how much water for a water change?

[joelb]

of your tanks total water volume,, what is a good percentage that should be changed monthly during water changes?

[hobogato]

no right answer here. i change 5 gallons twice a week. that amounts to 40 gallons a month which is about 25% a month. i have found small frequent water changes more beneficial than larger less frequent ones. just my experience tho....

[Kristy]

Well on good months, we do about 20% twice a month. On bad months (like December, historically) we manage about 25% once a month.

Our 2010 resolution is that we are going to try to do quick weekly water changes of about 15%. We'll see how long we can keep that up.

[justahobby]

Here's a good article on WC:
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/t_brightbill_wc.html

What it boils down to is this: the larger the change the more nutrients will be exported and more elements imported.

And another:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

I try to maintain 20% every other week. I would like to do it every week but time and income don't allow.

[Paul28]

me i do 5 gal a week been doing it that way for along time now seems to work for me

[corruption]

no right answer here. i change 5 gallons twice a week. that amounts to 40 gallons a month which is about 25% a month. i have found small frequent water changes more beneficial than larger less frequent ones. just my experience tho....

+1 -- this system works fantastically for me if its upkept -- once weekly 10 gal works as well, but doesn't keep things quite as pristine.

-Justin

[Mr Cob]

me i do 5 gal a week been doing it that way for along time now seems to work for me

I also do 5 gallons a week.

[jesserettele]

I have found it hard to consistently reference nonbiased evidence based practice in aquarism but both of these sites appear to be really solid, thanks for the links!


Here's a good article on WC:
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/t_brightbill_wc.html

What it boils down to is this: the larger the change the more nutrients will be exported and more elements imported.

And another:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

I try to maintain 20% every other week. I would like to do it every week but time and income don't allow.

[theedprado]

1-3% a day, I guess not everyone can export bags of water with every fish, but we have no problems whatsoever.

[theedprado]

many of the wholesalers and coral farms operate the same way, running a small trickle of water into the system and alowing it to overflow constantly.

[Europhyllia]

I change 10 gallons every week.
I think with the tank (125g tank) and the sump (50g) I have about 125g of actual water (not rock/sand/etc.) so that would amount to weekly changes of about 8%, right?

[timmytimtim]

I have a 75 gallon and change 20 gallons every week. Everything seems to be much happier that way.

[GoneReefing]

For myself I have been doing weekly changes on both tanks
8 gallons for my 75 and 2 gallons on the 20.

Roughly 10%/week. On a week that if I skip which is very rare, I will do a 20% the following week.

[Paul28]

what ive noticed is the older my tank gets the less waterchanges i half to do still keeps clean clear water

[cowboy572]

I agree less water changes are better. I do a 12 gallon change on my 110 tall every two weeks.

[firecoral3msd]

Roughly 10%/week.

I have always found this percentage to be the best, but that is my opinion.

[kkiel02]

On the 180 I have been doing weekly 10 gallon changes. I havent really seen a need to do anymore at this point. Every so often Ill do a 15 gallon if I feel like it but so far so good.