Water Changes

[JJ1234567]

I dont want to sound lazy, even though I probably will. I have a question. I test bi-daily, so every other day. If your water parameters are all superb, is it necessary to do a weekly water change ( I have a nano). I only ask because it does seem to stress the inhabitants out, so it seems like you would want to go the longest time possible. Someone please correct me if Im wrong, or steer me in the right direction.

 

[Darrell]

I know a guy in a Garden Centre who has set up a community tank with all sorts of corals in. He has had it running 3 months and said to me he has not done a water change ever with this setup, because the parameters have been stable.

I must say, the fish and corals don't look like they are feeling any ill effects.

I am only going off somebody elses experience, and maybe it is luck for him

 

[Navarre]

My lfs has got a 10 gallon nano tank on their counter. It hasnt had a water change in the time i can remember it being there... (at least 3 months!) Corals and fish appear to be doing fine.

My nano at home does get water changes more often than my large tank... every 2 weeks so far although i could probably achieve once per month if i was veryt careful with feding and stocking etc.

 

[billa_bong]

IMO on all aquariums (fresh and salt) it really depends on the tank, i mean my 30 gallon freshwater right now. i just fill it up for evaporations, other than that all my fish are fine.

I understand there is a lot more to reef tanks, but If you don't have any dying or stressed out fish and your water perameters are fine, don't mess with it, if something starts looking funky or your nitrates get high, i would do a immediate water change IMO

 

[Great Lakes]

If a person is running a skimmer, IMO, the greatest reason for water changes, (nutrient export), is greatly diminished.

IF runnimg a nano tank with no skimmer however, it does seem to be a necessity.
But if everything is hale and hearty, hey, stretch it out a bit.

I have always believed that too frequent water changes just invite additional chances for variables that I would rather avoid.

GL

 

[steelhealr]

Hi....I have to agree with Great Lakes. I think water changes on a nano reef are important during it's maturation process and shouldn't be avoided. 10% on a weekly basis. HOWEVER, if you are running a skimmer like GL states, and your nitrates seem to be consistently running very low, i.e, 0-5ppm, I would think that you could probably stretch it. Unfortunately, when things go bad in a nano tank, they go bad VERY RAPIDLY. You must use your judgment. IMO, without a skimmer, you need to do weekly water changes. If skimming, I think it is probably safe to observe and see how your tank does. Good luck and let us know what you decide and how it goes. SH