Water change questions

[reefwithareefer]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Top off isn't changing, it's topping off evaporation. Also, I'm not one that agrees with small daily changes, as I like to use my water changes to dilute the things that contribute to algae, etc. So I do large biweekly changes, where I'm removing a fair volume of bad things.

But no, whatever method you use, top off isn't considered part of the change.

I do realize that top off is not changing but replacing, I just figured that it is new water, even if it has no essential elements, as I dose daily. I guess that leads me to ask.. Do/can nitrates, ammonia, phosphates leave with evaporated water . Do they build up or is there no change due to evaporation?

I understand your belief in larger changes, but after reading Randy Holmes article, it seems that it makes no difference if you do small daily or weekly larger water changes. I did larger ones in my 180, but had the same algae. I have not noticed any difference in doing small changes or larger ones yet.