No water changes?

[UltraKelius]

I’m interested to hear from everyone that doesn’t do weekly water changes: what do you run in your sump?

Do you run a refugium or have you got a rollermat etc? Is there one piece of equipment or method that makes this work for you?

 

[tbrown]

I rarely do water changes. In my sump I run a skimmer 4 times a day for 1.5 hours each. I dose phosphates and vinegar. I have filter floss and am currently running some PuriResin to help reduce nitrates. I add some trace elements weekly and adjust calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity as necessary.

 

[VintageReefer]

My tank has gone 2+ years no water change. The rock and sand has been in this tank for 10 years.

sump section 1 - incoming water from tank. I have a large skimmer, I stopped using it about a year ago. It’s still there in case I need to do some emergency skimming, just plug it in. But I haven’t had a need. And phosphates have been level at 0-.05 for months. I’ve spiked to .3 from accidentally feeding too much aminos, or from reef roid food, but the system balanced itself back to normal levels in a few days by itself.

Sump section 2 - 3” sand bed, lots of live rock, floating scrubber

Shelves between section 2 and 3 -Chemipure bags (two. I replace them one at a time)

Section 3 - return pump and more live rock

https://www.santa-monica.cc/SURF2-o...cultivator--2-cubes-feeding-per-day_p_40.html
Check my meet and greet post to see tank pics and more info on my setup

 

[dbrown2120]

I’d like to hear about this as well hopefully more people respond. I just saw the guy from Ukraines thread, 8 years no water change supposedly at time of last post (2020) hope he is alive and well.

 

[javajaws]

In my last tank I'd go months without a water change. And that was before you could send off a water sample to get trace elements tested. Didn't have any problems with SPS.

Until I get a continuous water change system setup in my new tank I probably won't do very frequent changes and instead will get monthly testing done after things are established and adjust accordingly.