Water Changes

[richardhmc]

I'm trying to figure out how much water I should be changing per water change. I have a 50 gallon tank + 10 gallon sump.

I do weekly water changes of 5 or 10 gallons. which should I be doing?

Is there like a certain percentage of the display tank that I should be changing? Thanks!

 

[batt600]

5 gallons is fine for a 50 gallon

 

[Dre]

First of all ,ask yourself why am i making a water change? Most people make unecessary water changes, they have no clue as to what is going on in their tanks.
Test the water quality before you make a water change. It may save you time and money.How can someone say oh, change 10 or 20 gals a week and they don't have any idea as to what the water chemistry is ?

 

[Wes]

Water changes are still important when water quality is good to replenish trace elements we don't test.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[richardhmc]

I always thought that water changes = good.
But ive been told that too much of it is bad.

I do test my water frequently and this is as of today's test.

calcium: 420 ppm
Alkalinity: 7 dkh
PH: 8.2
Phosphate: Not sure
Nitrate: 0 ppm

and this test is before doing a water change. I haven't done one yet for this weekend cause I'm thinking about how much I should be changing

 

[Dre]

Water changes are still important when water quality is good to replenish trace elements we don't test.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

That's a reason part by what and how much is been removed and tank occupance.

 

[richardhmc]

how often and how much do you guys water change? how big are your tanks

 

[nanchil]

I have 75G and 30G sump. I do 10G and 15G in alternative week.

 

[DrHarryLopez]

400 g system 50 gals evry 10 days about 30% a months

 

[FaviaFreak]

I never had anything but positive results after I do bi-weekly waterchanges. I tend to agree that larger weekly water changes never really let the tank settle/recover in time before the next water change is done, there should be some time between wc's for the tank to benefit fully

 

[richardhmc]

Back then, I used to do 10 gallon water changes weekly.
Then one time, I forgot to do a water change and and after two weeks, my tank was looking AMAZING. Everything was opened fully and colorful!

Only thing is that my calcium and alkalinity drops. Now I get why people dose. The reason why I never needed to dose was cause I did so frequent water changes that my calc and alk were almost constant

 

[batt600]

You can do weekly as long as its a small amount . I do water changes every week 10g on a 75g with a 30g sump and fully stocked Sps tank

 

[125reefer]

i look at it like this.i have a 125 with a 40 gallon sump.i have like 150 to 175 lbs of rock.so my main tank prob has around 100 gallons of total water volume.my sump is not filled all the way and it has a fuge with 20 lbs of rock so im guessing i have 30 gal of total water volume.so i do 10% of total volume which is 13 gallons.i do 15 cause its easier.in my 92 all together i have a total of 100 gallons total volume with 2 20 galon tanks for sump and fuge so i will be doing 10 gal every week

 

[greenstreet.1]

75g 10g every week

 

[tynman]

76 gal tank and a 20 gal sump and I do 20 gal bi weekly... with your tank I would do 10 bi weekly... every week cant be good for the back...

 

[kaOzGrUnT]

90 gal display, 40 gal breeder as sump, I guess my total volume is about 110-120gal.
I change 10 gal once a month, I dose calcium and trace elements.

 

[saltboy]

what about a 12 gallons jbj? I am doing 2 gallons per week.

 

[blueink]

i would do 10 gal/2 weeks instead of 5 gal/week

 

[richardhmc]

Alright thanks all!