Water Changes

benjammin03 · 03/21/2018, 07:45 AM

I've been reading that small daily water changes are better than weekly or bi-weekly changes, but I was wondering if that was also true in a FOWLR tank. I just bought the Autoaqua AWC and I can set it to do daily changes if I need to, but I'm not sure if that advice applies in a FOWLR. I would guess that the daily changes is beneficial to corals since it is replenishing the necessary trace elements in the water on a consistent basis, but I don't see a need to do that if I don't have corals. If I do a daily water change then I am still pumping out a small amount of fairly new water every day. I am thinking that a weekly water change would still be best in my situation because I would actually be pumping out dirtier water. I know that the daily water changes minimizes the change in water chemistry, but a 10 gallon change every week in a 200+ gallon system shouldn't be that drastic anyway. Am I way off track here?

nereefpat · 03/21/2018, 08:14 AM

I think you are right on track.

In a fowler, I would do big water changes every couple/few weeks. You get more bang for your buck as far as diluting the waste.

tthouston · 03/21/2018, 08:24 AM

My tank is 220g FOWLR, I didn't do a daily water change or weekly or monthly. I replace the filter socks every 2 day and change GFO/ Carbon every month. I do a little wet skim-mate replace them with RODI water by ATO, I add a few gallons fresh saltwater at the weekend to increase the gravity again.
I only check the gravity once a week to be sure it close to 1.026 +/- .001 (No need exactly with fish only).
I feed them once a day and vacuum the sand one for every 2 week but reuse the water by put the other end of tube in the filter sock.
I may do 20 gallons water changes every 6 month by skimming wet.

kmbyrnes · 03/22/2018, 07:31 AM

For the 350 FOWLR, I plan to use the strategy of 30 gallons every month and only add top-off in 5 gallon chunks as needed. The fish will not care as much as the coral in a reef would.

Dmorty217 · 03/22/2018, 07:45 AM

I replace 150-200g every 3-4 months.

humaguy · 03/22/2018, 02:12 PM

dt (700gal)- 120 gallon wc every 4 weeks
qt larger(250gal)- 40-60 gallon wc every 2 weeks
qt smaller(125gal)- 40 gallon wc every 4 weeks

03/21/2018, 07:45 AM	#1
benjammin03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: St. Louis Posts: 88	Water Changes I've been reading that small daily water changes are better than weekly or bi-weekly changes, but I was wondering if that was also true in a FOWLR tank. I just bought the Autoaqua AWC and I can set it to do daily changes if I need to, but I'm not sure if that advice applies in a FOWLR. I would guess that the daily changes is beneficial to corals since it is replenishing the necessary trace elements in the water on a consistent basis, but I don't see a need to do that if I don't have corals. If I do a daily water change then I am still pumping out a small amount of fairly new water every day. I am thinking that a weekly water change would still be best in my situation because I would actually be pumping out dirtier water. I know that the daily water changes minimizes the change in water chemistry, but a 10 gallon change every week in a 200+ gallon system shouldn't be that drastic anyway. Am I way off track here?

03/21/2018, 08:14 AM	#2
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	I think you are right on track. In a fowler, I would do big water changes every couple/few weeks. You get more bang for your buck as far as diluting the waste. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

03/21/2018, 08:24 AM	#3
tthouston Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 128	My tank is 220g FOWLR, I didn't do a daily water change or weekly or monthly. I replace the filter socks every 2 day and change GFO/ Carbon every month. I do a little wet skim-mate replace them with RODI water by ATO, I add a few gallons fresh saltwater at the weekend to increase the gravity again. I only check the gravity once a week to be sure it close to 1.026 +/- .001 (No need exactly with fish only). I feed them once a day and vacuum the sand one for every 2 week but reuse the water by put the other end of tube in the filter sock. I may do 20 gallons water changes every 6 month by skimming wet. Last edited by tthouston; 03/21/2018 at 11:07 AM.

03/22/2018, 07:31 AM	#4
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	For the 350 FOWLR, I plan to use the strategy of 30 gallons every month and only add top-off in 5 gallon chunks as needed. The fish will not care as much as the coral in a reef would. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

03/22/2018, 07:45 AM	#5
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	I replace 150-200g every 3-4 months. __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs

03/22/2018, 02:12 PM	#6
humaguy Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Western Ct, NYC Posts: 8,218	dt (700gal)- 120 gallon wc every 4 weeks qt larger(250gal)- 40-60 gallon wc every 2 weeks qt smaller(125gal)- 40 gallon wc every 4 weeks