Reduce/Eliminate Water Changes?
- Thread starter tamz273
- Start date
I would say to put the largest sump/fuge you can under your display filled with macro and a high end skimmer rated for double your tank volume, good high alternating flow to hep keep detritus and foods suspended for your skimmer and macro to remove. I think you could get down to about every 3-4 months but this also depends on what you plan on keeping, FO, FOWLR or reef and then what corals you plan to keep, Softies, LPS's or SPS's.
You certainly can cut back on water changes if you follow some good husbandry of your tank and water and fish and corals.
Please read the entire thread here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116699
And here
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161957
I see some very encouraging information here in these two topics.
Lots of live rock, a good refugium/sump and the turf nitrate/phosphate removal.
If you run corals, however, the water change is to replenish nutrients for them to flourish. In the first link, the feeding is quite interesting, and the inhabitants all looked fine until the disaster.
I am going to try the turf, and hope to cut way back on water changes. I don't do many to start with as I am under stocked. (2 small clowns in a 55).
The algae in the sump will use up some nitrates etc. A red mangrove or two in the sump will help as well. If you are keeping corals, you will need to find out what they need to live, and most likely supplement calcium and other trace elements and minerals.
Plan on a good six months research to fine tune your setup. Start with lots of rock and low on stocking. As things continue to check out fine, add stock a little at a time and make adjustments as neccessary.
A deep sand bed can be a good thing, however the sandbed can accumulate different toxins and then one day, it can crash without warning, usually after stirring things up. So while you think you got away without a water change, you really load up your sandbed, Lots of variables to factor in.
As far as the TOTM all being such and such, it is because most people practice this water change ritual. If you want to factor in the number of crashes and dead fish, well I would say that percentage wise who knows which is better, tanks that were perfect still crash.
More people use windows machines vs macs, doesn't mean a mac is a bad machine
Use the method that works for you , and unfortunately that is a process you will have to research and practice.
A ten gallon water change bi weekly would not be that tough in an apartment. Two fivers from the fish store and a siphon hose and your good as gold.
Do read those two thread, they are big, adverse and informative.
Do take lots of photos as you go
Please read the entire thread here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116699
And here
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161957
I see some very encouraging information here in these two topics.
Lots of live rock, a good refugium/sump and the turf nitrate/phosphate removal.
If you run corals, however, the water change is to replenish nutrients for them to flourish. In the first link, the feeding is quite interesting, and the inhabitants all looked fine until the disaster.
I am going to try the turf, and hope to cut way back on water changes. I don't do many to start with as I am under stocked. (2 small clowns in a 55).
The algae in the sump will use up some nitrates etc. A red mangrove or two in the sump will help as well. If you are keeping corals, you will need to find out what they need to live, and most likely supplement calcium and other trace elements and minerals.
Plan on a good six months research to fine tune your setup. Start with lots of rock and low on stocking. As things continue to check out fine, add stock a little at a time and make adjustments as neccessary.
A deep sand bed can be a good thing, however the sandbed can accumulate different toxins and then one day, it can crash without warning, usually after stirring things up. So while you think you got away without a water change, you really load up your sandbed, Lots of variables to factor in.
As far as the TOTM all being such and such, it is because most people practice this water change ritual. If you want to factor in the number of crashes and dead fish, well I would say that percentage wise who knows which is better, tanks that were perfect still crash.
More people use windows machines vs macs, doesn't mean a mac is a bad machine
Use the method that works for you , and unfortunately that is a process you will have to research and practice. A ten gallon water change bi weekly would not be that tough in an apartment. Two fivers from the fish store and a siphon hose and your good as gold.
Do read those two thread, they are big, adverse and informative.
Do take lots of photos as you go
