It's been almost a week since I've done a water change

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 05:08 AM

And it's freaking me out!!!!
I like to do a wc at least once a week, but I dosed fluconazole. So it's going to be weeks before I do another wc. My reef OCD is going crazy! It doesn't feel right not to do a wc.
Is there a support group or something I can go to?

mcgyvr · 03/14/2017, 05:41 AM

1 week and freaking out? yep.. you've got problems.. seek help..

Geesh.. with all those water changes why do you even need to dose that stuff?

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

1 week and freaking out? yep.. you've got problems.. seek help..

Geesh.. with all those water changes why do you even need to dose that stuff?

My system is approx 250g and I do a minimum 30gal wc each week. I have to dose 226ml of homemade Alk and 90ml of Ca daily to maintain 8.5+/- dkh, and 450+/-ppm Ca.
I have almost no gha in my display, but my sump and overflows are teaming with it. That's why I'm trying the fluconazole. I get tired of scrubbing.

Anyway, yes, I need help. It's an illness. Do you know of any group therapy sessions I can go to? I'm chomping at the bit here.

NYCBOB · 03/14/2017, 06:17 AM

i am the same way with water change. i do at least 1x per week.

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCBOB

i am the same way with water change. i do at least 1x per week.

Right?! It's a necessity! I don't know how I'm going to make it. I've got at least another week, and probably two to three more weeks to go.
Sanity now. Sanity now. Sanity now...

Alfrareef · 03/14/2017, 07:26 AM

AWC (Anonymous Water Changers)... quite funny.

I would take the time off to be with family and friends... as per the tank it will survive and perhaps you'll learn a new way to take care of it!

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfrareef

AWC (Anonymous Water Changers)... quite funny.

I would take the time off to be with family and friends... as per the tank it will survive and perhaps you'll learn a new way to take care of it!

Haha "Hi, my name is Patrick and I'm a water changeholic. It's been six days since my last water change."

mcgyvr · 03/14/2017, 08:17 AM

Welcome Patrick,
The first step is admitting you have an issue..
Please grab some coffee and a donut and join us..

Before we being with this meeting please let us know your test results for the following..
Nitrate?
Phosphate?

JUNBUG361 · 03/14/2017, 08:42 AM

Lol...

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Welcome Patrick,
The first step is admitting you have an issue..
Please grab some coffee and a donut and join us..

Before we being with this meeting please let us know your test results for the following..
Nitrate?
Phosphate?

Zero, zilch, nada. BUT I do have some healthy GHA in my sump and overflow. So realistically I have some. How much? I guess we'll find out soon enough, if the fluconazole works.

I was battling gha a while back in my display. It was everywhere. I switched from gfo to phosguard and it made a huge difference. That's when my display cleared up. My sump was almost gha free a few weeks ago, but I stopped scrubbing the rock and sides so it would grow in for the fluconazole. Kind of a test if you will.
Even after the huge eradication of gha, I never detected any no3 or po4. I test at least once a week before I do my wc, and many times I test more often than that. I also keep a record of every test.

smatter · 03/14/2017, 10:25 AM

Could too many water changes be the problem?

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smatter

Could too many water changes be the problem?

Blasphemy.
How are weekly water changes a problem?

smatter · 03/14/2017, 10:38 AM

What makes you think you need to do weekly water changes? Seems like a waste of time and money. Perhaps your salt or source water is providing something the algae likes.

mcgyvr · 03/14/2017, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpaddy

Blasphemy.
How are weekly water changes a problem?

If could be if your water contains nitrates/phosphates,etc..
You aren't using tap water are you?

Also.. Is your sump have a light on it or something? If so with what and what for...

And yes.. what test kits are you using? And are you sure they are accurate

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

If could be if your water contains nitrates/phosphates,etc..
You aren't using tap water are you?

Also.. Is your sump have a light on it or something? If so with what and what for...

And yes.. what test kits are you using? And are you sure they are accurate

Rodi water. I flush it until it reads zero before I fill my barrel.
I do have a light in the sump. 55gal sump on a reverse schedule for fish that don't play well with others, and for ph. Deep sand bed, t5 single white bulb. API test kits, for ease of use.

I'm not overly concerned with the gha. I had it under control and it does work good for nutrient control. I figured I'd give the fluconazole a shot because I've yet to read a bad report on it, and scrubbing the algae does get tiresome. If I was worried about the nutrients, I'm sure I could feed a little less, and not replace some of my livestock as it dies, but I'll cross that bridge after the GHA dies off. IF it dies off and I find there's a problem with my N03/po4.

My problem is that I like doing water changes and I'm itching to do one right now. Maybe like isn't the right word. It's more like I feel the need to do one right now.

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smatter

What makes you think you need to do weekly water changes? Seems like a waste of time and money. Perhaps your salt or source water is providing something the algae likes.

I work on tanks part time, and I don't agree that weekly wc are a waste. What's wrong with removing detritus weekly and replenishing trace elements? My corals seem to enjoy it. They always look refreshed the next day. It might be a little stressful on the fish, but they seem to do fine. I think it's more that they don't like my hand in the display. I know momma clown doesn't like it. She attacks me the minute my hand goes in the tank.

Alfrareef · 03/14/2017, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpaddy

Rodi water. I flush it until it reads zero before I fill my barrel.
I do have a light in the sump. 55gal sump on a reverse schedule for fish that don't play well with others, and for ph. Deep sand bed, t5 single white bulb. API test kits, for ease of use.

