Big Water Changes Bad?

reefnewbie54321 · 05/23/2006, 07:37 PM

No, I'm not retarded and think water changes are bad BUT I was thinking about utilizing NSW and Storing water in a 5,000 gallon basement pond for all my water changes. And with such a large amount of free water I figured why not do a 100% water change monthly maybe even weekly depended on how easy collection and the actual water changes go on my 120.

The water would be stored for a long time so everything in the water would die off, it also would be ran through a UV filter. BUT what concerns me is with a 100% water change wouldnt it complety destroy my pod population and any food my DSB is producing??? I know it tech. wouldnt be a 100% water change becuase I coulnd drain the entire tank before filling it aain but a 120 gallon water change monthly/weekley could seriously impact my pods.

Can anyone think of anything to solve this problem? I was brainstorming and thinking about using some type of zooplankton net/micron filter to keep in all the good pods from the water that will be getting drained out (which would then be deviopd of life) and then replaced by the sterile NSW from the holding tank.

old salty · 05/24/2006, 09:50 AM

I don't think a 100% water change would be beneficial in any way unless you have some serious toxins built up in the display. Most recommend a 10-20% normal water change as it becomes easier for the living organisms to acclimatize. 100% may shock the system.

reverendmaynard · 05/24/2006, 09:57 AM

You could rig up an automatic, continuous change system and change at a rate of around 5% per day. That's roughly equivalent to a 100% change per month, I think.

I know Randy has an article on water changes and the effects of doing many small (or continuous) changes versus fewer large changes. Check the Reef Chemistry Articles thread.

Kaiser Tang · 05/24/2006, 09:59 AM

Would the water be RO/DI?

And no. Do not do a 100% water change. There would be drastic differences in the new water from the old. So much difference that it would stress everything out and kill most. Even if you think that the water is perfect. It still wouldn't match the old.

sloshesv · 05/24/2006, 10:53 AM

I did about an 75% water change when I moved my tanked and surprisingly everybody not only did well but were happier than ever.

jarhed · 05/24/2006, 11:21 AM

I do about a 10% water change every two weeks. I have a 180, with a 60gal sump/refug (holds about 35 gallons normally), and mix 20-25 gallons for a change every two weeks.

Seems to do just fine. I do try to mix up the sand a bit before I drain in order to get any extra garbage out when I have a chance.

Big Ying · 05/24/2006, 03:09 PM

I have done major water changes before, 40, 50, 60% on small tanks. Not a single thing has ever ended up dead that I could see.

05/23/2006, 07:37 PM	#1
reefnewbie54321 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 1,263	Big Water Changes Bad? No, I'm not retarded and think water changes are bad BUT I was thinking about utilizing NSW and Storing water in a 5,000 gallon basement pond for all my water changes. And with such a large amount of free water I figured why not do a 100% water change monthly maybe even weekly depended on how easy collection and the actual water changes go on my 120. The water would be stored for a long time so everything in the water would die off, it also would be ran through a UV filter. BUT what concerns me is with a 100% water change wouldnt it complety destroy my pod population and any food my DSB is producing??? I know it tech. wouldnt be a 100% water change becuase I coulnd drain the entire tank before filling it aain but a 120 gallon water change monthly/weekley could seriously impact my pods. Can anyone think of anything to solve this problem? I was brainstorming and thinking about using some type of zooplankton net/micron filter to keep in all the good pods from the water that will be getting drained out (which would then be deviopd of life) and then replaced by the sterile NSW from the holding tank.

05/24/2006, 09:50 AM	#2
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	I don't think a 100% water change would be beneficial in any way unless you have some serious toxins built up in the display. Most recommend a 10-20% normal water change as it becomes easier for the living organisms to acclimatize. 100% may shock the system. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

05/24/2006, 09:57 AM	#3
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	You could rig up an automatic, continuous change system and change at a rate of around 5% per day. That's roughly equivalent to a 100% change per month, I think. I know Randy has an article on water changes and the effects of doing many small (or continuous) changes versus fewer large changes. Check the Reef Chemistry Articles thread. __________________ Think for yourself. Question authority. Current Tank Info: 125 gal AGA, setup on 1/1/06; 29 gal seahorse tank, setup 10/21/06

05/24/2006, 09:59 AM	#4
Kaiser Tang Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 1,314	Would the water be RO/DI? And no. Do not do a 100% water change. There would be drastic differences in the new water from the old. So much difference that it would stress everything out and kill most. Even if you think that the water is perfect. It still wouldn't match the old. __________________ "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: Marineland 150 XH Reef w/ 55 AGA Sump, Oceans Motions Super Squirt, Ecotech Marine Vortech, Current Prime 1/3 hp Chiller, 200 lbs. LR, 175 lbs. LS, 800 watts PFO MH and 440 watts IceCap VHO. Softies, LPS, and Clams!

05/24/2006, 10:53 AM	#5
sloshesv Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ft myers, fl Posts: 723	I did about an 75% water change when I moved my tanked and surprisingly everybody not only did well but were happier than ever. __________________ It's just sloshesv, your Honor Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef, 20 gal seahorse and leaf fish

05/24/2006, 11:21 AM	#6
jarhed Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,638	I do about a 10% water change every two weeks. I have a 180, with a 60gal sump/refug (holds about 35 gallons normally), and mix 20-25 gallons for a change every two weeks. Seems to do just fine. I do try to mix up the sand a bit before I drain in order to get any extra garbage out when I have a chance.

05/24/2006, 03:09 PM	#7
Big Ying Unconventional Wisdom Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Port Charlotte, Fl Posts: 162	I have done major water changes before, 40, 50, 60% on small tanks. Not a single thing has ever ended up dead that I could see. __________________ Big Ying Current Tank Info: 55 gal reef, 29 gal Fl Keys Biotope, 125 gal fowler, 10 gal Gulf of Mexico Biotope