Attention all reef keepers who dont do water changes!!!

as u know im always willing to try something different because doing wc every week (7gallons) takes the fun out of our marriage(the tank and I). its too easy, so for the sake of helping our relationship (me and the tank) ill try dosing and no wc .so what all do i need to get started dosing guys? and are there any threads or how to's?

 

I did not do them all that often but after a near tank crash as the water lost stability even with testing I do a 10 percent every other week. I keep 60 gallons of ro water ready in basement at all times in the even of emergency. I do have a big tank so 60 gallons it 25 percent wc for me but you never know when you will need it!

 

That is a good point to keep at least enough water on hand to do at least a 25% WC in an emergency. I keep about 40gals on hand at all times.

 

You're right, I don't do them

I don't really do anything special. I have a fairly large skimmer, rated at 2X my total capacity, run carbon 24/7, have a fairly big fuge (1/10 the size of display), and that's it. For trace elements, I dose Kent's essential elements and coral vite about every three weeks or so.
I have not done a single water change on my 200 since it started up, and its had to be 6 or 7 months or so by now. Nitrates still at zero. But that's the way I liked to run my other tanks. No disrespect to anyone, but my belief is, that if you have to constantly do water changes to keep escalating parameters in line, you're failing at keeping a healthy tank. Just my two cents But I definitely agree with ermano too. I keep plenty of salt and all the equipment to so them if something were to go wrong. It's just not part of my usual maintenance.

 

+1

I also keep 10% of new made SW on hand plus 5 gallons fresh RO/DI just in case.

WC maybe twice in the past 12 months.

I auto dose to keep stable Ca/Mg/Alk

Berlin Method of filtration ... lots of LR and a descent skimmer; low bio load.

 

I dose the same stuff and no water changes here either except I dose about every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks.I know the ocean is alot larger than our aquariums but who does water changes in it ,right?