SPS Veterans, how often do you do water changes?

[Fliger]

From all the SPS veterans, I'm just wondering -

How frequently do you perform water changes?
What percentage of the total system do you change?

I used to change about 15% monthly, but on my new system my goal will be 15-20% twice a month. Even with a good skimmer and other equipment, it seems like my SPS always appreciate the addition of clean water, I wonder if its more the trace elements of a good salt - more than the dilution of the pollution.

Thanks,

David

[FSOL]

I do about 15% every two weeks.

[mr. pluto]

10% a week

[Maximus]

Read my sig:) I perform a 30g water change once a month (20%). This is on a 150g tank. My orp ranges from 380-410 without any additions of ozone or carbon. Fliger, where are those pics!!!!!!!!:D

[gflat65]

I usually do ~ 20 gallons on a 125 every two to three weeks.

[imbuggin]

about 20% once a month maybe a little less

[IndyReefMan]

15%/week

[twon8]

i try to do 15% a month

[fishdoc11]

10 - 15 gallons every two weeks on ~90 gallons total water volume.

[mikeatjac]

10% a week.

[jiggy]

i do a 5g waterchange before every topoff (twice a week) in 150g of total water volume.

thats like 7.5% a week, so 30% a month.

[nemofish2217]

10% weekly here

[dolt]

20% every week or so - I have a big mixing vat (300 gal) and it is easier to do more rather than less - end up buying salt 20 buckets at a time (but it lasts almost one year)

[Orochimaru]

What do you mean by veteran? :)

5% each time, twice a week for me.

[rutz81]

10% every 7-10 days

[MiddletonMark]

I do between 15-20% every other week, on average.

[Kip]

i dont know if i am a veteran or not...

i used to do about 25% every 2wks.... i have dropped back to 25% every 4-5wks... little happier now.

[cutsupremetrib]

20 gallons every week on my 65! its a bit much but makes a world of difference

[golfish]

20-25 gals when I do em. I really have no set time to do water changes if the tank is doing good. I try to do one every month or two.

[cward]

10% (50g) every two weeks.

[DaddyJax]

10%-15% a week.

[gcarroll]

For me 5 gallons every 2-3 days to replace skimmate from wet skimming.

[Sk8r]

10 % per week, because that 's how many buckets I have. ;)

[damienkee]

10% every other weeks

[clkwrk]

20% every 2-3 weeks

[EnderG60]

[i]thats like 7.5% a week, so 30% a month. [/B]

actually thats more like around 10-15% a month

[Frankysreef]

25 gal every 2 weeks.

[poknsnok]

25 gal every week

[jjmcat]

I change out about 7 to 10 gallons a week.I used to do that much every 2 weeks.I have noticed a huge difference since ive changed.

[prop-frags]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7341139#post7341139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MiddletonMark
I do between 15-20% every other week, on average. ditto

[Travis]

A decent water change article (http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_marine_depot_educational_newsletter_articles_paletta_water_changes_in_detail.asp?adsite=NL0 51106A26&fromsource=4) by Mike Paletta that states that 10% per month is all that is needed. Not sure if I agree but worth the read anyways.

[Rungeg]

I do water changers everytime I have a big spill (Once a month) generaly 7 gallons.:(

Roughly 10%

[Fliger]

Interesting Travis. It does make you realize that all WC's are not equal. People I know, like clkwrk & Northbay 101 - both with BB tanks - syphon out detritus (so do I). So maybe a 15% WC for them is equivalent to maybe even +30% of someone just replacing water. There is exponentially more "bad stuff" in detritus, than the random water column.

Most folks with Southdown or superfine substrate don't syphon off the bad stuff, its almost impossible.

[Travis]

That is a good point Fliger. It probably has a lot to do with what you are removing with water changes. I think that article did say it was a berlin system and that all the detritus was siphoned with each water change.

I also run a BB tank and when I do water changes I first add a filter sock to the overflows and then blast all the rocks. Then I let the detritus circulate/settle for an hour and blast the rocks again. I do this a few times for a few hours until there is almost no detritus left blowing around and then siphon any detritus piles in the tank and in the sump.

[prop-frags]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7353582#post7353582 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Travis
That is a good point Fliger. It probably has a lot to do with what you are removing with water changes. I think that article did say it was a berlin system and that all the detritus was siphoned with each water change.

I also run a BB tank and when I do water changes I first add a filter sock to the overflows and then blast all the rocks. Then I let the detritus circulate/settle for an hour and blast the rocks again. I do this a few times for a few hours until there is almost no detritus left blowing around and then siphon any detritus piles in the tank and in the sump. smart! :thumbsup:

[Brewen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7343823#post7343823 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gcarroll
For me 5 gallons every 2-3 days to replace skimmate from wet skimming. Have you seen the pic's of Greg's tank? There might be somthing to what he is doing.
Myself 15 gal evey 2 weeks on a 120 gal system.

[JB NY]

just under 15% every week. All detritus is shiponed from the sump and refugium each week, and the skimmer gets cleaned as well.

[Lunchbucket]

i do about 15gal every other week. that should be somewhere around 20% + every week. i siphon all the detritus from the sump ever water change

prolly around 50%/month

Lunchbuket

[mntl]

just under 15% every week. All detritus is shiponed from the sump and refugium each week, and the skimmer gets cleaned as well.

Exactly the same here. But I clean the skimmer a couple times a week, I do not have a very strong skimmer. I am not a veteran though :D .

-John-

[scarab65]

No veteran here too :D but I do 5% every week coz that's the amount I can siphon from the tank and sump without turning off the return pumps.