I haven't tested in 4 months...

chandlerchris · 12-21-2006, 12:48 PM

I have had my tank going (20 long, LPS, INVERTS, mated True Percs) since July 1, 2006. Since this is my third tank, I spent a lot of $$ (for me) on the best equipment, test kits, refractometer, monitoring equipment etc. I cycled, and slowly added livestock and kept up on my 25% water changes weekly. however, with my new job and being away from home so much, I have really neglected my tank aside from feeding and dosing Calcium, iodine, stontium and molybdenum and buffer. I have not tested anything or changed the water in 4 months (I have auto top off that feeds my Klak stirrer which feeds my sump, I also have protein skimmer running constantly that i empty but not clean every week).

I have to say that I have never had a healthier reef. It would seem to me that keeping my hand out of the tank and the chemicals in the bottles that my reef is better off. It also leads me to believe that water changes are overrated.

Comments and questions please.

Chris

PelagicMagic · 12-21-2006, 01:18 PM

keeping your hands out of the tank does show results.
I would not say waterchanges are over rated. If you have a large fish load waterchanges do help and if you have a low bioload you can get by with less waterchanges. Personally I do a 20-30 gallon waterchange every 1 to two weeks and the tank looks its best after a waterchange

Samduffman · 12-21-2006, 01:36 PM

I have heard, and have first hand evidence, that water changes don't really do as much as people say. If you have adequate biological filtration then nutrients will not be an issue. Water changes, especially on a weekly basis, constantly alter the water chemistry resulting in an unstable tank. I used to do weekly water changes and now I haven't done one in about 2 months, the tank looks ten times better now. I will stick to drawn out water changes.ffice

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PelagicMagic · 12-21-2006, 01:37 PM

sorry I dont agree, depending on bioloads nutrients are used at different rates and the same is true for build up of toxins and waste. Waterchanges are the most effective way to replace lost trace elements.

Wiskey · 12-21-2006, 02:09 PM

If nothing else water changes re*****h trace elements removed by coral growth and carbon, for this one thing alone they are worthwhile.

I would test your salinity, after skimming for 4 months and not adding any salt back it's possible that it could be a bit low.

Keeping your hands out of the tank is a very good practice though,... My bedroom tank that I never touch other than water changes is doing anmazing. I keep looking at it going "I probaly should skim wetter" Or "I really should do something with that Kalk reactor to keep my levels higher" or whatever, but then I keep thinking that the corals are happy and growing fast.

Whiskey

Samduffman · 12-21-2006, 02:29 PM

Water changes are effective at replacing lost trace elements, but are unecessary on a weekly or biweekly basis. Trace elements are just not used up that quickly by these animals. Really the only necessary supplements are calcium and alkalinity, maybe iodine and mg every once in a while, but otherwise the trace elements are not used up so quickly and probablly leach out of live rock or what ever else is in the tank.

DevilBoy · 12-21-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chandlerchris

I have had my tank going (20 long, LPS, INVERTS, mated True Percs) since July 1, 2006. Since this is my third tank, I spent a lot of $$ (for me) on the best equipment, test kits, refractometer, monitoring equipment etc. I cycled, and slowly added livestock and kept up on my 25% water changes weekly. however, with my new job and being away from home so much, I have really neglected my tank aside from feeding and dosing Calcium, iodine, stontium and molybdenum and buffer. I have not tested anything or changed the water in 4 months (I have auto top off that feeds my Klak stirrer which feeds my sump, I also have protein skimmer running constantly that i empty but not clean every week).

I have to say that I have never had a healthier reef. It would seem to me that keeping my hand out of the tank and the chemicals in the bottles that my reef is better off. It also leads me to believe that water changes are overrated.

Comments and questions please.

Chris

Well you said you dose stronium, moly, and iodine? Do you test for these? if not then why you adding them? Too much iodine will wipe out a tank. so this goes back to the arguement about water changes. your water changes with your salt mix should replinsh these trace elements, and leaving you not to dose them.

SO i disagree water changes are not overrated.

PelagicMagic · 12-21-2006, 03:04 PM

best thing you can do for your tank is a waterchange

Wiskey · 12-21-2006, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PelagicMagic

best thing you can do for your tank is a waterchange

Whiskey

DevilBoy · 12-21-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PelagicMagic

best thing you can do for your tank is a waterchange

Samduffman · 12-21-2006, 03:37 PM

Alright, but why then does my tank look so much better when not doing weekly water changes compared to when I do them? I don't dose enough Iodine to kill anything, you can tell alot by the reaction of animals, you don't need to test everything.

PelagicMagic · 12-21-2006, 03:40 PM

i agree, I use corals to determie water quality, something looks bad I test.

how long do you mix the salt water before doing a waterchange and is it at the same salinity and temp as your aquariums water? I let my water mix a week before I use it. just a thought

Samduffman · 12-21-2006, 03:46 PM

I mix it up a day before and keep it at the same temp and salinity...i think it just disturbs the corals, making some exposed to air and altering the chemistry a little bit. I always used to think water changes were great, but recently because the looks of my tank, and the tank of the person who told me to try not doing water changes I am starting to think they are slightly overated when done more then once a month. In my experience, if the biological filtration is good enough, there is algal export or xenia export of nutrients along with enough live rock and bacteria then water changes really dont do too much.

Bemo · 12-21-2006, 04:02 PM

I almost never do any water changes except when thing look a little off. That is also when I test my water quality.

Twitterbait · 12-21-2006, 04:11 PM

You know... I agree with you that WC can make your corals look less happy, i rarely if ever do WC and i test only when i see a problem. if you skim well and watch your salinity then i totally agree that you should be doing fine. still test every few months or so to make sure. use caution when dosing, you can easily kill critters that way.