Are water changes necessary?

So how do you know? I know I have phosphates coming in, as my RO/DI tests positive for it...a small amount, but some none the less. That's why I run the Phosban reactor....but to be honest, I have seen no difference since I've been running it for 3 weeks. My tank always tested negative for it anyway.

As for No3, it does test negative...

Heck, I've done everything else, trying some water changes sure won't hurt anything.

 

I don't know a whole lot, but I have been through this successfully. Here is what i did.
1) Weekly 20% water changes with RO water reading all zeros
2) Started feeding more frozen foods and less flake. This way I could rinse off the food prior to putting it in the tank and it is easier to spot feed.
3) Removed all the stock filtration and started using filter floss and carbon which are changed out weekly.
4) Started feeding every other day.

I have just gotten back from being gone for three months. My wife has done a great job of caring for the tank, no deaths. If you look at my tank today though, it is experiencing a small amout of hair algae. As I am getting back into my routine (I have only been back for four days) the green menace is already in retreat. I have found that if I approach this hobby as water farming, the rest of the tank will take care of itself. Don't worry so much about what the tests read and just go absolutely nuts about maximizing water quality. Oh, an make sure you don't have old bulbs over the tank.

My Tank

 

The way you know is the fact that you have an algae outbreak. This, by definition, means that you have excessive nitrates and phosphates, or else you would not have an algae outbreak.

Now, your phosban reactor has been running for 3 weeks and no difference? What are you running in it? What kind of pump are you using, and how much flow are you directing through it?

But all that aside, it does sound to me like water changes would help you a lot, PROVIDED your source water tests zero for nitrates and phosphates. So if you are running RO/DI water, run a test on the water and make sure it is free of those compounds before adding to the tank. If they are chemical-free, I think that will be your solution.

EDIT: Whoops, just noticed you said you have phosphates in your RO/DI -there's a likely culprit. Contact the store you bought the RO/DI unit from and ask them what you need to replace to get a reading of zero.

 

I don't do water changes, only top-offs. I have done one since I've had the tank and that was right after cycling. I run a skimmer all the time and have increased my rock amount to just over 2lb/gal


Edit: I trace a VERY small amount of trace elements.

 

Why are there phosphates in your RO/DI? If that's the case, you need to start there. Either you are using an improper storage container, storing it too long, or something is amiss in the RO/DI unit itself. I would definitely hold back on water changes until you figure that out, as every time you do one, you're just feeding the algae.

 

No clue, unless the filters are old. I ordered some earlier today, hopefully they'll get it down to 0.

I make my top-off water daily, so it doesn't sit more than a day. I'll hold off on doing the water changes until I get the new filters and confirm the PO is 0.

I don't use flake, only frozen. I turn off my MP40w when feeding and pour and add the food to the tank slowly so I can see that all of my fish have eaten it. I was feeding every other day, but my fish guilt me into feeding them once a day...they following me around the tank when I walk by :

Thanks everyone for all of the great feedback. I'm really trying hard to keep this tank nice and make sure I tend to it...but man is this algae thing frustrating!

 

Are you making sure to drain off the defrosted water from the food before adding it to the tank?
At feeding every day, I suspect overfeeding as well.

 

Check your DI cartridge. As RO only is not very effective at removing phosphates, the DI does that.

 

I'm in the water change camp.. After a couple months of no water changes water balance can get out of wack... depending on what you're dosing. If you dose with epsom salt without water changes the ionic balance will be off. Sulfate levels may rise too high. Chloride levels get get too high dosing magnesium chloride and calcium chloride ect.
I've never seen a test kit for chloride or sulfate. Kent marine dkH buffer contains borat salts which are not used in aquaria. It artificially raises PH. Anyhoo.. not sure which of these was the culprit in my SPS department but I lost a couple corals and others were going down hill without water changes. All of the normal params were great. Maybe I could not do water changes if I had a calcium reactor with pure magnesium granulate? That way additives would be more on par with what is naturally in seawater.
I'm not saying you can't go without water changes and be just fine because I know lots of people do. I just know for me and my tank it seems to need water changes. Most of the corals in my tank were just fine without them. Also there's about 60 trace elements in seawater and I bet most scientist don't know which corals use how much of this and that.

 

Hmmmm. No I'm not. I generally mix a portion of a cube into some tank water and just pour it in...guessing that's a bad thing to do huh??

What's the correct way to do this? Let the cube thaw and drain off the excess?

Should I go to every other day?