Remember to do your water changes

[Harry_Y]

I slacked off for a while (ok a Long while) and did not
keep up with my water changes, everything looked ok.....

Then I realized I had been slacking and got diligent about them.

My tank went from Blah to Yeah.

Amazing what water changes can do.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Thanks for the reminder and yes I am going to do better!

 

[firsttime]

+1 I do see a lot of benefit with weekly changes, the tank looks much much better.

 

[DBarsotti]

I've never missed one water change since i started this hobby.. NEVER, NEVER EVER!

 

[MarvinsReef]

I've never missed one water change since i started this hobby.. NEVER, NEVER EVER!

:hammer:

I wish I can say the same but I've also just told myself to do more WC this year. instead of buying loads and loads of corals, I'll just invest more time keeping my tank clean and in good shape. wonder what that'll do in a year? ;)

 

[Harry_Y]

My water changes are about 25 gallons

It used to me a mess to do, but I plumbed in some pumps
so now it is really just a matter of flipping switches.

Then I just refill the container throw in
some salt and I'm good until next time.

 

[_Alex_]

i have started doign weekly over the past few months and have noticed a huge difference! but it is hard for me to do. i have to get water from the hospital i work at. its RO/DI to the max they use it for kidney dialysis and have to drain a 150gal tank every day so i get some at the end of the day whenevre i want. then haul it home mix it and change it ... not bad once i get home just sucks getting it from work. planning on buying a RO/DI unit when i get my tax return, will make things a a ton easier.

 

[Wy Renegade]

I've never missed one water change since i started this hobby.. NEVER, NEVER EVER!

Yeah, like Marvin, I wish I could say that. Personally I think this is one of the biggest issues in coral keeping. I also think that many times people will slack off in water changes and testing, then they are posting online asking for help cause corals don't look good, but all their parameters are in line. In reality, if they truly checked, their parameters aren't perfect because they haven't been keeping up with their water changes, they just know what their water parameters "usually" are. Anyway, just my $.02 worth and I'm off my soapbox now.

 

[skinz78]

I did a major WC yesterday when I did my tank swap. I changed about 100 gallons..... I can't believe how open my corals are today!

 

[cccharliecc]

I need to bump up the water changes, I do then once a month now and I may start to go every 2 weeks.

 

[KLR]

I use to do 18 gal changes every 3 weeks

But i have better coral growth and par results with 10 gal water changes every week or 2.

Tanks are 75,66,and 40 gals that i do this water change on.

 

[Harry_Y]

I use to do 18 gal changes every 3 weeks

But i have better coral growth and par results with 10 gal water changes every week or 2.

Tanks are 75,66,and 40 gals that i do this water change on.

Indeed as I got back to weekly things really picked up.

 

[arotbart]

Ok. So lets debate this....not the water changes, but the quantity. Here is a prime example. I just move my corals from my 90 to a 180. Brand Spanking new water, and let me tell you, I have corals opening up like I have never seen!!! I mean my welsos are puffing up like mad men, the acans are exploding and loving life, and I just started to migrate the Acros and the millis and an ORA red planet have crazy pollup extension.

So, I ask what is the ideal percentage of water change to the total volume of ones system and the frequency of it? Or is it more of a just do small changes as frequent as possible and every now and again (say 2-3 months) do a very large water change? I know that so much depends on the bio load, what you run (i.e., carbon, GFO, pellets, etc.), but at the end of day, clean water makes for a better system no?

 

[Troylee]

I think less is better myself like a 5percent a week.... Keeps things more stable.. As for me I don't change my water...
When I started this hobby i went a year and a half without one and my tank did better than any of the other ones..... I guess my mixes don't ever match up exactly... Right now my current display is on it's 7 month with no water change or testing lol.... I know my corals and I adjust accordingly to my dosing schedule.... I am getting ready for a wc here real soon tl's doing it again new year new tank!!!!! Ahahahahahahhh

 

[KLR]

What ive learned with reef keeping is to be consistent(probably spelled wrong), if you keep things the same dosing,water changes, etc. the livestock seem to thrive better. I do about 10% water changes weekly..i actually do a little bit more,but 10% is an ideal amount for weekly/bi weekly water changes.

 

[Harry_Y]

Here are my Thoughts as it is not just about the water changes.

Cleaner the better, more frequent (weekly) and larger changes (10%) and RO/DI is a must.

Understock your tank, I only have 7 fish in a 180
3 Tangs, 1 Fox Face, 1 Mandarin, 1 Clown &, 1 Chromis.

Feed them (I feed pretty heavy) If you are understocked and
doing your water changes your Nitrates etc should stay at Zero.

 

[bayareaquarist]

only ONE chromis!! I have 8 in my 55g...lol..I had to have a schooling fish..It is with only three other fish...and I swap them out when they get passed a certain size! -one of my all time favorite fish!

 

[Harry_Y]

I Had 16

One by one they vanished

 

[KingRicky]

I upgraded tanks in September. I started doing 35 gallon changes every other week. I have roughly 90 gallons total in my system. I have noticed exceptional growth since the upgrade.