Modern reef, without water changes?

[Rixar]

I'm researching modern reef systems and I was wondering if they could be used similarly to the Triton method, without water changes, controlling everything with ICP (In-Phase Pressure Monitoring).

The Triton method is difficult to obtain in Spain.

Thanks, friends.

 

[Rocks reef]

Absolutely, there are plenty of people running reef tanks with no water changes.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Perfect thread to read!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/668-days-no-water-changes-and-going-strong.1128791/

 

[Rixar]

Absolutely, there are plenty of people running reef tanks with no water changes.

Thanks, I was just wondering if the Modern Reefs brand balling was compatible

Perfect thread to read!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/668-days-no-water-changes-and-going-strong.1128791/

Thank you very much, I'm going to read it all.

 

[areefer01]

Can also look into DSR. Link below. Also can do a search here for Glenn Fong and will see his tanks. Been around a very, very, long time.

Home

The sustainable way of reefkeeping Save time with, No more waterchanges ! Saltwater aquarium has never been so easy before. Our goal is to make reef-keeping transparant and affordable for everyone. Join the growing community of successfull sustainable reefers and start your own coral...

dsrreefing.com

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

If I'm not mistaken, @VintageReefer either does very few water changes or none at all. Here is their build thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/welcome-to-my-near-zero-maintenance-reef.1019007/

 

[VintageReefer]

If I'm not mistaken, @VintageReefer either does very few water changes or none at all. Here is their build thread: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/welcome-to-my-near-zero-maintenance-reef.1019007/

I don’t do them at all, but I’m not against them if there is a need - such as…a contaminant gets in the system. A sea apple or other toxic creature dies. Etc.

 

[Euphyllia098]

How big is your system?

 

[VintageReefer]

How big is your system?

75g + sump.

 

[VintageReefer]

 

[Modern Reef Verified Sponsor]

Water Changes in Modern Reef Aquaria
Modern Reef presents a position paper on the ongoing importance of routine water changes. Learn why moderate, scheduled exchanges remain essential for coral health, chemical stability, and microbial balance—even in advanced proportional dosing systems.


Read the full paper here: https://modernreef.eu/water-changes-in-modern-reef-aquaria/

 

[VintageReefer]

Water Changes in Modern Reef Aquaria
Modern Reef presents a position paper on the ongoing importance of routine water changes. Learn why moderate, scheduled exchanges remain essential for coral health, chemical stability, and microbial balance—even in advanced proportional dosing systems.


Read the full paper here: https://modernreef.eu/water-changes-in-modern-reef-aquaria/

Nothing original or “modern” here. The recommendation of a 10% water change every 2-4 weeks has been a common practice for over 20 years.

I found the article biased with a lot of claims, lack of any evidence, along with misinformation/half truths.

I don’t see any harm in water changes, but they aren’t the only way to run a reef, and you shouldn’t promote your viewpoint as the only successful method.

<edit: I see now, they are trying to promote/sell a product. Their RKS additive program>

There’s lots of ways to run a reef and lots of tanks that don’t use water changes. I’ve tried many methods over the last 25 years, successfully. I would never say that “method 1” is the only way that works.

Good luck Modern Reef with whatever it is that you do.

If you haven't already, I suggest you research biological doc control via cryptic zone filtration with NPS sponge.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

While I think water changes are desirable and do them, I think it is worth keeping in mind that many systems, including the Modern Reef method that is the topic of this thread, effectively accomplish some water changes whether you realize it or not.

I was in a thread yesterday about a two part system (ESV, in that case) and how much the salinity accumulated over a year. Replacing that accumulated salinity with RO/DI is effectively a water change if the product is supplying a seawater residual (as ESV claims).

In the case of the reefer I was talking to, he had a high alk demand, and was effectively doing a 108% water change spread over a year.

Consequently, that effect can be substantial.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

I have a 180g in my classroom that I don’t really do water changes on. I’ve done 5 gal here, 5 gal there a couple of times, but other than that, I don’t touch it. I also don’t have any filtration equipment or chemical media. I just have a bunch of mangroves, macro algae, and large cryptic zones w/sponges etc.

I also don’t really test my parameters. I did test PO4 and NO3 a couple of times when my coral started looking pale and my mangroves were losing leaves, and found that those compounds had bottomed out. As far as alk and calcium, I just dump some in My class did a project using the aquarium and did a full suite of testing on the water quality. Alk was at 9, Ca was at 400, pH was 8.3.

What’s my point? I don’t know. Don’t really have one. Just wanted to talk about a tank with no water changes or monitoring of parameters.

All that said, I’m not against water changes and do small water changes for my clients.

 

[Uncle99]

Water Changes in Modern Reef Aquaria
Modern Reef presents a position paper on the ongoing importance of routine water changes. Learn why moderate, scheduled exchanges remain essential for coral health, chemical stability, and microbial balance—even in advanced proportional dosing systems.


Read the full paper here: https://modernreef.eu/water-changes-in-modern-reef-aquaria/

Personally speaking only, this is an organized, well written and easily understood document which I enjoyed reading.

 

[Featherweight]

There is a brand of dosing supplements called modern reef. OP is wondering if the method can be done sans water changes. Lots of folks missed that I guess.

My answer is why? Why no water changes? Do you understand the purpose of water changes?

I think modern reef themselves recommend water changes.

If you can accomplish what you want without water changes, you can skip them with any method. I just don't understand why one would think this way. Maybe the idea should be minimal water changes, or useful water changes. The idea of no water changes seems silly.

 

[Modern Reef Verified Sponsor]

Nothing original or “modern” here. The recommendation of a 10% water change every 2-4 weeks has been a common practice for over 20 years.

I found the article biased with a lot of claims, lack of any evidence, along with misinformation/half truths.

I don’t see any harm in water changes, but they aren’t the only way to run a reef, and you shouldn’t promote your viewpoint as the only successful method.

<edit: I see now, they are trying to promote/sell a product. Their RKS additive program>

There’s lots of ways to run a reef and lots of tanks that don’t use water changes. I’ve tried many methods over the last 25 years, successfully. I would never say that “method 1” is the only way that works.

Good luck Modern Reef with whatever it is that you do.

If you haven't already, I suggest you research biological doc control via cryptic zone filtration with NPS sponge.

Exactly, it’s what we believe in. It doesn’t need to make sense to everyone, and of course, we know water changes aren’t new. There are many successful ways to run a reef, and this is simply ours.

 

[areefer01]

While I think water changes are desirable and do them, I think it is worth keeping in mind that many systems, including the Modern Reef method that is the topic of this thread, effectively accomplish some water changes whether you realize it or not.

Minus the water change export. That may, or may not, matter but that is a difference.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Minus the water change export. That may, or may not, matter but that is a difference.

It just like a standard water change. To reduce the salinity one must remove tank water and replace with pure fresh.

 

[areefer01]

It just like a standard water change. To reduce the salinity one must remove tank water and replace with pure fresh.

Maybe I jumped into the middle of a conversation and shouldn't have. As I hit reply was reading the method as a no water change solution.

Sorry.