I'm not overly concerned with the gha. I had it under control and it does work good for nutrient control. I figured I'd give the fluconazole a shot because I've yet to read a bad report on it, and scrubbing the algae does get tiresome. If I was worried about the nutrients, I'm sure I could feed a little less, and not replace some of my livestock as it dies, but I'll cross that bridge after the GHA dies off. IF it dies off and I find there's a problem with my N03/po4.

My problem is that I like doing water changes and I'm itching to do one right now. Maybe like isn't the right word. It's more like I feel the need to do one right now.

Man... if we live near I would invite you for doing some WCs... :-)
Other option is to place your services available online for free and see what happens.

Now serious...
I really think you should take the invite (several posts before) for grab a donut and a coffe and join them at the addicted group....

smatter · 03/14/2017, 11:18 AM

That's cool if you enjoy it, I totally get it. Watching crap moving through a siphon is pretty satisfying I must admit.

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfrareef

Man... if we live near I would invite you for doing some WCs... :-)
Other option is to place your services available online for free and see what happens.

Now serious...
I really think you should take the invite (several posts before) for grab a donut and a coffe and join them at the addicted group....

Haha I only do free water changes for my kids classroom tank.

I tried going to an AA meeting earlier. They laughed at me and threw me out. Damn unsympathetic drunks...

mhurley · 03/14/2017, 11:33 AM

I did a water change while I was treating with fluco...simply calculate how much water/fluco you're taking out and add more fluco to the water going in.

Tripod1404 · 03/14/2017, 11:36 AM

You can siphon some tank water into a bucket and then put that back in to the tank. That might ease your pain.

Tripod1404 · 03/14/2017, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhurley

I did a water change while I was treating with fluco...simply calculate how much water/fluco you're taking out and add more fluco to the water going in.

How can you exactly know how much fluco is in water you take out. Is it stable enough to consider its concentration doesn't decrease over time.

oldpaddy · 03/14/2017, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripod1404

You can siphon some tank water into a bucket and then put that back in to the tank. That might ease your pain.

Lol that's a good idea!

mhurley · 03/14/2017, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripod1404

How can you exactly know how much fluco is in water you take out. Is it stable enough to consider its concentration doesn't decrease over time.

Not a clue. I did simple math on mg/gallon I put in to start...I do 10 gallon water changes and put that much more back in. The stuff has shown no detrimental impacts to any other life, so I didn't care if I was adding a hair too much.

lg2725 · 03/14/2017, 01:35 PM

I need to have you talk with a fellow local reefer. He hasn't done a water change since August. Maybe you 2 can meet somewhere in the middle.

03/14/2017, 05:08 AM	#1
oldpaddy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cape Cod, Mass Posts: 326	It's been almost a week since I've done a water change And it's freaking me out!!!! I like to do a wc at least once a week, but I dosed fluconazole. So it's going to be weeks before I do another wc. My reef OCD is going crazy! It doesn't feel right not to do a wc. Is there a support group or something I can go to?

03/14/2017, 05:41 AM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	1 week and freaking out? yep.. you've got problems.. seek help.. Geesh.. with all those water changes why do you even need to dose that stuff? __________________ Who me?

03/14/2017, 07:26 AM	#6
Alfrareef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portugal Posts: 405	It's been almost a week since I've done a water change AWC (Anonymous Water Changers)... quite funny. I would take the time off to be with family and friends... as per the tank it will survive and perhaps you'll learn a new way to take care of it!

03/14/2017, 08:17 AM	#8
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Welcome Patrick, The first step is admitting you have an issue.. Please grab some coffee and a donut and join us.. Before we being with this meeting please let us know your test results for the following.. Nitrate? Phosphate? __________________ Who me?

03/14/2017, 11:33 AM	#20
mhurley RC Staff Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Illinois'ish Posts: 38,805	I did a water change while I was treating with fluco...simply calculate how much water/fluco you're taking out and add more fluco to the water going in. __________________ Mike Current Tank Info: 60G Cube

03/14/2017, 06:17 AM	#4
NYCBOB Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 1,768	i am the same way with water change. i do at least 1x per week.

03/14/2017, 08:42 AM	#9
JUNBUG361 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Antioch,CALIFORNIA Posts: 1,091	Lol...

03/14/2017, 10:25 AM	#11
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	Could too many water changes be the problem?

03/14/2017, 10:38 AM	#13
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	What makes you think you need to do weekly water changes? Seems like a waste of time and money. Perhaps your salt or source water is providing something the algae likes.

03/14/2017, 11:18 AM	#18
smatter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,055	That's cool if you enjoy it, I totally get it. Watching crap moving through a siphon is pretty satisfying I must admit.

03/14/2017, 11:36 AM	#21
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	You can siphon some tank water into a bucket and then put that back in to the tank. That might ease your pain.

03/14/2017, 01:35 PM	#25
lg2725 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 180	I need to have you talk with a fellow local reefer. He hasn't done a water change since August. Maybe you 2 can meet somewhere in the middle. __________________ Regards, Ron Current Tank Info: 120 Gallon long reef tank, 75 gallon basement sump/fuge, GHL 3.1T ex controller, GHL Doser 2.1, BRS dual GFO/Carbon, Rapid Led's