Water Changes in BC 29

AJSTITAN14 · 09/22/2009, 11:38 AM

Our BioCube only has one Damsel in it at the moment. a few weeks ago we put in some macro and this has stopped all the algae growth we used to get on the glass so it's done a lot for our nutrient export.

At this point I am thinking of doing water changes once a month or so since there's so little load on the tank and we have great export.

Should I just check the nitrates every 3rd day or so as it goes along and watch to see if the levels are slowly rising?

What other variables should I watch for when deciding to do water changes less frequently?

mullinsd2 · 09/22/2009, 11:55 AM

Yeah, thats what I would do.... I haven't done a water change in a month with my tank and it is fine, although I plan on doing one very soon.

LRStar · 09/22/2009, 12:25 PM

Excuse me, being a newbie and everything, but this post has me curious.

Do you have any corals in there? You posted this in the reef section so im going to assume yes?

There are a ton of trace minerals that you may be depleting by only changing water once a month. IMO (remember... newbie)

Is there a reason you don't want to do changes? Fish hate it? YOU hate it? Costs?

Its such a simple process for me, i just do it every week regardless. (29 gallon... easy mode im sure)

AJSTITAN14 · 09/22/2009, 12:26 PM

I posted in the wrong forum. Too many windows open I suppose.

Saltcity · 09/22/2009, 01:07 PM

I've got a 24g nanocube and I do a 2 gallon water change every three weeks.

brainwashed · 09/22/2009, 03:55 PM

3 things in my life are an always... death, taxes and water changes!

Not keeping up on them could come to haunt you. Especially on a smaller system. Once an algae takes hold of your aquarium it will be hard to rid it of that. Also less you will have to worry about supplementing trace elements. Also gives you a time when you can clear all the junk off the rock work and sand bed. I do 5 gallons every week, takes minutes and is very cheap. Get in the routine now or one day you will be a very upset person doing those water changes a few times a week with a loss of fish or corals.

Also do you happen to know what kind of macro you got? If you got the wrong kind it could take hold on the rock work and choke out any future corals you may get.

09/22/2009, 11:38 AM	#1
AJSTITAN14 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 305	Water Changes in BC 29 Our BioCube only has one Damsel in it at the moment. a few weeks ago we put in some macro and this has stopped all the algae growth we used to get on the glass so it's done a lot for our nutrient export. At this point I am thinking of doing water changes once a month or so since there's so little load on the tank and we have great export. Should I just check the nitrates every 3rd day or so as it goes along and watch to see if the levels are slowly rising? What other variables should I watch for when deciding to do water changes less frequently?

09/22/2009, 03:55 PM	#6
brainwashed Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 116	3 things in my life are an always... death, taxes and water changes! Not keeping up on them could come to haunt you. Especially on a smaller system. Once an algae takes hold of your aquarium it will be hard to rid it of that. Also less you will have to worry about supplementing trace elements. Also gives you a time when you can clear all the junk off the rock work and sand bed. I do 5 gallons every week, takes minutes and is very cheap. Get in the routine now or one day you will be a very upset person doing those water changes a few times a week with a loss of fish or corals. Also do you happen to know what kind of macro you got? If you got the wrong kind it could take hold on the rock work and choke out any future corals you may get. __________________ Josh Current Tank Info: 34 Solana

09/22/2009, 11:55 AM	#2
mullinsd2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 753	Yeah, thats what I would do.... I haven't done a water change in a month with my tank and it is fine, although I plan on doing one very soon.

09/22/2009, 12:25 PM	#3
LRStar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 20	Excuse me, being a newbie and everything, but this post has me curious. Do you have any corals in there? You posted this in the reef section so im going to assume yes? There are a ton of trace minerals that you may be depleting by only changing water once a month. IMO (remember... newbie) Is there a reason you don't want to do changes? Fish hate it? YOU hate it? Costs? Its such a simple process for me, i just do it every week regardless. (29 gallon... easy mode im sure)

09/22/2009, 12:26 PM	#4
AJSTITAN14 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 305	I posted in the wrong forum. Too many windows open I suppose.

09/22/2009, 01:07 PM	#5
Saltcity Moved On Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 4,297	I've got a 24g nanocube and I do a 2 gallon water change every three weeks.