Water Changes

[Mike]

Have recently read an article in this months edition of CORAL that really dispells some of the "myth" behind water changes. I do them mainly as a way to manage minor elements in the tank and run a massive skimmer to get rid of the waste. I do change 40% over the course of a month but that 40% is over time. I change 10% a week on a 350 gallon system. I am not really affecting organics all that much with the water changes (still does not mean they should not be done) and this is one reason why we can change water all day and still not get nitrates down to far without more negatives than positives in our tanks.

I do believe the real benefits are the minor elements that are replenished and the little boost we get in the major elelments when a good salt is used and that is why I keep doing them.

[Sir Patrick]

I agree-

Small, frequent (if not mildly infrequent) water changes are the way to go on a reef tank.

Unless they are very large and frequent they do very little at adaquatly affecting organics. Waterchanges alone are inadaquate, for the most part.

I have always figured the addition of fresh trace elements was the most important part of water changes on a reef tank, along with the ability of a water change to "fix" some improper dosing of certain elements.

I have heard, recently, about CORAL magazine. Sounds like a great subscription. Better add that to my christmas list!

[Mike]

CORAL is a good magazine and so is Reef Life. I learn a lot form reading these.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

So you gotta give me more info on the "myth" part. I assume you are talking about nutrient control... but may be there are other "myths"?

I would think nutrient control would partly depend on the "type" of water change. Does the article differentiate between water changes that remove large amounts of detritus (e.g. substrate vacuuming) and simple removal and replacement of water?

Tom