Water Changes - How often should they be done?

dude, you usually have very well thought out advice, what's this about? It doesn't remove bacteria, well maybe some, but the good stuff lives on your rock and in your sand, not your water.

I believe you can limit water changes immensely given an awesome sump/fuge properly run with macro algae and reactors, with dosing, but that's a lot longer discussion than "don't do them". IMO

I believe Ingtar isn't a fan either but he's got Macro growing in his tank, well maybe his sump now that its running.

 

I mean, i HAVE Been doing thing for 3 years and have had 3 reef tanks, and i have done this this for my 3 years and it works for me. And alota people on here know me and know that my takes now and in the past are all pretty legit.

Siphoning and cleaning the sand once a week in a water change can do that. there is certain things in the water column that we cant test for unless were scientists and what not and have special tests. And that stuff that we cant test for, needs to stay in the water column and not be removed all the time.

A LFS wouldnt hire me if i was an idiot who had no clue what i was talking about. IM ending it on that.

 

Thats what im talking about, in the sand like when you sandvac it. But you want your water clean, but not too clean.

Do water changes, but you dont have to do them once a week, or once every two weeks IMO. I do one on mine MAYBE once every 4-5 months. I have loads of xenia nd chaeto algae and im fine. 0 everything.

 

When did local fish stores begin only hiring experts?

 

Lol exactly. The lfs doesnt exactly check if a guy is an idiot or not before they hire.

And i have always heard going sand vacs on a reef tank are a no go. I dont do them, and to contribute to this conversation, i do a 10% every 1-2 weeks

 

You know that because....? im sure they do some preliminary screening to make sure you have experience in dealing with fish and coral, fresh and salt. And now a days, its not what you know, its who ya know. And I would know because i was respectfully declined a position at mine, due to lack of experience, no matter how much i knew, and most LFS are family run businesses that can be picky with who they hire due to, well its their business. But im sure within a day or 2, the ones who know their stuff and ones who think they do, will show. Ive seen many come and go thru some stores around here.

Guys, Zoanthid obviously knows his stuff so bashing em for his techniques is like bashing tiger woods on his driving swing. it works for him so who give a flock.

Lets not clutter up the OP's thread with senseless comments about someone and his practices. Back to the task at hand.... Waterchanges.

 

I was at my LFS last week to get my water tested so I could compare with my results. Anyways, I mentioned that I do a 10% weekly WC and the girl was shocked. She said that that was way too much and that it results in more harm than good.

This is a really nice family run operation and they seem to know what they are doing but her reaction seems to be the opposite of everything I have read online. She was adamant that that many water changes messes with the alkalinity... perhaps she is used to larger tanks, but I always assumed with nano tanks, the more frequent the WC the better.

 

We obviously cant agrue about how an lfs hires its employees. But either way the pertentage of stores that could care less as long as the salesman brings in money is higher. You cannot say that most lfs's test every employee to make sure that theh definitly know their stuff.

Tiger woods isnt exactly doing well right now. Could i suggest a different example?

I didnt want to respond, but you did. Dont be a hypocrite and lets leave it at that

 

PM sent. :

 

Every tank is different, personally i do 10% every two weeks and everything does great. Nitrates stay at 10.