Smaller water changes more often vs. Large water change less often

Gluestick · 06/17/2006, 01:30 PM

I have a 90 gal Megaflow which has been up since about Feb or March of this year. At first (when LR was curing) I did about 10-15 gal water changes every week or week and a half. Now I've been doing 5 gallon water changes every week, and every once in awhile I'll do a 10 gal. change when there is algae that I scrape off. What is better (less stressful)? Am I going about this right? Right now this is what I have in my tank, everything is very young/small:
2 Perculas
Firefish
Royal Gramma
Yellowtail Blue Damsel
Everything was added slowly, I have had no deaths, I have very little algae.

bertoni · 06/17/2006, 02:30 PM

Smaller and more often is less stressful. There's an article in Reefkeeping.com with the math on the effectiveness, if you want details. I think your approach is fine.

BTTRFLYGRL · 06/17/2006, 04:27 PM

I do weekly water changes

In my 240...I empty most of the sump which is a 40 gallon

sjm817 · 06/17/2006, 04:33 PM

I wish I was that faithful. I'll admit to water changes once every 3 - 4 weeks.

Sk8r · 06/17/2006, 04:37 PM

Less stressful on you, among other things: hauling or preparing all that ro/di water is bad enough on a 10%er.

06/17/2006, 01:30 PM	#1
Gluestick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Joliet, IL Posts: 1,710	Smaller water changes more often vs. Large water change less often I have a 90 gal Megaflow which has been up since about Feb or March of this year. At first (when LR was curing) I did about 10-15 gal water changes every week or week and a half. Now I've been doing 5 gallon water changes every week, and every once in awhile I'll do a 10 gal. change when there is algae that I scrape off. What is better (less stressful)? Am I going about this right? Right now this is what I have in my tank, everything is very young/small: 2 Perculas Firefish Royal Gramma Yellowtail Blue Damsel Everything was added slowly, I have had no deaths, I have very little algae. __________________ Valerie R. Burns Founder/Vice President Joliet Area Reef Club Current Tank Info: 90 gal SPS dominated, ASM-G2 skimmer, 2x250w 20k SE Radium bulbs under Lumenarc Mini Reflectors

06/17/2006, 02:30 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Smaller and more often is less stressful. There's an article in Reefkeeping.com with the math on the effectiveness, if you want details. I think your approach is fine. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/17/2006, 04:27 PM	#3
BTTRFLYGRL Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: INDY Posts: 2,857	I do weekly water changes In my 240...I empty most of the sump which is a 40 gallon __________________ AKA Kim Hardie.. Current Tank Info: 240 gallon FOWLR, 180 gallon reef, 55 gallon for my Dwarf Lion

06/17/2006, 04:33 PM	#4
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I wish I was that faithful. I'll admit to water changes once every 3 - 4 weeks. __________________ - Scott

06/17/2006, 04:37 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Less stressful on you, among other things: hauling or preparing all that ro/di water is bad enough on a 10%er. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.