Water change: daily, weekly or bi weekly?

Ryand63 · 04/23/2012, 07:35 PM

I was reading some great ideas on the benefit of doing 1% daily wc versus the normal 10% weekly or 25% biweekly. Anyone ever done daily? Just interested to see what everyone does or thinks is best?

Playa-1 · 04/23/2012, 08:10 PM

I would go daily if I could spare the extra money to automate the process. But for the time being it's either bi-weekly or once per month if I'm lazy

dnsfpl · 04/23/2012, 08:18 PM

i change 5% weekly

jdpiii3 · 04/23/2012, 08:22 PM

I change 1-2% daily.

King Jason · 04/23/2012, 09:00 PM

5% weekly

drew2007 · 04/23/2012, 09:27 PM

I change 20 gallons bi-weekly. My water volume is 90-93 gallons.

secrest · 04/23/2012, 09:32 PM

I change 10-15% weekly. Would give daily changes a chance if I wasn't so lazy.

a.browning · 04/23/2012, 09:42 PM

If I had room for saltwater containers near my tank and a place to easily drain water, I would automate water changes to change a small amount per day. Since this is not the case, I change 10% weekly and my system seems to do well with this schedule. Smaller, more frequent water changes promote better stability in my experience.

DrSalty · 04/23/2012, 09:46 PM

I change ~20% every 2 weeks.

Kryos · 04/23/2012, 10:03 PM

I perform a 20% change weekly, but I feed heavily. Being a nano, It's easier to change 20% as well.

dnsfpl · 04/23/2012, 10:40 PM

there is an easy way to water change daily

constant wet skimming(auto drain to sewage) + auto top up(slightly lower salinity, eg 1.023)

will try to design for my next tank

drparker · 04/23/2012, 10:42 PM

currently weekly, would like to do 1% daily.

kevin32 · 04/23/2012, 11:13 PM

I do 10% every week. In fact I did 5 gallon water change today.

sanchoy · 04/24/2012, 07:05 AM

I change about 75 gallons bi-weekly

Pastor Salty · 04/24/2012, 07:25 AM

Since I now own a RODI unit and have water on hand all the time I try and do a 10% WC weekly. Really only takes about 10 minutes of my time.

I keep 15 gallons of salt water on hand all the time.

NatureNerd · 04/24/2012, 07:58 AM

About a 7% weekly is what I do. I have 5g buckets so it is easiest to do a 5g change every weekend. Only takes about ten minutes to get it done.

Ryand63 · 04/24/2012, 09:47 AM

For the one percent daily folk: how often do you actually use a siphons to get the ditrious out??

WWingfield · 04/24/2012, 11:57 AM

I'm new to this and am planning to do a 10%wc weekly. (starting this weekend)

Couple of questions
1) how long is salt water good? I got some last weekend when I filled the tank. Can I use it for the wc this weekend?
2) what is the best way to determine the RO to saltwater ratio?

Thanks!

MaxxedMan · 04/24/2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WWingfield

I'm new to this and am planning to do a 10%wc weekly. (starting this weekend)

Couple of questions
1) how long is salt water good? I got some last weekend when I filled the tank. Can I use it for the wc this weekend?
2) what is the best way to determine the RO to saltwater ratio?

Thanks!

Shouldn't go bad in any short period of time. 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of RO is most salt. But you should use a hydrometer or refractometer to measure the salinity before using it.

Shells4 · 04/24/2012, 12:57 PM

I've been fighting a nitrate problem and decided to try the small daily water changes. I started a little over a week ago. I have a 33g cont. of premixed water in the garage. I have been changing 2g a day and so far it has been very easy. Takes about 2 min. a day. I think sometimes I will do a larger water change just to help vacuum out the detritus but I am going to stick with the daily changes and see if it makes any difference. It does seem nice not to have to lug all of my big containers into the house every 2 weeks.

Ryand63 · 04/24/2012, 08:07 PM

Yeah I think I'm gonna try the one percent or two percent daily and vacuum once every few weeks.

symon_say · 04/24/2012, 10:32 PM

5% weekly...

Randy Holmes-Farley · 04/25/2012, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryand63

For the one percent daily folk: how often do you actually use a siphons to get the ditrious out??

Rarely. I'm not afraid of detritus, and the bottoms of my refugia and sumps actually have a coating of detritus mud that in places is 1/4 inch or more.

Ryand63 · 04/25/2012, 07:17 AM

Randy Holmes: When your doing your 1 or so %, do you just use a pitcher or two and scoop from the top?

Rploaded · 04/25/2012, 07:27 AM

I change one gallon every 2.4 hours using genesis reef systems storm and renew systems..... I changed 3 gallons in my sleep....... Once a week I use a refrigerant scale to get 15.5lbs of dry salt from the bucket dump it in the auto mix bin....... See you next week.

View Poll Results: Water change frequency
1% daily	11	9.02%
10% weekly	70	57.38%
25% bi-weekly	41	33.61%
Voters: 122. You may not vote on this poll

04/23/2012, 07:35 PM	#1
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 954	Water change: daily, weekly or bi weekly? I was reading some great ideas on the benefit of doing 1% daily wc versus the normal 10% weekly or 25% biweekly. Anyone ever done daily? Just interested to see what everyone does or thinks is best?

