Question for the non water changing group..

[56longroof]

For those of you that dont do water weekly water changes. What are you dosing to keep trace elements up? The Donovan nitrate destroyer is working too good and I dont need to do water changes as often now to control nitrates.

 

[BryanM]

Water changes are for more than nitrate control... They are also to replace trace elements.

I am a non water changer, I currently use the full Triton method, which means I dose alk/mag/calc, as well as custom trace elements bottles that the send every month.

 

[56longroof]

Water changes are for more than nitrate control... They are also to replace trace elements.

I am a non water changer, I currently use the full Triton method, which means I dose alk/mag/calc, as well as custom trace elements bottles that the send every month.

Im aware of the benefits of water changes. That is the purpose of this thread. There are other ways to replenish trace elements. Thats what Im asking.

 

[rtparty]

I dose the NYOS 2 part system that has trace elements added to them

Water changes are a horrible way to replenish trace elements. That’s a myth where the math doesn’t math

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Water changes are a horrible way to replenish trace elements. That’s a myth where the math doesn’t math

I agree. If one goes to no water changes, which obviously can be done, the sacrifice is primarily in other places, not in trace element dosing issues (IMO).

 

[mmorrison55]

I agree. If one goes to no water changes, which obviously can be done, the sacrifice is primarily in other places, not in trace element dosing issues (IMO).

Sacrifices such as?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sacrifices such as?

Export of accumulating organics such as toxins from cyano, yellowing compounds, plasticizers etc.

Export of accumulating trace metals (aluminum and zinc are commonly elevated). Tin is sometimes a problem from plastic additives.

Constantly keeping the trends in major ions going in the right direction (back toward natural seawater, or at least toward the salt mix used). These include the sulfate/chloride ratio (can be disrupted by additives), bromide (may be consumed), potassium (may rise or fall, but falling is most prevalent)

 

[56longroof]

Export of accumulating organics such as toxins from cyano, yellowing compounds, plasticizers etc.

Export of accumulating trace metals (aluminum and zinc are commonly elevated). Tin is sometimes a problem from plastic additives.

Constantly keeping the trends in major ions going in the right direction (back toward natural seawater, or at least toward the salt mix used). These include the sulfate/chloride ratio (can be disrupted by additives), bromide (may be consumed), potassium (may rise or fall, but falling is most prevalent)

Will carbon export some or most of the organics/trace metals?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Will carbon export some or most of the organics/trace metals?

Some, not all.

 

[mmorrison55]

Export of accumulating organics such as toxins from cyano, yellowing compounds, plasticizers etc.

Export of accumulating trace metals (aluminum and zinc are commonly elevated). Tin is sometimes a problem from plastic additives.

Constantly keeping the trends in major ions going in the right direction (back toward natural seawater, or at least toward the salt mix used). These include the sulfate/chloride ratio (can be disrupted by additives), bromide (may be consumed), potassium (may rise or fall, but falling is most prevalent)

Thanks… didn’t think about cyano control. I actually have a bit of it popping up and maybe should start some water changes back up more frequently until it’s gone.

 

[saltyfins]

Reef Moonshine. but I do still do water changes, but only probably 2-3 times a year.

 

[56longroof]

Reef Moonshine. but I do still do water changes, but only probably 2-3 times a year.

Im planning on monthly water changes. I still believe they are beneficial to the health of the tank.

 

[BuffaloLake]

Full Triton method with a MYTE subscription. I pay a monthly fee, which is less than I used to pay for salt mix and RODi supplies. The subscription gets me a monthly ICP test, plus a custom mixed trace elements bottle based on the results.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

AFR was what I was using and running carbon

 

[56longroof]

AFR was what I was using and running carbon

Im dosing AFR,kalk,and magnesium right now. Everything seems to be doing great with good growth.

 

[GuppyHJD]

(Edit)

 

[X-37B]

I do 5% once a month and dose trace elements through my ato.
It keeps these 6 elements in range from icp testing. I have used it for over 7 years now. Never saw a need to dose any other elements.
2.5ml per ato gallon is what I dose.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Because my tank is balanced, ive stretched out water changes and do add trace elements one day a week
For many years, I did water changes 2X a year