topping off water vs water changes.

[moe]

I was wondering how many time should make a water change if I have to top my tank every week with fresh water. would like to know people opinions.

[txav8r]

I don't think that the amount of water that evaporates has anything to do with the frequency of water changes. What is evaporating is just water, not salt water. There is also no nitrates leaving the tank with the evaporating water. Waterchanges are to get rid of the "nasty" stuff in the water column and to replenish basic nutrients.

[BIGBIRD123]

I agree with Jack. Top-off just keeps your salinity in line, w/c keep your parameters in line.

[ballardjr2000]

I have only did 2 water changes since i set up my tank. one was about 20g the other was a good 50 percent change. only time i do a water change is to get things back in balance if they go crazy i did the 50 percent cause i never did one since i cured the rock in the tank and never did a change while it all cured. the other was well just to do it. lol. other than that i top off the tank daily

[sharkboy]

I think that the single best way to keep a tank balanced and inhabitants happy is to perform frequent water changes (smaller, weekly changes are probably better)...gets rid of yucky stuff and replenishes good minerals...not to mention it is probably the most economical rather than trying to add chemicals...just my two cents

[LoneStar]

I agree with Jack. Top-off just keeps your salinity in line, w/c keep your parameters in line.

Bingo!

[corkyGramma]

TEST YOUR WATER, the results themselves will show you no nitrates are leaving the tank when water evaporates. Plus your coral need fresh vits and minerals. Even if you have an awsome fuge and no nitrates...if you just suppliment you'll get "soup" not a synthetic marine ecosystem.
waterchange waterchange waterchange! More trips to fintique:wink_smile:

[sharkdoctor]

I think that the single best way to keep a tank balanced and inhabitants happy is to perform frequent water changes (smaller, weekly changes are probably better)...gets rid of yucky stuff and replenishes good minerals...not to mention it is probably the most economical rather than trying to add chemicals...just my two cents

^Agreed, but if you are talking about the 125g in your signature, you probably don't have to do a change every week. On my smaller tanks I do a small (approx 10%) once a week change and a top off whenever needed, but I don't have a lot of evaporation since there are no lights over the tanks (fish only). Always always always test! You will always have your "Should I do a w/c?" answer right there.

[dpotts]

I do both....I do weekly 10% water changes and top off when needed. Truthfully my 29G BC rarely needs to be topped off because I lose very little to evaporation due to the tight fitting lid but I do adjust the SG when I do my weekly water change. My 90G gets topped of with about 1G every day or so and it gets a weekly 10% water change. :)

[uriah]

How long has your tank been up? What do you stock? Filtration? It cant be healthy not doing H2O changes... JMO

I have only did 2 water changes since i set up my tank...

[Bill S]

Depending upon your tank size, water changes can be the least expensive dosing you can do. In my daughter's nano, I just change 5 gallons - which is about 60%.

In my big tank, large changes aren't feasible. I do 35 gallons every few weeks.

[recoiljpr]

I change 10 gallons a week on my 65. Think about the ocean, at any one spot in the reef that water stays there only a fraction of a second before it's whisked away. Our livestock have to live constantly in the same water. There are MAYBE 10 chemicals we test for on our tanks. There are 1,000's of other chemicals that we don't test for that can really hurt our livestock. It's always better to err on the safe side and do weekly water changes.

Sure, some people get along fine wtihout them, and some have thriving tanks. I've seen more then my share of them. But, i'm not willing to risk my tank crashing because I didn't want to change.

Think of it this way, some people who drive 90 and weaving in and out of traffic constantly never get in a wreck. Others, drive that way once and get their car totaled. I'd rather do it the safer more mundane way and not take the extra risk.

Just my 2 cents.

[Paul28]

I do maybe 5 gal a week and have no problems 120g sump 30g, for awile when i was doing 5 gal a month i got a green alge slime but got rid of it with 5 gal a week, tank looks so good after a 5g water change weeklys

[moe]

I do maybe 5 gal a week and have no problems 120g sump 30g, for awile when i was doing 5 gal a month i got a green alge slime but got rid of it with 5 gal a week, tank looks so good after a 5g water change weeklys

this answer my next question. So for a 125 I should do 5 gal change every week. This sound more feasible and also keep my top off in check eh????

[Jeff]

it all depends on you bioload and how much you feed your tank. if a heavy load and heavy feedings i would go with a 10gl change every week or two. a small load and just do a five gallon change every two weeks. it is something you will have to adjust to fit your tank, and there is no problem with doing many small water changes.

SIDE NOTE; I have done one water change on my tank since jan. when i started again. i have hair algea, have to clean the glass every other day ( i don't dose photo because of it.), and have colonial hydroids ( the only thing i don't like about my tank), but it is an experiment tank for me. listen to all advise and make your own decisions based on what you tank is like.

[corkyGramma]

it all depends on you bioload and how much you feed your tank. if a heavy load and heavy feedings i would go with a 10gl change every week or two.
He does feed a lot. I change 30gal a month on a low to moderate bioload. Its work but the corals extend and thrive when you do. Cleaning two tanks in two different (city-town) locations is hard. I wish I could do 10gal per week in the big tank, that would be ideal for the corals.

[moe]

He does feed a lot. I change 30gal a month on a low to moderate bioload. Its work but the corals extend and thrive when you do. Cleaning two tanks in two different (city-town) locations is hard. I wish I could do 10gal per week in the big tank, that would be ideal for the corals.

do i fed alot cork?

[uriah]

Good rule of thumb, 10% weekly. Also keeping in mind every tank is different and you may need to adjust according to YOUR tanks needs. When in doubt, changing water is better than not. If it is a money issue, wrong hobby:)


this answer my next question. So for a 125 I should do 5 gal change every week. This sound more feasible and also keep my top off in check eh????

[corkyGramma]

do i fed alot cork?
Yeah Moe, have you ever heard me say,"Hum I think you might be under feeding.":bigsmile:

[Paul28]

Good rule of thumb, 10% weekly. Also keeping in mind every tank is different and you may need to adjust according to YOUR tanks needs. When in doubt, changing water is better than not. If it is a money issue, wrong hobby:)


Every tank is defferent that hit right on the nail. if you have few fish and all 20 or 30 2 inch frags i wouldent see doing to many changes its all about what you have in your tank my tank is STUFFED but also its around 4 years old. I rember in the first year the stages of all defrent alge i went throgh as a tank ages less and less water chages are needed thats been me but everytank is defrent :bigsmile:

[corkyGramma]

You should post a pic.

[rabadanmarco]

i top off a little every day just because i like to keep my salinity the same all the time. someone told me that salinity fluctuations are bad.
and then change 6 gallons every week to get those diminished trace nutrients used by corals/fish and skimming back in. and i don't think that nitrites can evaporate. if anything they get more concentrated.



..............as far as water changes Vs. topping off..........

its not a competition you should do both