Water change or not?

[msaba]

Hi guys,

Have been do alot of reading lately on nutrient import/export, especially as it relates to SPS tanks. My parameters are stable (see below), for the most part my sps are doing well, so is their any benefit to during a water change?

90G tank set up 8 months with 30g sump
lighting 48 inch Ati hybrid led/t5 fixture
BK mini 160 skimmer
2 inch aragonite sand base

parameters:

SG 1.026
ALK 8.0
CA 440
MG 1350
PO4 0.0 (hannah photometer)
Nitrates-undetectable

fish:

trio lyretail anthias
trio Bartletts anthias
copperband butterfly
regal angelfish

I feed the fish four to five times a day, I do not feed the corals separately
I typically clean my glass twice a week according to algae growth

Initially I ran GFO and GAC constantly, but realized over the course of the last month or so that my corals were not as colored up as I would like, so I discontinued both and have been observing the overall tank health and trying to do the hardest thing in reefkeeping--nothing!! It has been almost a month since my last water change, parameters as listed above. I am actually hoping that as my nitrates and phosphates creep up a "little" that my coloration may improve even more.

Sooo, is there a reason to do a water change? What would be the benefit?

thanks

Mark

[Arkayology]

Sooo, is there a reason to do a water change? What would be the benefit?

thanks

Mark

Replacement of trace elements.

[Peter Eichler]

IMO, water changes are best for the things we can't test for... With today's protein skimmers and how efficient GAC and GFO is I think they're more important than ever.

[downbeach]

Here's a few good reads:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/10/aaeditorial
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/water.htm

[msaba]

thanks for the responses everyone!