Water Changes

Can weekly top offs do the same as the weekly water changes ?
My tank is being filtered about 20 times an hour. (I keep the ammonia and nitrate low now. 0)
-tx everyone, I'm loving this site.

 

Particulate in the water will not evaporate. Top-offs are only for replacing water that has evaporated, and you use fresh RO water for that. Water changes uses salt water and a siphoning hose, and a good way to do it is blow off your LR and then use the siphoning hose to suck out as much of the larger particulate you can see. I believe 20-30% of the water is standard for water changes. Also, turn off your pumps when you're doing your water change.

edit: if you are talking fresh water, everything I said still stands, except for the salt water part.

 

gyth is right what a water change does in saltwater is replace minerals and trace elements that get used up by corals and fish. Also it removes organic waste that the protein skimmer may not be able to remove.

 

Definitely not take the place of routine water changes. Good job guys!

 

gyth just wondering why you say turn off the pumps when your doing water changes

 

one reason could be so you don't damage them if you take out enough water thats its running dry. another could be when the pump takes in water and air it creates microbubbles. or possibly since he told you to stir up your detritus on the rocks its easier to catch if its only in one place.

 

It's mostly so you don't wreck your pumps. I'm not sure if you have a saltwater or freshwater tank, but with salt, return pumps and powerheads tend to be at the top, and if you run them dry, you can break them. Also, it's definitely easier to siphon the larger particulate in the water when it's not being pushed all over the place.

 

Yes , you should defenently turn OFF your water pump/s before doing a water change.
The water pump housings/impellers are made of plastic and when they "run dry" it will generate un-wanted heat into the housing/impeller and the little rubber parts.

And doing consistant regular water changes will reinstall those minerals that are lost over time by skimming and coral growth and of course replenishing with new water wil help in removing all those little nasties that do accumilate over time.

 

TX Everyone... Good Stuff! :dd

 

Just get into a routine, whatever you decide. I do a 30% water change one time per week. Some people do every other week. Some do little weekly changes and one large monthly. You will find out what works for you.