04/23/2012, 08:18 PM	#3
dnsfpl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,055	i change 5% weekly __________________ Achilles Tang \| 2 x False Shepardi Angelfish \| 2 x Black Misbar Clownfish \| Cleaner, Flame & Mystery Wrasse

04/23/2012, 08:22 PM	#4
jdpiii3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Port Richey, FL Posts: 547	I change 1-2% daily. __________________ In a world where I feel so small, I can't stop thinking big. Current Tank Info: 400 gal in wall – Sun-Lit with two 21” Sun-Domes 72x36x36 400lbs l.r. & sand 2 ReeFlo Super Dart Gold return pumps, 120g Sump, My Reef Creations MR-6R Recirculating Protein Skimmer, 2 MP60's/ Tank Video on Youtube

04/23/2012, 09:27 PM	#6
drew2007 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 536	I change 20 gallons bi-weekly. My water volume is 90-93 gallons. __________________ 75g Deep Blue Rimless, Trigger Systems Ruby 30s Sump, RO Diablo XS160, (3)Maxspect Mazarra P Series LED's, (2)Vortech MP40's, (2)BRS Dosers, Digital Aquatics RKL, BRS Reactor, Next Reef MR1 Current Tank Info: 75g Rimless w/ monterey stand

04/23/2012, 08:10 PM	#2
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,502	I would go daily if I could spare the extra money to automate the process. But for the time being it's either bi-weekly or once per month if I'm lazy

04/23/2012, 09:00 PM	#5
King Jason Reefer Join Date: May 2001 Location: Seal Beach, CA Posts: 251	5% weekly

04/23/2012, 09:32 PM	#7
secrest Tired Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 1,148	I change 10-15% weekly. Would give daily changes a chance if I wasn't so lazy.

04/23/2012, 09:42 PM	#8
a.browning Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 845	If I had room for saltwater containers near my tank and a place to easily drain water, I would automate water changes to change a small amount per day. Since this is not the case, I change 10% weekly and my system seems to do well with this schedule. Smaller, more frequent water changes promote better stability in my experience. __________________ ~~75g SPS and Wrasse reef~~

04/23/2012, 09:46 PM	#9
DrSalty Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 170	I change ~20% every 2 weeks.

04/23/2012, 10:03 PM	#10
Kryos Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 29	I perform a 20% change weekly, but I feed heavily. Being a nano, It's easier to change 20% as well.

04/23/2012, 10:40 PM	#11
dnsfpl Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,055	there is an easy way to water change daily constant wet skimming(auto drain to sewage) + auto top up(slightly lower salinity, eg 1.023) will try to design for my next tank __________________ Achilles Tang \| 2 x False Shepardi Angelfish \| 2 x Black Misbar Clownfish \| Cleaner, Flame & Mystery Wrasse

04/23/2012, 10:42 PM	#12
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,723	currently weekly, would like to do 1% daily.

04/23/2012, 11:13 PM	#13
kevin32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North OC, 92683 Posts: 593	I do 10% every week. In fact I did 5 gallon water change today.

04/24/2012, 07:05 AM	#14
sanchoy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Close to the ocean Posts: 927	I change about 75 gallons bi-weekly __________________ 250 gallon.. tangs are the best.. the po po is not. Current Tank Info: 250 reef

04/24/2012, 07:25 AM	#15
Pastor Salty Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Massillon Posts: 246	Since I now own a RODI unit and have water on hand all the time I try and do a 10% WC weekly. Really only takes about 10 minutes of my time. I keep 15 gallons of salt water on hand all the time.

04/24/2012, 07:58 AM	#16
NatureNerd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 793	About a 7% weekly is what I do. I have 5g buckets so it is easiest to do a 5g change every weekend. Only takes about ten minutes to get it done. __________________ Reef tanks since 1987. Current tank: 75g SPS dominated reef tank set up in 1996

04/24/2012, 09:47 AM	#17
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 954	For the one percent daily folk: how often do you actually use a siphons to get the ditrious out??

04/24/2012, 11:57 AM	#18
WWingfield Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 5	WC questions I'm new to this and am planning to do a 10%wc weekly. (starting this weekend) Couple of questions 1) how long is salt water good? I got some last weekend when I filled the tank. Can I use it for the wc this weekend? 2) what is the best way to determine the RO to saltwater ratio? Thanks!

04/24/2012, 12:57 PM	#20
Shells4 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 198	I've been fighting a nitrate problem and decided to try the small daily water changes. I started a little over a week ago. I have a 33g cont. of premixed water in the garage. I have been changing 2g a day and so far it has been very easy. Takes about 2 min. a day. I think sometimes I will do a larger water change just to help vacuum out the detritus but I am going to stick with the daily changes and see if it makes any difference. It does seem nice not to have to lug all of my big containers into the house every 2 weeks.

04/24/2012, 08:07 PM	#21
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 954	Yeah I think I'm gonna try the one percent or two percent daily and vacuum once every few weeks.

04/24/2012, 10:32 PM	#22
symon_say Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 552	5% weekly...

04/25/2012, 07:17 AM	#24
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 954	Randy Holmes: When your doing your 1 or so %, do you just use a pitcher or two and scoop from the top?

04/25/2012, 07:27 AM	#25
Rploaded Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 367	I change one gallon every 2.4 hours using genesis reef systems storm and renew systems..... I changed 3 gallons in my sleep....... Once a week I use a refrigerant scale to get 15.5lbs of dry salt from the bucket dump it in the auto mix bin....... See you next week.