No Need For Water Change? Nitrate stays Low

[NemoReefer]

I know this is a silly question, but I couldn't find a straight answer by searching in the forums..

My nitrate has been staying at 2-3 PPM range for more than a week without a water change..

Is this mean I can do less water change (maybe once a month) or not doing any water change at all?

I have a 20g with a pair of small False Percula (1-1.5"). Two small shrimps and a clam, two corals.. couple snails.. that's all I have in my tank

The main purpose of carrying out water change is....?
keep the nitrate level in check and add trace of elements into the tank?? calcium??? I'm not too sure about the answer for my question.. Hopefully someone can clarify it for me

Thanks

[xtopher]

The main goal of reefkeeping is to keep all levels as consistent or as close to NSW levels as possible. Your trates are a bit high even though 1-2 seems low, most aquarists strive for 0 or as close to as possible (within decimal points). Other things you may want to test is calcium and phosphate as well as alkalinity/dKH and pH. All of these levels are important to your corals, not sooo important for your fish. If you don't like doing water changes all that much you can do really small ones once a week or a full w/c once a month choice is up to you, but keep in mind stability is the goal and a 30% W/C per month is the round number goal for most aquarists
HTH

[xtopher]

BTW for you 30% of your tank volume is 6 gallons. I myself have to change around 100 gallons a month for the 30% (not trying to brag, just trying to put it in perspective)

[NemoReefer]

Thanks for the input.

Do frequent w/c stimulate live stock growth?

[Wiskey]

The purpose for water changes is not only to keep nitrate low,.. it also replenishes elements, removes warfare chemicals, removes waste,.. etc,.. etc.

It is very important to do regular water changes IMHO,... I do and my Nitrate always equals 0. I do about 30% water changes every 2 weeks to a month.

Whiskey

[reefBoyDc]

Wiskey and Xtopher are right. Water changes do a lot more than keep your nitrates down, and in fact, nitrates are easily kept down naturally, by the LR. In a mature reef tank, nitrates should be undetectable.

Water changes will replenish the trace elements which your corals require to thrive. IMO, a water change is the easiest way to keep your levels good. Much easier than dosing, which can be hit or miss and requires lots of testing. I know a lot of folks here never dose anything, and rely on water changes to keep Ca and other traces in good proportions. I dose a little Ca and Alk, but that's it.

HTH

[Wiskey]

Very true,... I have an SPS tank so I dose allot of CA and Alk, but with the trace elements I rely on my water changes. The problem is you can't test for trace elements,.. so dosing them is asking for trouble.

Whiskey