tigerlanding

Hello, I have a question on how to know when to do partial water changes. I hear that it should be done when Nitrates creep up. My nitrates have been below 10 for about a month and a half now. Should I still doa partial change out? Are there other perameters that I should monitor to let me know when it is time? I have also heard that if the system is balanced and nitrates are kept low, I may be able to get away without water changes. Any truth to this? I hate to change out water "just because" every two to three weeks. I have a 55G saltwater tank with 60lbs live rock, two flase perks, bangai cardinal, 15 hermits, 10 snails, one condy anemone, two power heads and a hang on back filter. My pH is about 8.3, salinity 1.023, nitrate below 10, nitrite and amonia 0, temp 79-80. Any help will be appreciated.

MizRamzi

Is this a FOWLR (fish only with live rock) tank? Water changes are a must! Water gets old and needs to be changed. Don't wait for your nitrates to *creep* up, it can and will hurt your fish and water parameters all the way around. Sorry, but WC is a vital requirement in keeping a happy, healthy tank.
What type of lighting are you using? Anemone's have very high lighting requirements, they depend on photosynthesis to feed and grow.

tigerlanding

Its a FOWLR right now but want to move into some coral eventually. I have about 300W T5. Thanks.

sgould

You definately should be on a regular water change schedule. I do a partial every week in both of my tanks. Some prefer to go a little longer and do one every 2-3 weeks.

tigerlanding

Yeah I will keep them up. Thanks.

aquarist48

Hello Tigerlanding. If you would be so kind as to add all the tank information from post 1 into your aquarium profile it would be a great help to others down the road. Click on "MY Settings" at the top of the page and in the drop down bar click on "Edit Aquarium Info".
Thanks!
Ken

tigerlanding

Will do...thanks.