water can change itself! Genius!

 

[X-37B]

I stopped doing weekly WC's years ago. I do 5% a month across 4 systems and run 2 nanos doing 20% 2x a month. Other than floss and some carbon the WC is the only form of nutrient control on the smaller systems.
More WC's won't hurt but overall my systems are stable and use less water than tradional WC's.
Something to consider.
Current 150 running 5% a month at 22 months since startup.

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

For what it is worth this is an example of a tank that had no filtration and relied on water changes alone. Water changes were automated so it was effortless. You can check out more in the video here

Images are 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Some people will say that growth seems about right. But for everyone who is saying "hey why doesn't my tank look like that" the video might be one of the more valuable uses of time :)

 

[Louis Z]

I just can’t keep doing weekly. My job is starting to ramp up

Yes that would be a pain also , I get that . Took me forever to get rid of my GHA . The way I got rid of my GHA , I would not recommend to anyone . The other to seal the deal on GHA was no lights for 2 weeks . , but then again I don’t have coral . The clean up crew is important . I am trying pithos crabs right now , they have small claws and I always see them to be picking at things , although I got rid of my GHA so I don’t know if they are effective . And I don’t want GHA again to prove my hypothesis

Your PO4 is not an issue. Your NO3 is the issue sitting at zero. Get that to 10-15ppm and you will be in good shape

Could be that his GHA is mopping up all of the No3 faster than he can detect it . From what I have read is that clean up crews like short GHA rather than long flowing GHA . Mine was long flowing so I never got under control