Waterchanges might be a farce

[ReefLab]

I just want to mention, for those suggesting that 10% water changes damage phytoplankton populations that the time
It takes for phyto to double their population is anywhere from a few hours to 2 days.
So let’s say they reproduce every day 2x
Water change day leaves 90% day 2 gives 180% day three 360% of water change day..

Of course this does not account for skimming or UV usage but bacteria grow so quickly 10% reduction weekly is negligible.


https://www.eolss.net/Sample-Chapters/C09/E2-27-03-02.pdf

 

[lefkonj]

There are so many variables here I think it depends on the individual.

My 180 gallon mixed reef used to get 35 gallons a week changed out. I switched to a AWC system that does the 35 gallons a week but in small tiny levels each hour. I am basically doing 5 gallons a day spread out. I see a more stable level to all my measurements as a result.

 

[Tired]

With minimal to no water changes, I worry about trace elements that aren't tested for or dosed. Animals need all sorts of trace elements to live. Like strontium. I know I need strontium, but I don't know if fish need it, how much they need, or where they get it. I assume they need it.

If we're asking "can nitrates and phosphates be removed from a tank in other ways than water changes", the answer is yes, absolutely. Just look at the people who have to intentionally dose them.

 

[Rodrigo Segnini]

Thank you. Yes Dutch. Sorry, hopefully that didn't insult him.

Dutch is the Correct English term to describe someone born in The Netherlands!

 

[glennf]

In have a differrent approach which have been succesful for years now.

NO waterchanges, NO phyto, NO pods.
Just dosings, which controls all vital parameters.
- A powerfilter which remove dirt and produce crystal clear water
- carbon and iron dosing to remove nitrate and phosphate.
- Mineral dosings to replenisch elements
- I even need to dose phosphate and nitrate to keep up with coral growth.
Most of my tanks are mixed reef heavily stocked with a wide variaty of SPS/acropora
I have a few tanks that are running without waterchanges sinds 2004/2015/2018
Featuring on Reefhobbyist, Q1 2014: http://www.reefhobbyistmagazine.com/magazine-tiled-q1-2014-41.html

 

[2Wheelsonly]

Hm, I will try to siphon from the sump and see what happens. Will be tough with my setup, but possible

use a shop vac with a small nozzle attachment so you don’t suck your sump dry getting into all the difficult spots...

 

[glennf]

This is my 700 liters fragtank
Started in november 2018.
Since than no regular waterchanges.
Just a powerfilter and EZcarbon,EZbuffer, EZcalcium, EZtrace autodosing
I even have to dose phosphate and nitrate to keep up with the coralgrowth
NO SKIMMER SINCE NOVEMBER 2019
NO CORAL FEEDING, NO PHYTO, NO REACTORS, NO GFO

 

[glennf]

This is my 500 liters EZ550reef
Started in april 2015
Same story:
Since than no regular waterchanges.
Just a powerfilter and EZcarbon,EZbuffer, EZcalcium, EZtrace autodosing
I even have to dose phosphate and nitrate to keep up with the coralgrowth
NO SKIMMER SINCE NOVEMBER 2019

EZ550reef featuring on RHM issue Q2 2019.
https://issuu.com/reefhobbyistmagazine/docs/190414173416-12100e1c8e5b4daeac5f6aa0c0db4c34/14

 

[Aleks]

This is my 700 liters fragtank
Started in november 2018.
Since than no regular waterchanges.
Just a powerfilter and EZcarbon,EZbuffer, EZcalcium, EZtrace autodosing
I even have to dose phosphate and nitrate to keep up with the coralgrowth
NO SKIMMER SINCE NOVEMBER 2019
NO CORAL FEEDING, NO PHYTO, NO REACTORS, NO GFO

I see that you have very simple and unpretentious corals in keeping.
This explains a lot.

 

[terraincognita]

His name is Glenn (@glennf) and he’s actually a member here.

his methodology is know as Dutch synthetic reefing and the simplified version is available here in the states. Some users are already running it and I’m planning on running it with my build

You mention a "simplified" US Version. Can you drop some links or something to this?

Anyone done a math calculation of cost on just WC's and Salt VS Increased Dosing? wonder if there's a big difference.

 

[MichaelReefer]

I haven't done a water change in over three months and my tank is healthier and better than ever.

 

[terraincognita]

I haven't done a water change in over three months and my tank is healthier and better than ever.

Was WC’s the only thing you changed?

One thing I’m noticing and hemming and hawing over is stability.

Almost like for certain people their WCing was providing unstable params. Maybe for others though due to their dosing feeding schedules it is vital for removal.

Trying to see and wondering correlation differences on how stability and WCs are effecting each other.

If anything I think the key component of people finding success with no or minimal WC just seems to be stability. But it begs more questions about what else they were doing as well before WCing.

Also some people will gravel vacuum, and scrub and clean every water change (like myself) while others will one once a month and then change weekly without disturbing anything.

We all know stability is king, think we’re all just trying to carve our own paths to ultimate stability lol

I want to become a billionaire so I can just set up 1,000 tanks and run every test ever :P

 

[BeltedCoyote]

You mention a "simplified" US Version. Can you drop some links or something to this?

Anyone done a math calculation of cost on just WC's and Salt VS Increased Dosing? wonder if there's a big difference.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dsr-usa-q-a.741350/

 

[Rjmul]

I feel we change far to much water and it is counter productive. The tanks with the most tweeking and messing with are the ones that crash the most.
I change about 20% of my water maybe 4 or 5 times a year and have been doing that or less for fifty years.

No problems yet.

This is a great tank. What's the thing that looks like a cannon around the middle

 

[Rjmul]

Shhhh

Wet skimming => water changes.

Dry skim gang approves this message

 

[shred5]

This is a great tank. What's the thing that looks like a cannon around the middle

Looks like a bottle.

 

[Doglips56]

Looks like a bottle.

To me it looks like one of those pirate ship aquarium decorations you can buy at Petco or PetSmart but most of it is being hidden by coral growth

 

[Paul B]

It's a Grand Marnier Cognac bottle. I drink the stuff and don't know where to throw the empty bottles. I have 9 or 10 bottles in there but most of them are so covered you can't see them. Many of them I found in the sea while diving.

Bottles.

 

[Doglips56]

It's a Grand Marnier Cognac bottle. I drink the stuff and don't know where to throw the empty bottles. I have 9 or 10 bottles in there but most of them are so covered you can't see them. Many of them I found in the sea while diving.

Bottles.

Love it! I thought it was a ship decoration!

 

[Paul B]

No, I don't put anything in my tank that is not naturally found in the sea. I have dove in many places and always found bottles. :)