Water changes - Page 2 - Aquarium Advice

cmor1701d · 05-12-2008, 12:58 PM

There is a lot more in the water than the items we can test for. A regular pwc helps to remove items we don't want in the water column and add back the trace minerals we don't test for. Weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly, it should part of your routine maintenance. I do 20% every other week.

Skyrmir · 05-12-2008, 03:53 PM

Nitrate is just the indicator used to detect all the processes going on in the tank that it would be too hard to test for. Kinda like a sniff test on a baby. If it don't smell right, it's probably best to change it. The bonus of a water change is you don't get the nasty surprise of actually finding out what's in the diaper.

And just like the diaper, you really don't want to bother checking the exact composition of the contents unless you really have to, since 90% of the time the solution is the same. Change it.

CatatonicBug · 05-12-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyrmir

Nitrate is just the indicator used to detect all the processes going on in the tank that it would be too hard to test for. Kinda like a sniff test on a baby. If it don't smell right, it's probably best to change it. The bonus of a water change is you don't get the nasty surprise of actually finding out what's in the diaper.

And just like the diaper, you really don't want to bother checking the exact composition of the contents unless you really have to, since 90% of the time the solution is the same. Change it.

ROTFLOL!! I love the analogy! Nice way to look at it!

**Ziggy953** · 05-12-2008, 04:44 PM

I agree with Cmor, changing water is part of regular maintenance. I cange about 25% every other week and have since I started the tank. Remember that these are closed systems and refreshing the water is a good thing. Your fish and corals will be much happier.

**melosu58** · 05-12-2008, 06:42 PM

One thing to remember is that PWC`s just are not for reducing excessive nutrients. They are also for adding trace elements that get used up during different processes in the tank whether it`s fish or coral. When you add new SW you are adding over 89 different salts that contribute to the many trace elements in the tank. Whether you have to do PWC`s every week or every month depends on what`s in the tank IMO.

05-12-2008, 12:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,358 Images: 43	There is a lot more in the water than the items we can test for. A regular pwc helps to remove items we don't want in the water column and add back the trace minerals we don't test for. Weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly, it should part of your routine maintenance. I do 20% every other week. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

05-12-2008, 04:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 2,881 Images: 5	I agree with Cmor, changing water is part of regular maintenance. I cange about 25% every other week and have since I started the tank. Remember that these are closed systems and refreshing the water is a good thing. Your fish and corals will be much happier. __________________ Happy Reefing! *NEW 150G Pick up 6/29/08 Build will be 4th of July weekend* Visit our Article section for answers on a variety of topics. LFS, PWC, PH RO/DI what in the world? Look here! Pods, algae and more!

05-12-2008, 06:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 11,260 Images: 73	One thing to remember is that PWC`s just are not for reducing excessive nutrients. They are also for adding trace elements that get used up during different processes in the tank whether it`s fish or coral. When you add new SW you are adding over 89 different salts that contribute to the many trace elements in the tank. Whether you have to do PWC`s every week or every month depends on what`s in the tank IMO. __________________ View My Tanks Click here to Visit FantasyReef

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05-12-2008, 03:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
Skyrmir Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 508 Images: 9	Nitrate is just the indicator used to detect all the processes going on in the tank that it would be too hard to test for. Kinda like a sniff test on a baby. If it don't smell right, it's probably best to change it. The bonus of a water change is you don't get the nasty surprise of actually finding out what's in the diaper. And just like the diaper, you really don't want to bother checking the exact composition of the contents unless you really have to, since 90% of the time the solution is the same. Change it.