Weekly Water Changes Too Much???

jnc914 · 08/22/2006, 08:18 AM

My current system is a 180 gallon main tank, 100 gallon sump filled to roughly 70 gallons, and a 100 gallon fuge filled to 60 gallons. I have been doing 40 gallon water changes faithfully every week. My question has to do with the stability of the tank, in regards to allowing a tank to "age" and the environment to be the healthiest it can be for its inhabitants. Am I doing too many, or too much water changes? The tank has been running since 3/06 and the parameters are good, however I have had recent issues with not being able to maintain PH. It has dropped to 7.8 over two weeks ago, which i believe precipitated an ich breakout. I have used Reef Buffer and the PH is around 8.1. I use Tropic Marin Pro-Reef for my water changes and it usually buffers about a 8.1 PH reading. Should I cut back on the water changes and only use Carbon sparingly?

Bebo77 · 08/22/2006, 08:26 AM

i have 350 gallons of actual water between my sump and tank. That said i do a 25 galon water change every week. you want to shoot for 30% water change per month.

Salty Brother · 08/22/2006, 09:36 AM

Im thinking your tank is probably extremly healthy. With that large of a tank, when it is probably a year old or so you could probably do wc's about every month.

wayne in norway · 08/23/2006, 03:23 AM

I'd try to work out why pH is dropping. But it won't be the water changes. kH? Calcium reactor? Air con in tank room?

somethingphishy · 08/23/2006, 07:38 AM

Try using less or no carbon that might be effecting ph but not very likley. Since you do weekly water changes that should be your main export of excess nutrients along with your fuge. There is not much need to run carbon constantly. Keep up with your weekly water changes.

Does your controller ever need to be recalibrated for PH?(that's how you measure it right?). Maybe cross-refrence with a tesk kit to be sure your PH was really that low.

Travis L. Stevens · 08/23/2006, 07:47 AM

Water are your current water parameters?

Temp:
Specific Gravity:
Ammonia:
Nitrite:
Nitrate:
Phosphate:
pH:
Calcium:
Alkalinity:
Magnesium:

By constantly adding marine pH buffers, you might be increasing your alkalinity.

CaptiveReef · 08/23/2006, 09:26 AM

With my system, 120 gallon tank 30 gallon sump, I have had great success with 5 gallons a week water change. Also skimmer size and performance, and the use of chemical media will play a major factor with the size of the water changes.
What I mean is between the skimmer and the media there is a major removal of waste, also the life in your tanks utilize waste as a food source,(Delbeek/Sprung) The Reef Aquarium,(Daniel Knop), Giant Clams.
So the water changes are really supplying some nutrient removal on a small scale, but mostly an introduction of needed trace elements on a weekly basis, pH stability is handled by the use of 2 part calcium/buffer and Kalkwasser.

CaptiveReef

08/22/2006, 08:18 AM	#1
jnc914 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,008	Weekly Water Changes Too Much??? My current system is a 180 gallon main tank, 100 gallon sump filled to roughly 70 gallons, and a 100 gallon fuge filled to 60 gallons. I have been doing 40 gallon water changes faithfully every week. My question has to do with the stability of the tank, in regards to allowing a tank to "age" and the environment to be the healthiest it can be for its inhabitants. Am I doing too many, or too much water changes? The tank has been running since 3/06 and the parameters are good, however I have had recent issues with not being able to maintain PH. It has dropped to 7.8 over two weeks ago, which i believe precipitated an ich breakout. I have used Reef Buffer and the PH is around 8.1. I use Tropic Marin Pro-Reef for my water changes and it usually buffers about a 8.1 PH reading. Should I cut back on the water changes and only use Carbon sparingly? __________________ "Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion." -Jack Kerouac 13 years strictly salty Current Tank Info: 180 gallon FOWLR Angel dedicated tank

08/22/2006, 08:26 AM	#2
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	i have 350 gallons of actual water between my sump and tank. That said i do a 25 galon water change every week. you want to shoot for 30% water change per month. __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

08/23/2006, 07:38 AM	#5
somethingphishy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fleetwood, pa Posts: 852	Try using less or no carbon that might be effecting ph but not very likley. Since you do weekly water changes that should be your main export of excess nutrients along with your fuge. There is not much need to run carbon constantly. Keep up with your weekly water changes. Does your controller ever need to be recalibrated for PH?(that's how you measure it right?). Maybe cross-refrence with a tesk kit to be sure your PH was really that low. __________________ "Set the gearshift for the high gear Of your soul, you've got to run like An antelope out of control!" Current Tank Info: 50g/20l sump

08/23/2006, 07:47 AM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Water are your current water parameters? Temp: Specific Gravity: Ammonia: Nitrite: Nitrate: Phosphate: pH: Calcium: Alkalinity: Magnesium: By constantly adding marine pH buffers, you might be increasing your alkalinity. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

08/23/2006, 09:26 AM	#7
CaptiveReef LED FULL SPECTRUM REEFER Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,148	Water changes in comparison to skimmer size. With my system, 120 gallon tank 30 gallon sump, I have had great success with 5 gallons a week water change. Also skimmer size and performance, and the use of chemical media will play a major factor with the size of the water changes. What I mean is between the skimmer and the media there is a major removal of waste, also the life in your tanks utilize waste as a food source,(Delbeek/Sprung) The Reef Aquarium,(Daniel Knop), Giant Clams. So the water changes are really supplying some nutrient removal on a small scale, but mostly an introduction of needed trace elements on a weekly basis, pH stability is handled by the use of 2 part calcium/buffer and Kalkwasser. CaptiveReef __________________ Okay I'm a Reef Fanatic !!!!! Current Tank Info: 120 Reef, DIY 5ft. protein skimmer, LED lighting.

08/22/2006, 09:36 AM	#3
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Im thinking your tank is probably extremly healthy. With that large of a tank, when it is probably a year old or so you could probably do wc's about every month.

08/23/2006, 03:23 AM	#4
wayne in norway Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Stavanger, Norway Posts: 1,271	I'd try to work out why pH is dropping. But it won't be the water changes. kH? Calcium reactor? Air con in tank room?