Inquiry: Water Changes In Large Tanks

[Dom]

So, a 10% weekly water change in a 50 gallon tank is 5 gallons. Easy.

But what about LARGE tanks... say... 300 gallons. Do you really have to do 30 gallons per week?

Getting ready to build a large tank. How large depends on the answers to this and other questions.

Tanks.
(get it?):D

 

[Cory]

So, a 10% weekly water change in a 50 gallon tank is 5 gallons. Easy.

But what about LARGE tanks... say... 300 gallons. Do you really have to do 30 gallons per week?

Getting ready to build a large tank. How large depends on the answers to this and other questions.

Tanks.
(get it?):D

I get it lol. If your into water changes then yes you do. I dont do water changes. Reason being is water changes are to remove pollutants and or add missing things. But i remove pollutants with my ats/skimmer/carbon. And i add back all the things i test for, magnesium/cal/alk/ strontium/ iodine etcetera.

I only do a water change durring unknowns or emergencies

 

[xaflatoonx]

good question

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Constant water change machine. Or Dutch Synthetic reefing.

 

[beaslbob]

I too balance my tanks with plants (fw) and algae (marine)
And do no water changes.

Tanks have lasted up to 9 years with no water changes.

Sure with reef tank you have to dose cal, alk, and mag.

But otherwise the combination of no water changes and a balanced eco system makes for a very healthy, easy to maintain, and forgiving system.

my .02

 

[Paul B]

No. You really don't have to change that much water. I change about 100% of my water a year. That comes to about 20 gallons five times a year in my 100 gallon tank. No problems yet. I probably should change a little more but I am not a big advocate of too many water changes as I feel it is detrimental.
My tank is running 46 years.

 

[beaslbob]

No. You really don't have to change that much water. I change about 100% of my water a year. That comes to about 20 gallons five times a year in my 100 gallon tank. No problems yet. I probably should change a little more but I am not a big advocate of too many water changes as I feel it is detrimental.
My tank is running 46 years.

show off!!!

 

[beaslbob]

LOL

Paul's tank is awesome

:D

 

[Paul B]

show off!!!

Jealous :D

 

[BoomCorals]

I use a Neptune DOS for automated WC. Changes about 7% total system volume per week.

 

[CastAway]

In that size range, a couple 44g Brute cans on casters makes it so easy. Make new water in one, then syphon the same amount from the display into the other, then empty new water into display. A large submersible pump makes it fast. [emoji39]

 

[Lesley]

I've a 1000g
I use this it changes 30ltrs a day over 24hrs
No heating straight up walls out side & back in I can change from 1ltr to 99ltrs with the push of a button & have 2000ltr sw storage outside at all times



http://spectrapure.com/DOSING-TOP-OFF/LITERMETER-DOSING-SYSTEMS

 

[Dom]

The primary reason I do water changes is to replenish nutrients. I think I like the idea of no water changes and just dosing what gets depleted.

 

[mtraylor]

I have about 360g total volume. I do not perform many water changes. Only when necessary or if something happens I cant figure out. Just like a few reefers above. My aquarium evaporates about 5 gallons a day depending on the time of year so new water is constantly entering the system. Skimmer removes water too. Tank is directly connected to RODI auto top off. I use over sized filtration, skimmer, filter socks etc to clean the water and multiple reactors for water quality. I use a calcium reactor and dosing to replenish the minerals. So the answer is no you don't have to change out water.

 

[reefrf]

I have 300g total volume. I do 40g water change once per month.

 

[ReeferDave01]

I have 350g total volume. Between ato rodi and skimmer approx 2-4g get replenished daily automatically. I do additional 20g a month bucket change.

 

[jason2459]

I'm a fan of some kind of periodic water change as it's a good safety net for anything you can't accurately test for which is most everything besides the major elements. Add stuff in you want and remove stuff you don't.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/

I do a small automated ~1% daily water change. But it may be more then really necessary. I think PaulB has it just about right for the other end of the spectrum of what could be minimalist amount.

I do like using a multi prong approach and do not rely on water changes alone for this. Algae harvesting in some way is a great complement as is feeding a good amount of meaty and algae based foods.

I don't like mechanical filtration but love my skimmer but look at it as more of a perfect way to provide aeration and it does remove some things the ats does not.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Good question. I'm a fan of water changes, and so on a large tank, I'd plan to do WCs similar to on smaller tanks. I do agree that this is just one way to do it, but for me it works. I'd prefer to do continual automated water changes like some of the above have mentioned. IMHO that's the way to go on a large tank.

 

[BlueCursor]

No. You really don't have to change that much water. I change about 100% of my water a year. That comes to about 20 gallons five times a year in my 100 gallon tank. No problems yet. I probably should change a little more but I am not a big advocate of too many water changes as I feel it is detrimental.
My tank is running 46 years.

You: 46 years, 100% a year, that is 4600% over the life of your tank.
Me: 4.6 years, 1% a day, that is 1679% over the life of my tank. You still have done more water changing than me and I do 1% a day! ;)

 

[Paul B]

It seems you are correct!