Water changes. Weekly? Bi weekly?

[DerekL]

I have a 90 gallon display tank with a 20 gallon sump. I have been doing 20 gallon bi weekly water changes. I was just wondering if it would be better if I were to do weekly water changes of 10 gallons. What are you guys doing and if you are doing smaller weekly water changes. Any thoughts and opinions would be great. Personally it would actually be easier for me to do 10 gallon weekly water changes as the shop vac I bought to do water changes with is a ten gallon vac so it would make water changes even quicker than it is already.
Thanks
Derek

 

[curiousphil]

Water changes. Weekly? Bi weekly?

Probably works out to about the same in regards to waste removal.  Regarding replenishment of minerals you might have a slightly more stable system.  Depends what your goals are, what your definition of "better" is and what you are trying to achieve with water changes.  For me my main goal with water changes is removing waste and reducing nutrients - I regularly dose the minerals.

 

[Petercar (RIP Dec 2017)]

mine is a 65 gal DT with 25 sump  i do 12 gallons every 2 weeks  every other waterchange i use the gravel siphon ...the next one i just stick a pump in the sump and take out the dirty water and all new water goes in the sump from the wheeled pail with the same pump

 

[theyangman]

I am with the school of thought that less and more frequent water changes are less of a "shock" to the system. Albeit a more established system with proper management of water in and out probably aren't affected as much, but still, a little more effort to prevent any larger headaches down the road always seem like a good reason to go this route.

 

[harleymike]

135 gallon gets 10 gallons a week changed, frag that is 30 gallons gets 5 gallons every week

 

[TORX]

120 gallon gets 10 gallon water changes once a week...or at least that is what I aim for. 3gallon gets a 1 cup daily change when I remember and a 3 cup water change when I do the 120 gallon.

 

[spyd]

Smaller water changes more frequently is definitely not a bad thing as long as you have the time to do it. I do bi-weekly water changes but nothing wrong with weekly changes whatsoever.

 

[Giglio324]

20 gallons every 2 weeks. dependent on how diligent i am. it gets stretched sometimes

 

[reeffreak]

I am with the school of thought that less and more frequent water changes are less of a \"shock\" to the system. Albeit a more established system with proper management of water in and out probably aren't affected as much, but still, a little more effort to prevent any larger headaches down the road always seem like a good reason to go this route.

This is true..  Smaller more frequent changes are way better for your tank. I read an article in reefcentrel about this topic. There was a guy who changed 1 gallon a day of tank water and he found it was way better for his tank then bigger less frequent changes. If I have the time today I will search for it and post the link.

 

[theyangman]

Ever see the guy on Glassreef?

"In order to simplify the whole water change scenario, I decided to implement an automated system. Not only did I want to make it automated, I wanted it to be a continual process. The water should be constantly in the process of being changed. If I stick to the 10% per week formula, I would have to change approx. 7.6 gallons per day, or about .32 gallons an hour. Luckily, this is easily accomplished with peristaltic (dosing) pumps. The firm Spectrapure manufactures the perfect pump - their LiterMeter III. The LiterMeter comes in two variants"

This is beyond sick!!!

http://www.glassreef.com/basics_water_changes.php

 

[theyangman]

I modeled my system after his. I am after something very similar.

 

[Jewel]

Having an automated system that changes water constantly is not relistic for most of us, Although a great Idea, I will change out 20% weekly, I've never siphoned the sand but i'm gonna start.

 

[dale]

i like the idea of taking a turkey baster to the gravel before a water change with the pumps off, then you dont have to dig way down with your syphon sucking all the micro critters out..

 

[theyangman]

Having an automated system that changes water constantly is not relistic for most of us, Although a great Idea, I will change out 20% weekly, I've never siphoned the sand but i'm gonna start.

Depends on your dedication level to the hobby. Or your laziness factor

 

[reeffreak]

[quote author=Jewel link=topic=6325.msg61439#msg61439 date=1379780368]
Having an automated system that changes water constantly is not relistic for most of us, Although a great Idea, I will change out 20% weekly, I've never siphoned the sand but i'm gonna start.

Depends on your dedication level to the hobby. Or your laziness factor
[/quote]

+1

 

[harleymike]

I am getting sick of water changes every week. Thinking about doing a larger change every other week.

 

[reeffreak]

I am getting sick of water changes every week. Thinking about doing a larger change every other week.

Bigger water changes aren't always ideal, levels fluctuate to much can potentially wipe you out.

 

[DerekL]

I ended up doing a 10 gallon water change on Saturday. My whole system with sump is approx 105 gallons. I am going to keep up the weekly water changes it's quicker as well. I too take turkey baster and blow rock and sand to stir things up a bit before doing my water changes. With this set up I have not slacked off yet and don't plan on it. Yes I did read about the fully automated water change and if I owned the house I am in I would have set up my system with an automated water change but until I buy another house I will manually do them. Thanks for all the input I figure smaller more frequent water changes would be better and I am aiming at an sps dominant tank so I want least amount of change as possible.

 

[draper]

I think your water change schedule is great. 10 gallon a week would work too. I suppose changing more often would be good like you suggest, turning over water quicker. no worries.