I have a 72 Gallon saltwater reef tank I started about a month and a half old. I just want to know if you can do to many water changes. What should you really do?
water changes
- Thread starter keltab
- Start date
What all is in the tank? Test results?
The standard reply is that no, you can't do too many water changes. Most organisms do better with cleaner water. However--what size changes are you talking about? Several small changes are very different from several large water changes. In a FO tank, it's not as important, but in a reef, there's a balance. Many reef organisms are filter feeders--they require lots of little critters and particles to be floating around in the water. If you do lots of large water changes (40% or more), you're removing many of these organisms, and starving the filter feeders.
Of course, more frequent water changes means most trace elements will be constantly replenished, and that's a good thing. So, let's see what you have, and how many changes you're doing, and see if it's money in the bank, or just down the drain.
The standard reply is that no, you can't do too many water changes. Most organisms do better with cleaner water. However--what size changes are you talking about? Several small changes are very different from several large water changes. In a FO tank, it's not as important, but in a reef, there's a balance. Many reef organisms are filter feeders--they require lots of little critters and particles to be floating around in the water. If you do lots of large water changes (40% or more), you're removing many of these organisms, and starving the filter feeders.
Of course, more frequent water changes means most trace elements will be constantly replenished, and that's a good thing. So, let's see what you have, and how many changes you're doing, and see if it's money in the bank, or just down the drain.
75lbs cured live rock, 1 sailfin tang ,1 yellow tank, 2 true percula clownfish, 1 sixline wrasse, 3 pajama cardinalfish, 1 coarl banded shrimp, 5 blue hermits, 6 red hermits, 16 snails, 1 serpant star.
I have started buying my reef mushrooms. I have 1blue stripe mushroom coarland 2 other kinds that I cant remember the name of at the moment( sorry) I have been doing 5 gallon water cahanges once a week since I started. I havent ever done anymore than that. Oh and my tests are all normal. Everything is reading right. Other than the water at the top of the tank does sometimes go up to 81.5 I dont no if that is bad or not.
I have started buying my reef mushrooms. I have 1blue stripe mushroom coarland 2 other kinds that I cant remember the name of at the moment( sorry) I have been doing 5 gallon water cahanges once a week since I started. I havent ever done anymore than that. Oh and my tests are all normal. Everything is reading right. Other than the water at the top of the tank does sometimes go up to 81.5 I dont no if that is bad or not.
I'd keep up with the changes. Tangs are particularly sensitive to low water quality, and with 2 in a small setup, more frequent water changes will give them a better shot at staying healthy. As you get more inverts, they too will appreciate the water changes.
Temp up to 81-82 isn't harmful. Many people keep their tanks around there all the time.
Temp up to 81-82 isn't harmful. Many people keep their tanks around there all the time.