Water changes

I know a lot of you don't do water changes and are against them, however, with my 55gal if I don't do them my tank gets bad...My question is, What time is better to do a water change? Day w/lights on Day time no lights or night/no lights?? Is there a difference?? I understand pH swings(lowers?) at night, so how do this play into the question?

 

I do water changes and am plenty for them.

My tank/fish/corals like them also.

For no particular reason I always do mine first thing in AM...as I mix change water night before and let it sit overnight with a heater and air pump bubbler.

(Morning is when I have the most energy also I guess - )

(Actually look forward to doing them...: - weird huh?) :Looking: (at least in my own tanks. ;D )

 

No, not weird Omard, I was just wondering if there was a recommended time to do water changes-day/night. I actually like to do mine at night. I make up the water in the morning, sit all day in aerator, no heater, still warm here, then do the change after the lights go out. I think it freaks the fish out less....

 

i noticed my corals get a bit stressed when i change water so i do it at night when their all closed up.i just figure its better not to disturb them when their eatting and taking in the light.if someone knows of a reason to do it at any certain time of the day thats best for the tank i'd like to here about it.

 

first thing first, nothing against water changes. but i have never done one and i have a tank with over 70 sps and over 50 lps and so on. my ?'s to you is what type of delivery system do you have for replacement water? i.e. (ro/di), what type of natural filtration do you have for such items as nitrates? i.e. (refugium), do you dose the essentials? i.e. (Ca, dKH, Mg, vitamins, trace elements), do you use carbon or phosphate removal systems? if you are going to do water changes on a reef tank the main thing to consider is to make sure the elements match the system i.e. (Ca, Mg, dKH), the Ph depends on the O2 level, if you aerate the water being introduced the Ph level will be higher than without if done with O2 enriched air vs. CO2 enriched air. even with a reverse regium schedule the Ph will drop at night without the main lights.

 

It really doesn't matter when you perform a water change as the results will be the same regardless IN MY OPINION! Water changes are very crucial to the over and long term success, especially with a large bioload and effective skimming and if you don't add trace elements etc.
To avoid the pH drop at night, dosing Kalkwasser is a good idea. Drip it into your sump or main tank as it will help keep your pH elevated as Kalk has a pH around 12!

 

I have done my changes in morning for so long, my fish certainly expect it to be done then.

Would probably go into shock if I did it any other time. :

(Oh, I do feed them first thing, then wait about an hour before water change. Have noticed there is always a bunch of pooping during feed time. --- might as well take most advantage of water change.)

 

Probably would not have to do all that "dosing" if you did regular water changes. :-/ (I just prefer not doing so)

 

Karma for that one...;D
No changes for me, like to spend my money on other things then salt buckets.
Do what ever works for you! My way works so why do any different.

 

For what its worth I do my water changes in the morning before the lights come on.