Water change for 12 gal nano

Jlobo · 04/01/2011, 10:18 PM

I've been doing 20% every 2 weeks. Sound okay or would the 10% every week be better for this small tank?

Jabrams · 04/01/2011, 10:25 PM

Hi,
is this the same tank listed in your signature?

Perhaps you have heard by now, your biowheel is useless

Do you feel comfortable removing it?

Water Changes - thats alot to change with such a small load, consider 5%.
Then again, it all depends on your aim...

You going reef?
Hard or Soft Corals?
Fish / Invert only?

Are you testing your water?
What are your readings?

I have had small tanks for most of my life. 20% is rarely done unless its really called for in the numbers (test results) otherwise 5 % is fine.

Are you skimming?
Do you have an algae problem?

Jlobo · 04/01/2011, 10:28 PM

Yes, same tank.
Remove biowheel and replace with what?
Not going reef- FOWLR
Yep, lots of testing. sg 1.023, pH 8.2, am 0, trite 0, trate 0
no skimming, some diatoms

duncantse · 04/02/2011, 01:28 AM

If your only doing a fowlr, you can keep the biowheel. How many fish are you going to stock it with? 1-2 fish, 10% every 2 weeks. 2-3 fish, 20% every 2 weeks.

Chris27 · 04/02/2011, 05:44 AM

Let your test results depict if you should do a water change or not. If you're measuring 0 Nitrate and Phosphate, there really isn't any reason to do a water change.... especially with a FOWLR tank where trace element replenishment isn't a worry.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/02/2011, 07:01 AM

there really isn't any reason to do a water change...

IMO, there are other reasons that water changes are worth doing. I don't change water to reduce nutrients, but to import and export the many things that have begun to deviate from the starting levels, most of which I do not and cannot easily measure.

I've been doing 20% every 2 weeks. Sound okay or would the 10% every week be better for this small tank?

I doubt you'll notice any difference, but if it were me, I'd do smaller, more frequent changes. I actually do 1% daily, slowly and automatically, but taking out a gallon or so each week manually is no big deal in terms of your time and effort.

Jlobo · 04/02/2011, 09:16 AM

Just 1 goby and feather duster or maybe goby/shrimp combo is all I will put in this tank.

04/01/2011, 10:18 PM	#1
Jlobo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 359	Water change for 12 gal nano I've been doing 20% every 2 weeks. Sound okay or would the 10% every week be better for this small tank? __________________ 29 cube

04/01/2011, 10:25 PM	#2
Jabrams Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 1,188	Hi, is this the same tank listed in your signature? Perhaps you have heard by now, your biowheel is useless Do you feel comfortable removing it? Water Changes - thats alot to change with such a small load, consider 5%. Then again, it all depends on your aim... You going reef? Hard or Soft Corals? Fish / Invert only? Are you testing your water? What are your readings? I have had small tanks for most of my life. 20% is rarely done unless its really called for in the numbers (test results) otherwise 5 % is fine. Are you skimming? Do you have an algae problem? __________________ I Live South of the South, On The West coast of the East coast, on a Peninsula of a Peninsula

04/01/2011, 10:28 PM	#3
Jlobo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 359	Yes, same tank. Remove biowheel and replace with what? Not going reef- FOWLR Yep, lots of testing. sg 1.023, pH 8.2, am 0, trite 0, trate 0 no skimming, some diatoms __________________ 29 cube

04/02/2011, 05:44 AM	#5
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Let your test results depict if you should do a water change or not. If you're measuring 0 Nitrate and Phosphate, there really isn't any reason to do a water change.... especially with a FOWLR tank where trace element replenishment isn't a worry. __________________ Fill your tank with $5 bills, add gasoline and light it on fire.....only then will you know the real cost of reefing. Current Tank Info: 180 Mixed Reef

04/02/2011, 07:01 AM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	there really isn't any reason to do a water change... IMO, there are other reasons that water changes are worth doing. I don't change water to reduce nutrients, but to import and export the many things that have begun to deviate from the starting levels, most of which I do not and cannot easily measure. I've been doing 20% every 2 weeks. Sound okay or would the 10% every week be better for this small tank? I doubt you'll notice any difference, but if it were me, I'd do smaller, more frequent changes. I actually do 1% daily, slowly and automatically, but taking out a gallon or so each week manually is no big deal in terms of your time and effort. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

04/02/2011, 01:28 AM	#4
duncantse Fish Advisor Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,604	If your only doing a fowlr, you can keep the biowheel. How many fish are you going to stock it with? 1-2 fish, 10% every 2 weeks. 2-3 fish, 20% every 2 weeks.

04/02/2011, 09:16 AM	#7
Jlobo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 359	Just 1 goby and feather duster or maybe goby/shrimp combo is all I will put in this tank. __________________ 29 cube

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