Water Changes

Alright I wanted to know if I still need to do a w/c because I lose like 5-10 a week from my sump. I just add fresh ro/di water back to it. Does this count a w/c? BTW 55 Gallon with 20L sump.

 

Unfortunately no this doesn't count as a wc. Doing a freshwater top off doesn't replace trace elements that your coral and fish need to survive.

 

What trace elements? Because I add salt to my top off & ph. Ca, Alk & MG I add to my tank according to whats needed.

 

No X when water evaporates that's all that leaves. The waste, salt, everything else stay behind. So even though you might be replacing 5 or 6 gallons a week with fresh ro/di you need to stick to your normal water change regiment to remove wastes.

 

You shouldn't be adding salt to your top off water. Your replacing what has evaporated during the day and salt doesn't evaporate. If you put salt in your top off your going to alter your salinity.

 

Did I mention I have a protien skimmer?

 

I add the salt when I see it went down.

 

You add salt? you shouldn't. Check your SG next time you're down from evaporation. It'll be higher than what you normally keep it at. I keep mine at 1.025 with a refractometer and if I evap 1/2 gallon my SG is up around 1.0275. No saltwater to replace evaporated..fresh ro/di.

 

Yeah I just quoted above

 

yeah sorry I just literally woke up