Water changes - Aquarium Advice

esaone · 05-11-2008, 09:20 PM

I've done many water changes since I set up my tank and I was wondering if I should keep up the weekly change if my Nitrate doesn't go above 5.0?

austinsdad · 05-11-2008, 09:34 PM

5.0 is real good IMO. Some folks die for that.

Bi-weekly I'm thinking. Reef tank? How old is the tank now?

esaone · 05-11-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austinsdad

5.0 is real good IMO. Some folks die for that.

Bi-weekly I'm thinking. Reef tank? How old is the tank now?

I think it's about 3 months old now.
I haven't change in 3 weeks and I just tested nitrate at 5.0
No Reef.

CluelessInNY · 05-11-2008, 09:50 PM

so how is NitrAte 2.5? Is that okay for the fish to llive in?

mr_X · 05-12-2008, 07:27 AM

yes, nitrates aren't so toxic like nitrite and ammonia. a barely noticable presence won't hurt them.

ryshark · 05-12-2008, 11:20 AM

Hypothetically, if after 1-month without doing a pwc the water parameters are still pristine (nitrate-5, ammonia/nitrite-0, all trace elements still good etc) is it still a necessity to do a water change? Of course I always do, but I have wondered about this. My guess is that the pwc has something to do with removing dissolved organics as well???

fijiwigi · 05-12-2008, 11:24 AM

Well how do you test for trace elements?

mr_X · 05-12-2008, 11:35 AM

i would say its not necessary. do you test for trace elements?

ryshark · 05-12-2008, 11:49 AM

In addition to the norm, I test for Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphate.

mr_X · 05-12-2008, 12:05 PM

i don't test for anything anymore. i haven't tested my water in about 8 months. i do weekly waterchanges though.

05-11-2008, 09:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
esaone Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: WV Posts: 79	Water changes I've done many water changes since I set up my tank and I was wondering if I should keep up the weekly change if my Nitrate doesn't go above 5.0?

05-11-2008, 09:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
austinsdad Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland Posts: 3,908 Images: 12	5.0 is real good IMO. Some folks die for that. Bi-weekly I'm thinking. Reef tank? How old is the tank now? __________________ -Ray- "Life may not be the party we hoped for but while we are here we might as well dance!"

05-11-2008, 09:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
CluelessInNY Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: 20 minutes northwest of NYC Posts: 134	so how is NitrAte 2.5? Is that okay for the fish to llive in? __________________ ...No seriously, I don't know what I'm doing.

05-12-2008, 07:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
mr_X Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: paoli, pa Posts: 56	yes, nitrates aren't so toxic like nitrite and ammonia. a barely noticable presence won't hurt them. __________________ thanks. Doug

05-12-2008, 11:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
fijiwigi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Yakima, Washington Posts: 1,045 Images: 7	Well how do you test for trace elements? __________________ The "experts" are many, but the truths are few. "When we have stopped learning, we have stopped listening"

05-12-2008, 11:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
ryshark Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 355	Hypothetically, if after 1-month without doing a pwc the water parameters are still pristine (nitrate-5, ammonia/nitrite-0, all trace elements still good etc) is it still a necessity to do a water change? Of course I always do, but I have wondered about this. My guess is that the pwc has something to do with removing dissolved organics as well???

05-12-2008, 11:35 AM	#8 (permalink)
mr_X Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: paoli, pa Posts: 56	i would say its not necessary. do you test for trace elements? __________________ thanks. Doug

05-12-2008, 11:49 AM	#9 (permalink)
ryshark Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 355	In addition to the norm, I test for Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphate.

05-12-2008, 12:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
mr_X Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: paoli, pa Posts: 56	i don't test for anything anymore. i haven't tested my water in about 8 months. i do weekly waterchanges though. __________________ thanks. Doug

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode