water changes

[J-Money]

I want to make sure I have great water, but at what expense am I doing this? Do I lose beneficial stuff everytime I change? I have been changing 25-30 or so gallons a week and realized that ended up being 100% water turnover every month. I finally changed out some water today after waiting 2 weeks this time, and my water levels were all perfect before I even changed...As long as my parameters are all zero's should I cut down my water changes to once a month change 30 gallons or so?

 

[Opcn]

The main purpose of waterchanges in an FW aquarium is to take out excess nutrients, in an SW aquarium your LR should be absorbing those nutrients so all you need to take out is the polutants..

 

[chkltcow]

And water changes are also done in SW to replace trace elements that are in the salt mix... like strontium, iodine, etc.... the things you don't dose.

 

[Great Lakes]

IMO you are way overdoing it.

Once a month is plenty.

No matter how careful you are, a water change will always result in a change of condition in the tank. So you are compromising stability every time you do a water exchange.

Yes, they are necessary, but try to get a feel for just when it is truly needed.

It has been four months for me since my last change, but everyones tank needs are different.

GL

 

[hyrookin]

yeah, that sounds like too many.

if after two weeks your params. are at zero, you should be fine
every month.

but like great lakes said, you just have to get a feel for when you need
to do a water change.

 

[RamJet]

I am down to my 15 gallon nano (Gave my 75 gallon reef to my parents) I do a 20% every 3 months or so. Top off every few days. This tank does great and is a year old now.