Water Changing, Why Bother?

[Fingers68]

Hi

Its now 3 weeks http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=272870 and my tank has gone through a bloom of green algae which was put in check with rowaphos. My tank is now looking glasial clear and everything looks healthy and good.

So here is the the question many have probably asked, why change the water?

At what point do you know the change is needed? do you need to test often, or is there a sign in the tank. Or is it possible to manage it so there is no need to change?

 

[Truck]

because nitrates build up along with other nasties

 

[Fingers68]

OK so nitrate needs to be controled, so what weight would you give to this that I found.

http/paulsreef.blogspot.com/2008/12/incr...-to-reduce.html

 

[SkiFletch]

Water changes are really a different subject for all. There are 3 primary reasons to do them. Some people may have a combination of all reasons.

Reduction of Nitrates, Phosphates, or other organics.
Replacement of Calcium/Carbonate/Magnesium.
Replacement of trace elements.

Some people have big predator tanks with lots of organics that require water changes. Some have small nanos without a skimmer and need to waterchange to reduce organics. Some have a decent coral load and need to replace calc/alk/mag. Some others (myself included) keep nutrients at bay through refugia and skimming, suppliment calc/alk/mag, and only need periodic waterchanges to replace trace elements. I only change quarterly but I change 75% when I do.

Many ways to skin a cat

 

[meerkat]

I hate chemistry so not sure how the lights work but if they do wouldnt that be a bit tacky to put giant lights like that on top. An aqaurium is something beautiful to look (so why put giant tacky bulbs on it) at and so as everyone said the nitrates build up. Thats just me. Also there is some waste particles that just hang out on the bottom of the tank which lights won't help. Hardly anything likes to eat waste.

 

[mutantbigman2000]

My thoughts are

4 lamps poorly fixed to the top of the tank don't really add a lot to the aesthetic of his tank. (UGLY)

I would think the main contributor to his decreasing nitrates would be the extra growth of algae absorbing the nitrates.

 

[Trod]

I really know nothing about the chemistry of water, BUT having a nitrate problem of my own at the moment I have been doing a lot of reading on how to reduce it, I have added chaeto and am waiting to see if this helps, my nitrate level was 25, I did a 50% water change and got it down to 15, I will do another 25% change tomorrow and see what happens. Sorry I'm waffling

I agree with mutantbigman2000, the 4 lamps look awful
I think the reduction has been caused by the increase in algae and it is absorbing it as it grows, someone may correct me but I think algae is the best natural way to reduce nitrate, other than water change of course. I hope I'm not talking rubbish here, but I'm sure someone will tell me if I am

What is your nitrate reading at the moment?

 

[mutantbigman2000]

Look at it this way.

The quickest way to reduce nitrates is a big water change.

If your nitrates stand at 25 then a 50% water change should bring that down to 25.

 

[Fingers68]

I really know nothing about the chemistry of water, BUT having a nitrate problem of my own at the moment I have been doing a lot of reading on how to reduce it, I have added chaeto and am waiting to see if this helps, my nitrate level was 25, I did a 50% water change and got it down to 15, I will do another 25% change tomorrow and see what happens. Sorry I'm waffling

I agree with mutantbigman2000, the 4 lamps look awful
I think the reduction has been caused by the increase in algae and it is absorbing it as it grows, someone may correct me but I think algae is the best natural way to reduce nitrate, other than water change of course. I hope I'm not talking rubbish here, but I'm sure someone will tell me if I am

What is your nitrate reading at the moment?

According to a 5 in 1 test strip from API my

Nitrate is between 40 and 80
Nitrite 0
PH 6
KH 80 ish

Now then;

The Nitrate has been like this from day one according to my test strips, however I took a water sample to my local shop when I bought my Regal Tang and they said all was well. Everything in the tank is doing well so I am not taking to much into the reading from these cheapish 5 in one tests.

The PH is lower than norm (6 days ago) as I had just yesterday put a fresh bag of carbon and rowaphos into the system. Apparently the carbon being a big PH reducer I am again not getting worried about that one.

So to me all looks very happy, the fish (x4) are looking good and all my corals ( see here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=272870 ) + now a big bristle worm a pulsing zenia and some other sort of jelly furry mat like thing? Are all looking very happy. The water is glacial albeit with what I have come to term "dust" floating about, but with no "filter" then I guess this is very norm.

The lamps are something I would not bother with as they are hideous if not dangerous. I was quite interested in the notion that by using my current 4X t5's more I might create enough anti Nitrate stuff without it looking very green and naff, forgive the scientific terms.

Also as everything is looking so good then is Nirate so bad? I dont think my nirate is actually so high that my test strips indicate but its certainly not 0, forgot to ask the shop what it actualy was in the child like excitment of getting a "dory".

Its all interesting stuff for sure.

 

[rabbut]

I wouldn't trust test strips as far as you could throw them TBH. Get a liquid test kit With a Nitrate reading of 40-80, most of the tank's inverts would be dead... Fish and LR would be fine, but the coral, shrimp, crabs e.t.c wouldn't.

All the best
Rabbut

 

[n3ont3tra]

I wouldn't trust test strips as far as you could throw them TBH. Get a liquid test kit With a Nitrate reading of 40-80, most of the tank's inverts would be dead... Fish and LR would be fine, but the coral, shrimp, crabs e.t.c wouldn't.

All the best
Rabbut

I think the bigger problem would be the PH reading of 6.

 

[rabbut]

Very true, but sinc when has any non-lab-grade strip ever given a different pH reading? It seems to just stick to pH 6 on all kits I've used before, give or take 1/2 a point...

 

[mutantbigman2000]

Is the surface of your water receiving enough agitation?

This could help raise the ph. So could opening a window near to your tank.

 

[SkiFletch]

While hobby-affordable nitrate kits as a whole are not the most reliable, those strip ones are the least reliable by far. Get yourself a liquid pH and liquid nitrate kit. API would be fine for the pH. Try a Seachem or Salifert for the nitrate, they're the most accurate. Although I get decent results with my API. DO NOT use your fingers on the nitrate test kit when handling or swirling the tube. This is a common mistake aquarists make that gives false readings.

 

[Trod]

As everyone else has said, I think the test kit you are using is unreliable, with nitrate that high, your tank would not look good
Your PH is much to low really needs to be between 8.2 and 8.4. if you can angle your spray bar so its spraying out of the water, if that makes sense
so that it moves the surface water around, that should help bring your PH up.
They are slightly more expensive but if you can get some Salifert kits start with nitrate and PH just to test your results