Water changes

[ron101]

Originally Posted by marie

I think I disagree with that, unless you pick up a bad bucket of salt (which can happen) I can't think of any problems that can't be solved with a large water change. (I'm not talking about hitchhiker crabs, aiptasia, fireworms or the like kind of problems)

Edit, Ok I lied I just thought of one instance and that is starving corals

I agree. If the water has some sort of contamination a small water change is unlikely to lower the concentrations enough to fix the problem. Of course you dont want big temperature or salinity swings but those are easy enough to match up.

Many reefs are close to the surface and experience salinity changes with rain. It doesn't wipe them out.

[Aquattro]

Personally, I think as long as the water is the same temp and salinity, change as much as you want as long as it's the same bucket of salt. If it's a new bucket, I'd test a few more things, pH and Alk specifically. I would of course suggest that there is some degree of confidence that the water is the issue. I've done up to 90% changes before with no problems other than using most of a bucket of salt. Make sure it's pre-mixed for a day though, or heavily mixed and aerated if required same day.

[EmilyB]

I agree the pre-mix for 24 hours or so, when doing such a large water change. I couldn't do 50% in a 230g, impossible, but I would have loved to.

My FOWLR has a few softies/LPS and been set up several months now skimmerless. I think the 50% waterchanges make all the difference there.