Once a month water changes?

[Eagle aquatics315]

Im going to be setting up a 150 gallon reef tank and thinking of trying to go with only doing a water change once a month. I have heard of people going months without doing water changes. Do you guys think this is possible and how often do you guys change your water in your reef tank. Thanks as always.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I changed water ever few hours, but daily was the closest choice.

 

[SDboatguy]

I do 10% weekly unless i need to get a little more in depth cleaning then 15%

 

[Sully32]

I only do a small water change a few times a year. My sump and refugium are larger than my display though. And I have a medium bioload.

 

[Zack K]

Never for me. Triton became my friend rather quickly. Everything in the tank looks GREAT.
-Zack

 

[THX1138CY]

Triton all the way.

 

[KMench]

Bi-weekly

 

[PanchoG]

Once a month

 

[RussiReef]

20% every two weeks

 

[TinyChocobo]

I tended to do once per month on my 29 Gallon [with no sump] and HOB Skimmer. Skimmer cup would need emptied maybe twice a week. It had a pretty light bioload though. ~5 corals ~3 fish ~2 shrimp 1 crab.

 

[tthouston]

I changed water ever few hours, but daily was the closest choice.

hahahaha....I like your answer. I just imaging every 3 hours day and night, you change water again for your 120 gallons tank so how much salt mix are you spend for a month? How many gallons are you change each times?
I think you don't have time to enjoy your tank, you only enjoy when you do water change...hahahaha....

 

[rock_lobster]

I do about 20% per year on my 20gallon SPS, Zero per year on my shroom tank, and 10% per year on my mixed reef tank..

 

[BigJohnny]

Im going to be setting up a 150 gallon reef tank and thinking of trying to go with only doing a water change once a month. I have heard of people going months without doing water changes. Do you guys think this is possible and how often do you guys change your water in your reef tank. Thanks as always.

Of course it's possible, triton and DSR reefing methods don't do water changes unless there is a severe issue. There is no requirement for x% of water changes x times a month or anything. In reality, all water changes do is reduce things in the tank that aren't in the freshly made saltwater (nutrients, DOC, and contaminants), and partially replenish some trace elements. There are ways to do all of that without changing water. So you can do whatever you want. 10% once a week might be ideal, or 10% every 3 months, or never, you won't know until you set up the system and monitor parameters/health of the corals.

 

[tank o tang]

10% a week. With bigger tanks things go wrong very slowly and so gradual easy to go unnoticed and takes longer and more to correct. Changing water at least makes me feel like I'm staying in front of any big issues.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

hahahaha....I like your answer. I just imaging every 3 hours day and night, you change water again for your 120 gallons tank so how much salt mix are you spend for a month? How many gallons are you change each times?
I think you don't have time to enjoy your tank, you only enjoy when you do water change...hahahaha....

lol

I had an automatic slow water changer on a timer. I spent about 5 minutes a month making new salt water, then left it on automatic, changing about 1% daily, consisting of many 15 minute change periods each day and night. [emoji3]

 

[Benga]

once a week 10%. Seems to work well for me

 

[Dash]

Once a month, 15 gallons on a 75 gal tank...cause that’s the max I can fit in my container.

 

[tthouston]

lol

I had an automatic slow water changer on a timer. I spent about 5 minutes a month making new salt water, then left it on automatic, changing about 1% daily, consisting of many 15 minute change periods each day and night. [emoji3]

I see, that is the only way you can do a water change and enjoy the same time. I have a question if you can give me an answer that should help me understand more.
If you want daily water change (move water from the DT and add more fresh salt water like you) and other hobbies just do the wet skim-mate (1 gallons per day) and let ATO fill the fresh salt water.
Which option is better and cheaper?
Thanks ahead.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I see, that is the only way you can do a water change and enjoy the same time. I have a question if you can give me an answer that should help me understand more.
If you want daily water change (move water from the DT and add more fresh salt water like you) and other hobbies just do the wet skim-mate (1 gallons per day) and let ATO fill the fresh salt water.
Which option is better and cheaper?
Thanks ahead.

Wet skimmate removes more organics, but it is harder to automate the replacement since the volume removed via a skimmer is technically hard to keep constant.

 

[Kzguns]

When I had my 100g after a year I stopped. Everything thrived.