Water Changes

JTL · 08/13/2017, 03:27 PM

Who still does weekly WC's? I still do, about 10% but maybe that is too frequent. Maybe some don't do them at all. I think about my swimming pool and spa. It never gets drained completely, but I do add top off water to handle the evaporation. I think through dosing we can replenish all of the depleted elements, but isn't doing a 10% WC better? Maybe not. For me doing 10% weekly, is about 2.5 boxes of salt per year. Certainly not cost prohibitive, especially if I don't have to purchase a bunch of supplements. The downside is maybe adding that much new water on a weekly basis is shocking the system and doing harm.

It will be interesting to hear what you reefers do and why and how it is working.

Vinny Kreyling · 08/13/2017, 03:47 PM

Mine works out to about 25% a month.
That is what was recommended back when I started & I just kept it that way.

JTL · 08/13/2017, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling

Mine works out to about 25% a month.
That is what was recommended back when I started & I just kept it that way.

Do you do it monthly or more frequent?

Vinny Kreyling · 08/13/2017, 06:30 PM

Weekly 15 gallons.

Cheapreef · 08/13/2017, 06:51 PM

Weekly 12% for me, just how it works out for my mix bucket.

SkyReef · 08/13/2017, 06:51 PM

I use an automated-water-change system, powered by a dual-head Masterflex pump. It automatically exchanges 1 gallon of spent saltwater with 1 gallon of new saltwater every day. This amounts to a 30% water change per month. Love it.

andywar · 08/13/2017, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyReef

I use an automated-water-change system, powered by a dual-head Masterflex pump. It automatically exchanges 1 gallon of spent saltwater with 1 gallon of new saltwater every day. This amounts to a 30% water change per month. Love it.

Can you please share the brand and components? Thanks in advance!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

djbon · 08/13/2017, 10:01 PM

Never did on purpose, almost 4 years now.

RobZilla04 · 08/14/2017, 06:29 AM

15% every 5 weeks or so.

JTL · 08/14/2017, 06:39 AM

Quite a range but it appears that I may be on the high side at 40% per month so perhaps I will scale it back.

Bpb · 08/14/2017, 06:50 AM

12% a week for me also. No water changes is the current flavor of the week. I won't be joining. Nor would I unless I had a very large tank. I've attempted it before and my corals didn't respond well. Regardless of what anyone says on paper, the eye test is the ultimate determining factor. My tank did poorly without them, and flourishes with them. So I will keep doing water changes.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

RobZilla04 · 08/14/2017, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTL

Quite a range but it appears that I may be on the high side at 40% per month so perhaps I will scale it back.

Wow! If you are testing frequently you can better gauge how often you need nutrient replenishment/dilution via water changes.

JTL · 08/14/2017, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyReef

I use an automated-water-change system, powered by a dual-head Masterflex pump. It automatically exchanges 1 gallon of spent saltwater with 1 gallon of new saltwater every day. This amounts to a 30% water change per month. Love it.

Isn't that more like 40% per month and are you allowing for rock and sand?

JTL · 08/14/2017, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobZilla04

Wow! If you are testing frequently you can better gauge how often you need nutrient replenishment/dilution via water changes.

It is on the aggressive side but I am obviously not the only one. I have a 150g system counting the sump but I figure the net water volume is approx 100g. Unfortunately there are some nutrients that are not normally tested, like strontium and potassium, trace elements and vitamins. At least I don't have the kits. IO recommends 20% wc every 2 weeks, but they also sell salt mix

SkyReef · 08/14/2017, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andywar

Can you please share the brand and components? Thanks in advance!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

So I am using a Masterflex pump with a dual head; 1 line pulls spent water, and the other pushes clean water. Simultaneously. Here is a link to an entire thread on the subject. It is awesome!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2349824

Good luck!

SkyReef · 08/14/2017, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTL

Isn't that more like 40% per month and are you allowing for rock and sand?

You might be right. I upgraded my tank to an 80-gallon, and with the sump and volume deduction for live rock, I was estimating 100 gallons total. The automated water change system is not 100% efficient in that a very small amount of new water gets changed. But it's a negligible effect.

homer1475 · 08/15/2017, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JTL

Quite a range but it appears that I may be on the high side at 40% per month so perhaps I will scale it back.

How is that on the high side? 40% a month = 10% a week. 10% a week is whats typically referred to when starting out as a newbie.

On my 80G total water volume(80G display + 30G sump - displacement = roughly 80G), I do 10G weekly WC's which is just slightly above 10%.

RobZilla04 · 08/15/2017, 06:42 AM

I still think that the general rule for WC's (10% / Week) is good for noobs. We were all there once. After one gets a good grasp of testing, tank maintenance, and nutrient swings (both good and nuisance) adjustments can be made to frequency and volume of WC's.

Look at the range of responses as evidence. Some do none. Some still do them weekly after 10+ years.

JTL · 08/15/2017, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobZilla04

I still think that the general rule for WC's (10% / Week) is good for noobs. We were all there once. After one gets a good grasp of testing, tank maintenance, and nutrient swings (both good and nuisance) adjustments can be made to frequency and volume of WC's.

Look at the range of responses as evidence. Some do none. Some still do them weekly after 10+ years.

