Water Changes... How frequent is too frequent?

C

Chaney

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I have a nitrate issue in a tank. Nothing lethal and all corals/fish are fine. However I would like to get it down pretty fast. I normally do about a 1/6 exchange weekly (29 gal tank, do a 5 gal change). I've not heard of a problem with too much of a water exchange and even know at times doing a 50-100% may be in order to drop harmful levels. If I did something like 5 gal every other day until it is back in check, is that too much? Thanks!
 
Hi,
Here is a good write-up on resolving nitrate issues. http://melevsreef.com/reducing_nitrates.html It would be helpful to have more info on your setup, how long has it been up and running, type of skimmer, livestock etc.

Cheers,
 
It is a 29 Gal reef tank, Biocube HQI. So small fuge in back, the cube protein skimmer that came with setup (recently changed stone), and has been up for a year. Livestock hasnt changed in a good while. 4 small fish (flame hawkfish, two clowns, and a goby). Various corals from LPS to softies, no SPS. And thanks for the link. :)
 
If the water matches your tank in all good ways, bigger or more frequent water changes are fine. You may not need to dose anything for alk & ca during that period though.
 
I make my own salt here, so yes, all paramaters match up (obviously aside from the nitrates). pH, salinity, dKH, etc are all same. So you think with them all being the same a pretty aggressive exchange is fine? Or would it be more advisable to run with like a 1/3-1/4 exchange every few days to try and step it down slower?
 
I make my own salt here, so yes, all paramaters match up (obviously aside from the nitrates). pH, salinity, dKH, etc are all same. So you think with them all being the same a pretty aggressive exchange is fine? Or would it be more advisable to run with like a 1/3-1/4 exchange every few days to try and step it down slower?
 
You can do it every other day safely. The three you want to match are pH, temperature and salinity.
 
i have a 90 mixed reef garden sumpless reeftank, i have always done 40 to 50% water changes every 2 weeks with very good results. My tank has been running for over 6 years now and no crashes ever, I mix my own salt for accuracy.
 
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