advise on water changes for 125 gallon tank

[JellyMan]

yeah Rev knows what he is doing that is for sure.

[Doc]

as far as water changes go, 20 gal a week seems a bit much. I have always hear that less more often is better for the bacteria to keep up with the addition of new water. I only change 5 gallons a week in my 125 and it is fully stocked with fish and corals. I have 13 fish and 16 corals - all of which are doing great. I use instant ocean salt and I do have to dose alkalinity (sp?) and amino acids. My LFS has cheap I.O. salt versus Oceanic (which is a better salt, but is $15 more than I.O.) My parameters are perfect, although I have a touch of Phosphates, which is probably why I cannot keep Xenia alive for more than two weeks. All of my other LPS and softies as well as my three bubble tip anomenies (SP?) are doing great. Hope this helps.

-Dr Marco

[yote]

Dang,Yall got me thinking that I might be changing to much in my little 30.I been changing 5 gallon a week in it.

[Bifferwine]

I do 10% weekly.

[Doc]

10% is a great rule of thumb. I believe each tank is different with the amount of live rock, fish waste, food added, and coral needs. changing 5gal in a 30 is probably too much. It is better to change less more frequently than one big change less often. I cannot judge any one elses tank, but my 5 gallon a week seems to keep every happy, even the shrimp - 3 cleaner and a blood shrimp, which the radiata has totally ignored for some fabulous reason. I love my tank. I wish I had a bigger one, but my wife would divorce me, so I will wait until I am rich and famous.

Dr Marco

[Bifferwine]

I think my tank is overstocked (at least I admit it!) so I used to change 20% weekly but am seeing if 10% still keeps my water quality high.

[d.french]

things are looking a little better tonight since water change last night bobby came up this evening and traded me some coral i got his moon brain and gave him lots of free stuff, pom pom xenia, kenya tree, red star polyps, hairy mushroom, xtra rod and small propellar for mj mod kits. Bobby your daughter is sweet my daughter about started crying when she left she wants to come over and play already nice meeting you and family have to get together again later on and trade some more free stuff you got to find me one of those rock urchins never see them here.

[d.french]

i'm sticking with 20 gallons once a month i add 10 to 15 gallons a week in top off water, but gonna wait 2 weeks and do another water change than do it once a month.

[Doc]

I agree that you should wait about 2 weeks for your next water change. I always respect individuals own management of their tanks and will not bug you again about doing weekly water changes of a smaller amount. The reason behind it is less shock to the tank and the bacteria has more time to adjust to new water. Doing a large change less frequently depleats the bacteria on a larger scale and shocks the system. Good luck with your tank.

-Dr Marco

[d.french]

thanks