when 2 do H2O change in FO system?

[tb27272]

So, I have always done regular water changes in my 180. During the past year my skimmer has pulled very little. Contacted MRC and have come to the conclusion that my refugium is working efficiently. Nitrates stay at 10 ppm. Since trace elements aren't a huge concern with a FO tank, what should my water change schedule be? If changes are to primarily export NO3 there isn't much reason to do big water changes. I add calcium/purple up for the LR. thanks tommy

[LisaD]

I would still do at least 10 percent a month. If you do biweekly changes, that's just around 10 gallons.

I've heard of people going longer, but I'd still do regular water changes to stay on the safe side. Do you still have your big lion?

[sunfishh]

I agree with Lisa. A water change is not going to hurt your system. So keep doing them often.

[danorth]

10 on the nitrates in an aggressive tank? How many fish? Kudos to the 10!!! My nitrate test is always red, only sometimes it doesn't turn red until longer during the 1 minute shake!

[LisaD]

I suggest you also try another nitrate test kit (or bring to your LFS for testing) just in case your test kit is not working right.

[WDWDen]

Man, my nitrates are always at 80ppm any more. I just can't get them down. I do about 20% per week!! I'm starting to think I'm wasteing my time and salt doing so much. How much do you guys do per week?

[Lrgclasper]

10% once a month. Nitrates usually 10 ppm or less unless I fed the shark halibut, then it spikes the next day to about 20 ppm and quickly drops.

[danorth]

How much nitrate will a heavily stocked tank such as my 135 produce a week???? Any ideas LisaD?

[tb27272]

Stocklist (I don't want to hear a lot of complaining!):
Large Volitan Lionfish
Porcupine Puffer
Powder Blue Tang
Yellow Tang
Huma Huma Trigger
Niger Trigger
Spotted hawk
spotted grouper
lunar wrasse
Maroon Clownfish
blue damsel

I have cross referenced the NO3 with several kits, if anything my older kit reads high.

[danorth]

You need to upgrade to a 10,000 gallon ASAP!!!

Really though, that is a full group too......what kind of refugium do you have? 100 gallon tub of sand and macro or something?

[tb27272]

I have a 25 gallon sump and a separate 25 gallon refugium. It has a 6 inch deep sandbed. The system has a ton of LR in it ( in the display, sump, refugium). Probably should remove some of it. It works though. The skimmer is a MRC MR3R with a blueline 70 recirculating pump. A Blueline 1100SV return, 57 watt aqua ultraviolet sterlizer (just installed). Lighting is 4 65 watt pcs.

[danorth]

Do you have coraline on the rocks from the pc's? I am switching to another skimmer in the next few weeks and a whole different approach to a DSB if possible. We shall see. I just added some more LR too, almost 200 lbs all together! I should move some out, but don't want to.

Do you have any pics of the tank?

[tb27272]

I don't have any reason picks, though I will try to get around to it soon. I am a little embarrassed about the LR, I was given some and now I have a huge aiptasia problem. I am considering finding a new home for the Lion (Lisa) and get a Raccoon butterfly. We are found of him, but he is the biggest contributor to my bioload. I know I would be pushing it with another fish. I am also wanting an Angel, but it will have to wait until my tank grows.

[tb27272]

I don't have any reason picks, though I will try to get around to it soon. I am a little embarrassed about the LR, I was given some and now I have a huge aiptasia problem. I am considering finding a new home for the Lion (Lisa) and get a Raccoon butterfly. We are fond of him, but he is the biggest contributor to my bioload. I know I would be pushing it with another fish. I am also wanting an Angel, but it will have to wait until my tank grows.