Water change question

[Kargawd]

Good morning, I would like to ask a question. I have a RS G2 Max XL, 33 gallon total volume that has been running since November 24. I have been doing weekly 5 gallon water changes, salinity has always been 1.024/1.025, ph stable at 8.2. I run a reef dose with the 4 part program and manually dose nopox daily. I have seen my numbers falling into place. Todays test results were as follows.

Salinity= 1.025
PH= 8.2
Calcium= 455
Nitrate= 9.2
Alkalinity= 9.9
Phosphate= 0.01
Magnesium= 1260

My question is, should I do my weekly 5 gallon water change or switch to every two weeks for my water changes, due to the fact that my numbers seem to be in line.? I keep 6 fish, 1 fire shrimp and mainly soft corals and everything seems happy. Thank you in advance for input.

 

[Reef Wizard]

Good morning, I would like to ask a question. I have a RS G2 Max XL, 33 gallon total volume that has been running since November 24. I have been doing weekly 5 gallon water changes, salinity has always been 1.024/1.025, ph stable at 8.2. I run a reef dose with the 4 part program and manually dose nopox daily. I have seen my numbers falling into place. Todays test results were as follows.

Salinity= 1.025
PH= 8.2
Calcium= 455
Nitrate= 9.2
Alkalinity= 9.9
Phosphate= 0.01
Magnesium= 1260

My question is, should I do my weekly 5 gallon water change or switch to every two weeks for my water changes, due to the fact that my numbers seem to be in line.? I keep 6 fish, 1 fire shrimp and mainly soft corals and everything seems happy. Thank you in advance for input.

In my honest opinion. I would stick with the weekly changes. That may not be what you want to hear but need to hear.

Switching to biweekly or even monthly potentially (not saying it will) turn into not doing it at all or sparingly. In the long run that would do more harm than good.

Plus if something were to happen where you cannot get to the tank husbandry like you normally would you would have more time to take care of other business and your tank will somewhat be okay for longer.

This is all from my experience as I cracked a bone in my foot last year and took a good 5-6 months to comfortably walk on it and my tank nitrates got up in the 60's

This is all my take on it. I think consistency is key in this hobby

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do water changes to fix things we cannot or do not measure (such as organics). I'd still do them. 5 gallon weekly on your tank may not be needed however. I usually do 1% daily.

FWIW, phosphate seems lot to me. It may be OK, but I'd feed more or dose food grade sodium phosphate.

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/
4. What targets seem reasonable? Of course, that depends on all the other factors at play, such as types of corals, availability of ammonia, particulate foods, etc. However, for a mature mixed reef, this would be how I personally would run it:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.