Water changes

[JetEngineMech]

Is there any reason against frequent water changes? I'm wondering because of some green water I have been changing the water every few days to help clear it up. Can you change water too often? I'm changing 2 gallons at a time, 3 times a day then waiting two days and doing it again.

[glampka]

That's not much of a change. 2 gallons is only 3.6% of your total volume. You aren't really making a big dent in things when you change that small amount at a time. You'd be better off changing a larger volume to reduce the contaminants faster.

[JetEngineMech]

But for the day it's still 10% or does it not matter since it's how much at any one time?

[coral reefer]

I do water changes once a week as well as adding fresh water to my tank every couple days due to evaporation!
IMO, weekly water changes are more beneficial than once every couple weeks or once a month! The reasons are many and the pros far outweigh any cons their might be!
What you are doing is fine and what Amcarrig suggested would work as well!

[omard]

I would highly recommend anyone with water change/exchange questions to read the following from my favorite "Reef Guru", Anthony Calfo.

Water Changes/Exchanges, By Anthony Calfo

More frequent water exchanges (weekly) can compensate for other aquarium deficiences...i.e. over feeding, weak lighting, poor circulation, weak skimming, etc.

Is a cheap fix (except for very large tanks)

Of course there are varying arguments all over the place, but I have read, listened to (and talked to) Anthony C. over the years, and his advice on most any reefing topic can be relied upon.


FYI


OmarD

[sssnake]

Great article omard.

Thanks!

[nemo79]

To solve your problem, it would be better to do larger water changes less frequently. 3 times a day with that tiny amount will probably do nothing but stress out the livestock.

[JetEngineMech]

Well, I didn't have a way to accurately measure how much I was taking out/putting in. Now I have a 6 gallon water bottle so I can do my 10% all at once.

[djnzlab1]

HI,
I lurk around some other forums that deal with extremes and one variable they mention is the quality of the Salt your using in your water changes many man made salts are that man made mixes or the words synthetic salt mixes. Each company has a responsibility to insure that the salt they produce is free of chemicals that are bad for reef systems some are better at it than others.
Some can add inert metals to your water column that isn't easily removed so only use salt that is well known and recomended, off brands may be just that off.
I ve done some research and many of the Kent salts seem well made trace metal free. Quote the DR>(Shimek)
In other words, there are salts that are being made that are significantly better at allowing the survival of organisms, and these have significantly lower concentrations of the toxic heavy metals euphemistically referred to in the coral reef aquarium advertising literature as "beneficial trace metals.")

read this one

The Toxicity of Some Freshly Mixed Artificial Sea Water; A Bad Beginning For A Reef Aquarium by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D. - Reefkeeping.com