Water changes

spw4949 · 08/29/2008, 07:59 AM

I have a 46 gallon bowfront with a 10 gallon refugium,been up & running for about 6 weeks now, no fish yet just abot 50lbs. of live rock between the main tank and refugium. I have been out of the SW game for awhile now so I'm sorry if this ? seems a little on the stupid side. How often should I be doing water changes? At least once monthly depending on my values. My water has been testing fine up until last night. My nitrites are up at 5ppm. Everything else is fine, nitrates are at 0, ammonia at 0, salinity at 1.024,& my ph is at 8.4. When I'm doing water changes this early in the tanks development should I be vacuuming the bottom or just siphoning off water and adding fresh? Should I even do a water change at this point? ANy info would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Steve

Fish_wiz2 · 08/29/2008, 08:21 AM

6 weeks, fine. do em weekly if your water is off but i think monthly is ok if params are good

spw4949 · 08/29/2008, 08:50 AM

Should I be vacuuming my substrate yet? Probably won't hurt right? I do have my refugioum for bacterial growth....

Fish_wiz2 · 08/29/2008, 09:51 AM

I personally don't vac the trate because IMO it could remove too much sand exposing bacteria area causing them to die off polluting the tank

Dave & Monica · 08/29/2008, 11:30 AM

Don't vac - A lot of different opinions on how often to change water but I find every other week of 20% keeps all the corals looking healthy. I've tried the once a month at 20% then near 35% and always saw how particularly the soft corals looked so much better after a water change. I have a fuge, and skimmer and all the parameters checked out even right before the change. When I went to every other week, corals always look good. My 2 cents at least.

08/29/2008, 07:59 AM	#1
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Water changes I have a 46 gallon bowfront with a 10 gallon refugium,been up & running for about 6 weeks now, no fish yet just abot 50lbs. of live rock between the main tank and refugium. I have been out of the SW game for awhile now so I'm sorry if this ? seems a little on the stupid side. How often should I be doing water changes? At least once monthly depending on my values. My water has been testing fine up until last night. My nitrites are up at 5ppm. Everything else is fine, nitrates are at 0, ammonia at 0, salinity at 1.024,& my ph is at 8.4. When I'm doing water changes this early in the tanks development should I be vacuuming the bottom or just siphoning off water and adding fresh? Should I even do a water change at this point? ANy info would be appreciated. Thanks, Steve __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

08/29/2008, 08:21 AM	#2
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	6 weeks, fine. do em weekly if your water is off but i think monthly is ok if params are good __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

08/29/2008, 08:50 AM	#3
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Should I be vacuuming my substrate yet? Probably won't hurt right? I do have my refugioum for bacterial growth.... __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

08/29/2008, 09:51 AM	#4
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	I personally don't vac the trate because IMO it could remove too much sand exposing bacteria area causing them to die off polluting the tank __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

08/29/2008, 11:30 AM	#5
Dave & Monica Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aurora, CO Posts: 1,255	Don't vac - A lot of different opinions on how often to change water but I find every other week of 20% keeps all the corals looking healthy. I've tried the once a month at 20% then near 35% and always saw how particularly the soft corals looked so much better after a water change. I have a fuge, and skimmer and all the parameters checked out even right before the change. When I went to every other week, corals always look good. My 2 cents at least.