1st sw tank was in 1985 and many more since then. Am I considered a newbie? I did take a few years off, so maybe. I think conventional wisdom is that water changes are good but amount and frequency is debatable. I have always been in the 10% per week camp for the simple reason it works for me and since most of my water volume has been about 100g, the effort and cost is minimal.

djbon · 08/15/2017, 07:22 AM

For me, everything boils down to cost. I don't have a thick wallet but I like this hobby very much. I will try my very best to run a tank successfully without burning a hole on my pocket. In my place, salt is quite expensive and a regular WC is costly. For some, money is not an issue, but for me throwing salt water down the drain is painful. Fortunately my tank has reached maturity and still surviving on old IO saltwater I mixed more than 3 years ago.

ktownhero · 08/15/2017, 07:42 AM

I change 5 gallons per week in my 112 gallon system. Actual water volume is only about 80g so it's roughly an 8% wc. I will occasionally skip a week or two though.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

cincyjim · 08/15/2017, 09:21 AM

I change 2 gallons a day on a continuous water change system. I'm close to the 10% per week/month for my tank.

tmz · 08/18/2017, 01:35 PM

1% daily

Big E · 08/20/2017, 02:08 AM

Fyi,water changes aren't linear when you're projecting what you get for a month from a daily or weekly water change......for accurate numbers this calculator will do the math for you.

https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/...aterChange.php

Timfish · 08/20/2017, 06:35 AM

This system started 20 years ago gets 7% weekly

08/13/2017, 03:27 PM	#1
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	Water Changes Who still does weekly WC's? I still do, about 10% but maybe that is too frequent. Maybe some don't do them at all. I think about my swimming pool and spa. It never gets drained completely, but I do add top off water to handle the evaporation. I think through dosing we can replenish all of the depleted elements, but isn't doing a 10% WC better? Maybe not. For me doing 10% weekly, is about 2.5 boxes of salt per year. Certainly not cost prohibitive, especially if I don't have to purchase a bunch of supplements. The downside is maybe adding that much new water on a weekly basis is shocking the system and doing harm. It will be interesting to hear what you reefers do and why and how it is working. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

08/13/2017, 03:47 PM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Mine works out to about 25% a month. That is what was recommended back when I started & I just kept it that way. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

08/13/2017, 06:30 PM	#4
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Weekly 15 gallons. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

08/13/2017, 06:51 PM	#6
SkyReef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 496	I use an automated-water-change system, powered by a dual-head Masterflex pump. It automatically exchanges 1 gallon of spent saltwater with 1 gallon of new saltwater every day. This amounts to a 30% water change per month. Love it. __________________ The aquarium is expanding, to meet the needs of the expanding aquarium. Current Tank Info: Aquarium: 75-Gal. Reef Aquarium Last edited by SkyReef; 08/13/2017 at 06:59 PM.

08/13/2017, 10:01 PM	#8
djbon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, MY Posts: 813	Never did on purpose, almost 4 years now. __________________ 75 gallon DT, 5 gallon sump, DIY LED bar with moonlight, DIY Arduino controller Current Tank Info: 75 gallon/Arduino Controller

08/13/2017, 06:51 PM	#5
Cheapreef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 1,076	Weekly 12% for me, just how it works out for my mix bucket.

08/14/2017, 06:29 AM	#9
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	15% every 5 weeks or so. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

08/14/2017, 06:39 AM	#10
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	Quite a range but it appears that I may be on the high side at 40% per month so perhaps I will scale it back. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

08/14/2017, 06:50 AM	#11
Bpb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 3,148	12% a week for me also. No water changes is the current flavor of the week. I won't be joining. Nor would I unless I had a very large tank. I've attempted it before and my corals didn't respond well. Regardless of what anyone says on paper, the eye test is the ultimate determining factor. My tank did poorly without them, and flourishes with them. So I will keep doing water changes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

08/15/2017, 06:42 AM	#18
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	I still think that the general rule for WC's (10% / Week) is good for noobs. We were all there once. After one gets a good grasp of testing, tank maintenance, and nutrient swings (both good and nuisance) adjustments can be made to frequency and volume of WC's. Look at the range of responses as evidence. Some do none. Some still do them weekly after 10+ years. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

08/15/2017, 07:22 AM	#20
djbon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, MY Posts: 813	For me, everything boils down to cost. I don't have a thick wallet but I like this hobby very much. I will try my very best to run a tank successfully without burning a hole on my pocket. In my place, salt is quite expensive and a regular WC is costly. For some, money is not an issue, but for me throwing salt water down the drain is painful. Fortunately my tank has reached maturity and still surviving on old IO saltwater I mixed more than 3 years ago. __________________ 75 gallon DT, 5 gallon sump, DIY LED bar with moonlight, DIY Arduino controller Current Tank Info: 75 gallon/Arduino Controller

08/15/2017, 07:42 AM	#21
ktownhero Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,426	I change 5 gallons per week in my 112 gallon system. Actual water volume is only about 80g so it's roughly an 8% wc. I will occasionally skip a week or two though. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

08/15/2017, 09:21 AM	#22
cincyjim Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,147	I change 2 gallons a day on a continuous water change system. I'm close to the 10% per week/month for my tank. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: SCA 150G, 5 inch sand bed, 2 Tunze 6095s, ReefBreeders v2+ 50" with 2 all Blue Reefbrites, and Continuous Water Change System

08/18/2017, 01:35 PM	#23
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	1% daily __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

08/20/2017, 02:08 AM	#24
Big E Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: South Euclid, OH Posts: 4,281	Fyi,water changes aren't linear when you're projecting what you get for a month from a daily or weekly water change......for accurate numbers this calculator will do the math for you. https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/...aterChange.php __________________ 80g Rimless Acropora System reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2197142&page=31 Ed

08/20/2017, 06:35 AM	#25
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	This system started 20 years ago gets 7% weekly __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek