Water change ?

I was under the impression that water changes are a necessity, I do 20g change on my 120 every other week. I was talking to a co worker who has a fish only 75g set up and he was talking how he tries to do as little water changes as possible and has a friend or two who never do a change, I believe his friends have between a 150g and 180g. Not sure on their set up, I do have a mixed reef set up. Can they get by with less water changes cause of a fish only set up or am I doing to much water change?

 

Depends depends depends.

If they keep a constant check on things like nitrates, phosphates, ph, kh and keep everything in check via dosing and chemical filters, and their systems are lightly stocked, then yeh. But thats going to cost you more $$$ than doing a water change

That being said, I've never seen a 150g fully stocked where the levels are stable and nitrates are in acceptable levels where no water changes take place. ;p

 

I change the water @ %10 monthly. I have a friend with an astonishing mixed reef and he does 4 water changes a year....weekly is the safest IMHO although.

 

I have a 120g.. I do 20-25g change once a month.

 

Water changes are done to export nutrients from waste and/or import elements that are being used by the inhabitants. There are other means for both, which long-term with a larger system will prove to be cheaper and easier. If you're running GAC, GFO, and/or bio-pellets and dosing cal, mag, and alk, there's a good chance you can reduce or even eliminate water changes, as long as everything remains stable.

 

It is much easier with fo systems because there are not as many parameters to keep in check. It can be done for a time with a reef, but there are certain things you can't reliably dose. When they are consumed problems will come up. I see a lot of poster children for not doing water changes, but I rarely see a reef make it past two years without regular changes.

Michael Rice
Marine Engineers Aquarium Blog
Sent from Tapatalk so excuse my poor English

 

In three years I did maybe 6 water changes on my (55 gallon) mixed reef. (and that was for trace elements, like said, those are harder to dose, but also, the idea that they are consumed up on a weekly basis is not based on any thing but a 'feel good feeling'. So weekly for trace elements is not justified IMO (though it is not "bad" either)).

Like said, the purpose of a WC is to export nutrients and/or import elements. If you are taking care of these things outside a WC then a WC is just an exercise.

I do have an autodoser and my tank is rock solid stable on parameters. I keep it stocked on the light side, do not over feed and have a large CuC from reefcleaners. (IMO, all requirements if you aren't doing WC regularly)

It is not a "necessity" but may be for "you". Your parameters and overall coral health should be your guide if they are needed or not.

I might add, I did that with crushed coral substrate (no refugium, no sump, HOB skimmer) too. So make of that what you will. There's lots of "advise" that is based on nothing more than common repeating by others...

 

I have a 75 and I do 10% water changes weekly and without fail.