Need Opinions Why is my tank doing so well with little to no water changes?

[saltman1]

Thought I posted this thread but it never showed up?? I am not looking for a flaming here I just need honest opinions. I first would like to state that I am not a totally careless reefer who doesnt care about my tank. I put 1000's into it like you all and I love it. I just don't have the time to do the monthly water changes I am supposed to. My tank: Mixed SPS, softies, only 5 small fish and one hippo tang good size. All LR with super big Euro reef skimmer which I clean regularly. I feed the fish very lightly but keep them healthy. My main question is I do water changes only about 4-5 a year. Everything in my tank looks awesome and is doing well including SPS Monipora, Digis, assorted frags. I used to add calcium and buffer last year but havent in some time. Why is the tank thriving with only minimum water changes a year?

[NaH2Ofreak]

Do you happen to have a current pic of the tank to post?

[seayu]

What salt brand and Euroreef skimmer are you using? I'd like to know for just out of curiousity.

[landlord]

Don't jinx yourself!



There is something to be said about mucking around too much with a tank......

Less can definitly be more.

Good Luck --landlord

[fras]

i'm approaching a year without a water change & it's my most successful tank. I think the problem i was having myself is that my tap water is so bad (500 tds and full of nitrate/phos) that even though I have a 4 stage ro di it wasn't taking out all the badies.

[saltman1]

I use instant ocean salt mix. I have a Euro-Reef ES series skimmer rated for up to 200 gallon on my 150G system. I have a ton of cheato in my sump as well to combat hair algae issues I had in the past. Good to hear I am not a freak of nature.I have an RODI unit so my top off is clean too.

[saltman1]

I have never learned how to post pics but I have tried several times with photobucket with no luck...

[Toddrtrex]

Do you have your pictures in photobucket now?

If so, when you are looking at one of your pictures you will see 4 links listed on the right hand side. Click in the forth one, it should say "copied" after you do that. Come back to RC, and hit "Ctrl V" and it should paste them for you.

[saltman1]

Guess there is something to the old saying: "If it ain't broke...don't fix it"

[IceWish]

i went about a year without any water change and my fish and corals were healthy throughout... i think my tank just found a balance and was doing very well on its own..

[Reef'in Colorado]

I have had a lot of success with minimal water changes myself. In the past I had a 125g reef with a big skimmer lots of LR, DSB in tank and sump, and tons of calurpa in the sump too. I also had the tank lightly stocked and fed lightly but often. I had it set up for 2 years and NEVER did a water change. I ran carbon and added supplements regularly. It was a mixed reef with several RBTAs. All of the livestock thrived, the 1 RBTA I started with turned into 13 over that 2 years and all of the corals showed considerable growth and great color.

That tank eventually had almost a 100% dieoff when I had an overheating event I now have a 135g set up in the same fashion. I continue to maintain it the same way. The only water change I have done in the past 3-4 years is when I moved about 15 months ago. The tank and all of the livestock continue to thrive.

I have a couple smaller tanks too(no sump or skimmer). I do water changes on these as they don't seem able to maintain themselves like larger systems with more LR and DSB surface area.

I'm sure I'll get blasted for my "neglect", but I also have spent a lot of $$ and time and want the best for my creatures. I wouldn't continue my maintenance regimen if things wern't thriving.

I have seen a lot of great setups over the years, and many of them have been cared for in very different ways. I think that just goes to show that there is not only one correct way to maintain a reef.

[dendro982]

Can you both post details: amount of food entering system, flow pattern, filtration.
In my big tank particles are just moving endlessly in the tank, and not much is removed by overflow.
Surely, I would like to improve and have less water changes

And - photos, please: through Phototbucket or RC Image Gallery.

Photobucket:
- register,
- upload pictures, resized to 600 pix wide max,
- copy the IMG string under the photo,
- right click - paste into Reply or New Thread window (do not use any buttons above the entry window),
- done.

Gallery:
- below Reply window is link "How do I post the image" or something like that,
- follow instructions.

I prefer Photobucket, larger size.

[ryan_paskadi]

I dont do water changes. I use walmart brand HOB filtration. My skimmer is a cheap lil seaclone, I have no sump, no fuge, my tank is a small 55gallon, and way too overstocked.

My parameters are perfect, corals thriving, water has never been less than crystal clear, I have an anthias that is thriving.

I attribute the succuss of my tank to:
Ia dsb w/plenum...lots of liverock off the sand bed on a shelf....lots of flow....feed lightly....dose alk and calcium...and a wide variety of organisms.

Like you a enjoy my reef and am not lazy I choose not to do waterchanges becuase they are not needed IMO. I believe that all the expensive gear and obsessive waterchanges are not necessary. Sure they increase the rate of growth but not necessarily the succuss of the system or the happiness of the inhabitants. Just my .02

[Frick-n-Frags]

Every reef system is different and fouls its water in its own way at its own rate.

If you have established the happy balance that has held stable for several years, guess what: YOU ARE THERE!

BTW: RE: any supposed miracle happening and it is happening for less than a year: don't hold your breath. a month or 3 is nothing in reeftank time.

edit, actually the post right above is a good example. You have no idea where that 6 month old tank is ultimately headed. hopefully for continued good times, but no way to tell yet.