No water change. Does it work long term?

[MnFish1]

As I've mentioned before, I have an inherent skepticism about the no water change thing, but I also can't argue against @VintageReefer 's tank. It's gorgeous.

Over time - I tended to focus on the things that were doing well in my tank and ignore the ones that did not. I had a nice looking tank - but the stuff that grew there over the years were the things that 1) got along with each other and 2) withstood the conditions I provided. Not every tank will withstand no water changes, and some will do very well - but I don't believe there is one method that will absolutely work for every type of fish and coral. Things that dont survive will be replaced by things that do. Look at it this way - Consider the number of people quarantining fish, buying frags, etc - where are all of those fish and frags going - unless one assumes that the reefing hobby is growing by a double digit percentage every year. Instead - my guess is that many of them are not surviving and being replaced.

 

[VintageReefer]

I think the bigger message is that we perhaps rely too much on testing - and not enough on paying attention to what the tank looks like. I think its an interesting concept to think that one doesn't need to check N and P - but they do need to check for example iodine - and dose it x ml every day (pick your dozen elements here). I have no issue with less testing I did N and P perhaps 1 time eery 2-3 months and alkalinity every week at most. Once a tank is established, is being fed, my guess is you could run it without out ICP's every month or whatever it is - and minimal if any water changes. However, if you look at a lot of tanks - the ones that tend to be 'successful' (and agree its a circular argument) are the ones with more coral and a lower fish stocking density tend to be the ones that require less of these mineral 'tweeks' - and also less water changes.

I agree with you here. My tanks are typically high coral density and under stocked for fish. It’s just always been one of my methods because I always have bad experiences with fish - aggression, or coral nipping. So I keep a couple fish in a 75g - from 4-7 and that’s fine with me. I have had more but long term it doesn’t work out.

I think people tend to push the limits of their tanks stocking capabilities and that what sets them up for a lot of work, or tank crashes down the line.

A car might be able to reach 120 or 130 mph, but I’d you drive it at that speed all day every day, it’s not going to last, or it will need significantly more maintenance and parts replaced more often. That same car that can reach 120mph…it will go 80 mph easily and it will last a decade like that.

If you want 15 fish, get a system designed that can house 20 or 25. If your tank can hold 7, stick to 5.

Some people like the testing and maintenance and being hands on measuring and tweaking all the time. For me that just comes across as work. I have my methods, and my tank takes 5 min of work per week and is basically self sustaining. I’ve done one ICP in 20+ years of keeping reefs and don’t plan to make it a regular thing.

Everyone does things different, there’s multiple well known and used methods, but I cringe when someone says you have to do X or to you can’t to Y. That’s just their expeience and is typically ignorant to other people who have successfully used that device, method, etc

Statements like
You need a skimmer
You can’t use a canister or hob filter
You need a massive clean crew to maintain algae
Your tank needs x gallons changed per week
Your alkalinity should be this
You can’t have high phosphates or nitrates
Leds don’t grow coral lol

Etc. they are all close minded statements that might be true from an individuals perspective but not the communities.

 

[Nordy]

I like doing water changes. I like the process of building my saltwater slowly. I use Neo Marine. I’m a multitasker, it’s getting tricky to balance everything I intend to do, but I start screwing around with my tank when my feet hit the floor outta bed. This morning at 3:00 am, i saw all the cool things that never come out when lights go on, so keeping up with the diversity and ensuring there going to keep thriving with my list of daily tank chores, water changes for me are essential with the pendulum swing. I do 10-15% weekly. Rarely more than that in a week, unless I messed up some parameter. I have a pump and tubing to go from the garage to DT, but I prefer carrying buckets, I need the exercise. Firm believer first year 20% tank volume monthly should get removed and replaced depending on what you got going on in your reef. So many methods. Love the different ways to accomplish your goals in this hobby and finding what works for your tank. My tank will be at the 11 month mark soon. Dosed plenty, and sometimes I feel like a lot of $ is going down the drain with a WC, but bio load, heavy feedings, and wanting reasonable parameters keep me on the WC train for what I look forward to viewing in my reef.

 

[Tahoe61]

Surprisingly I found this thread to be one of the more interesting ones recently.
My take away was there's no right or wrong way to manage your tank.
Individual systems with different methodologies and husbandry techniques running successfully despite our best efforts.
Each system is vastly different, the variables are many.
My Pico for instance, heck yeah I have to test every day and do small water changes daily. My IM 25 lagoon or other tank I only test occasionally.

 

[p1u5h13r4m24]

I mean water changes are usually a safe route to solving issues. There are many ways around doing water changes, but in my 10 years I’ve found it’s just easier to stick to the original method that worked 10 years ago.