Weekly waterchange vs bi daily waterchange

MTF7 · 08/20/2017, 10:15 PM

Hello everyone!

For the past 6 months of my Reef tank I have been doing a weekly waterchange (sometimes a little longer than a week) but I have a 15g reef tank and I do a 5g water change when I do. I've had great results with this routine but a few things that I have taken note of.

1. My water evaporates extremely fast. I haven't calculated but i do have a 30 gallon biocube that can go almost a month without top off and my 15g I can't go 3 days at most. I actually need to try and top off once a day.

2. Due to all of my corals my alk gets eaten up pretty fast. ( I replenish it now with my top off)

However I have been pondering what if I keep the 5g weekly waterchange but I spread it out to every 2-4 days I take out 2.5 and put back in a fresh 2.5? I think this would also benifit a ton as it also isn't as big of a waterchange and be easier on my livestock. ( I haven't had a problem at all doing a 5 gallon waterchange weekly in such a small tank)

What do you guys think? I am probably going to try it out for a month and see the feedback from my tank

oscargrumete61 · 08/20/2017, 10:31 PM

Why not keeping same routine but adding an ATO ?

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MTF7 · 08/20/2017, 10:38 PM

That's a possibility but I'm also in college sooooo if I can go without spending money on one that's the way I gotta go. Plus another factor in 2.5 every other day or so is faster nutrients are taken out faster new fresh clean water is put in

mcgyvr · 08/21/2017, 10:22 AM

Yes you can certainly do more frequent but smaller water changes..
Its not going to change your evap rates though..
And the benefits are slim to none..
and a 10G single change is not the same as 10 x 1G changes..

good read here..
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

LuizW13 · 08/21/2017, 01:33 PM

I evaporate 7 cups a day in my 25 gallon. Bought a Tunze osmolator = problem solved.

08/20/2017, 10:15 PM	#1
MTF7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 285	Weekly waterchange vs bi daily waterchange Hello everyone! For the past 6 months of my Reef tank I have been doing a weekly waterchange (sometimes a little longer than a week) but I have a 15g reef tank and I do a 5g water change when I do. I've had great results with this routine but a few things that I have taken note of. 1. My water evaporates extremely fast. I haven't calculated but i do have a 30 gallon biocube that can go almost a month without top off and my 15g I can't go 3 days at most. I actually need to try and top off once a day. 2. Due to all of my corals my alk gets eaten up pretty fast. ( I replenish it now with my top off) However I have been pondering what if I keep the 5g weekly waterchange but I spread it out to every 2-4 days I take out 2.5 and put back in a fresh 2.5? I think this would also benifit a ton as it also isn't as big of a waterchange and be easier on my livestock. ( I haven't had a problem at all doing a 5 gallon waterchange weekly in such a small tank) What do you guys think? I am probably going to try it out for a month and see the feedback from my tank

08/21/2017, 10:22 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Yes you can certainly do more frequent but smaller water changes.. Its not going to change your evap rates though.. And the benefits are slim to none.. and a 10G single change is not the same as 10 x 1G changes.. good read here.. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php __________________ Who me?

08/20/2017, 10:31 PM	#2
oscargrumete61 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 82	Why not keeping same routine but adding an ATO ? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/20/2017, 10:38 PM	#3
MTF7 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Illinois Posts: 285	That's a possibility but I'm also in college sooooo if I can go without spending money on one that's the way I gotta go. Plus another factor in 2.5 every other day or so is faster nutrients are taken out faster new fresh clean water is put in

08/21/2017, 01:33 PM	#5
LuizW13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Under the sea Posts: 309	I evaporate 7 cups a day in my 25 gallon. Bought a Tunze osmolator = problem solved.