Water Changes: What "percentage" makes it worth doing?

What water change "percentage" makes it worth doing?

  • 5% - 10%

    Votes: 95 9.7%
  • 10% - 20%

    Votes: 512 52.0%
  • 20% - 30%

    Votes: 232 23.6%
  • 30% - 40%

    Votes: 30 3.0%
  • 40% - 50%

    Votes: 22 2.2%
  • 50% or more

    Votes: 14 1.4%
  • No water change is worth it

    Votes: 36 3.7%
  • Not sure

    Votes: 19 1.9%
  • Other (please explain in the thread)

    Votes: 24 2.4%

  • Total voters
    984

Sean W.

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I have a 55 gallon tank, which holds 47 gallons of actual water. I use a 20 tall to mix my water in, which actually holds 17 gallons. I don't quite fill it up all the way when making a batch for a water change, so I do 15 gallons, so that's a 31% water change.

I do water change probably once every 3 weeks or so, whenever my spidy sense tingles and says " I should probably do a water change ".

I gravel vac every time I do a WC
 

Discordian

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I have a bit of an unusual water change set up. I have a drain in my sump which is set at the same height as my ATO. Every Sunday I open up that drain and pump about 10% of my water volume from my mixing station into the tank and let the waste water flow out the drain. Makes water changes a breeze.
 

WVNed

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What’s your protocol ? Add 50% salt water and 50% RO/Di ? How much per day ?
I am using an automatic water change (AWC) system. It does it every day from my mixing station. I am actually about to install a new one using a Coralview Hydros XS and will do 6 gallons a day (1.5%) on a 400 gallon system. The one I have been using has gone faulty.
 

Appoloreefer

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Dear Abby,

I was told that water changes have a positive effect on my aquarium but what percentage of water should I change to make it worth it?

Sincerely,

Confused Reefer


image via @Reef Hacks and their Exploring Water Changes article.
Reef-Tank-Water-Changes.jpg
I have a 125 gallon and I usually do 20% every two weeks but have been thinking of cutting that back to 10% every two weeks.
 

CourtNjoeZreef

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I vote other. I do 10g in my 70 g system every weekend. when I have issues or doing maintenance such as algae control or some kind of medication ect I do 50%. anything over 50% I think is over kill and a waste of money. I use this method on fresh and salt tanks. above mentioned is my salt tank.
 

Blumon18

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Not only are you removing waste but are replacing other elements with new salt mix water.
Personally I do 10% per week.
Each tank is different as to how much a change will be needed. Every bit helps
For my 40 gallon I do a five gallon water change when I do mine sometimes maybe ten gallon depends on how my Parameters are
 

ChicagoReef

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For my 90 gallon reef, I have not done a water change since 2016. I do test my water every 3 months (Triton). I dose nitraphos and Aquaforest using the balling method. Tank looks great and my SPS, LPS, & softies are growing - too fast in most cases. :)
 

Reefvision

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More of “just in case” but for me and 220g tank 5% every 2weeks seems ok . My main checks are alk,cal,temp, mag.
 

efscamaro

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I have a Red Sea Reefer 525 XL mixed reef with about 18 fish, 4 tangs, 2 clowns, 2 wrasse, 3 anthias, 2 watchman gobies, 1 fire fish, 3 mystery fish and a gramma. There are 2 large blue legs, 3 huge snails, 2 peppermint's, 1, cleaner and a fire shrimp. Water tends to evaporate in the tank at a rate of a almost a gallon a day (California). On top of this I've been regretfully inconsistent on water intervals but on average it is 15 gallons every month or 2. I think my planted refugium and huge Nyos does the bulk of keeping the system clean but the tank looks healthy for the most part.
Red Sea 525XL.jpg
 

Dragon5704

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I have a 75 gallon FOWLR and have plenty of live rock, so probably net somewhere around 60 gallons, I change 15 gallons a week or 25%. Water stays clear and parameters are stable. Tank has been running 6 1/2 months now.
 

Dragon5704

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I have a 75 gallon FOWLR tank with plenty of live rock so I probably net around 60 gallons. I do water changes every week at 15 gallons or roughly 25%. Tank looks very clear and water is stable. Tanks been occupied for 6 1/2 months now.

20210403_155308.jpg
 

JKBrown

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I have a 110 DT and change 1% daily. I'm using three peristaltic pumps: new water to 110 gallon DT, DT to 30 gallon frag tank, frag tank to drain. Twice a day they run for 45 minutes. I have a low-level switch that opens when the new water tank is too low which stops the whole water ballet until I make new water.
 

marcus07

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Is the question in regard to regular maintenance? or to correct a known issue? If I need to correct something I do more that my regular 20% water change. I think the question needs to be more specific.
 

maleshka21

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Dear Abby,

I was told that water changes have a positive effect on my aquarium but what percentage of water should I change to make it worth it?

Sincerely,

Confused Reefer


image via @Reef Hacks and their Exploring Water Changes article.
Reef-Tank-Water-Changes.jpg
HI I'm new here and only been reefing for about 1.5 years. I do 20 % water changes every other week. I'm really hoping after 2 years when reef mature maybe it will not be necessary?
 

tc760

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HI I'm new here and only been reefing for about 1.5 years. I do 20 % water changes every other week. I'm really hoping after 2 years when reef mature maybe it will not be necessary?
My last tank was a 100g that was 5 years old. I did 25% every few months and the tank was awesome but got to crowded to I upgraded now I couldn't imagine going less than monthly if I didn't have my AWC running. I ran mostly LPS before now I'm into more SPS so they are not as forgiving
 
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