Too many water changes?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by chevyjaxon

I just dont want any big nutrient swings in my system.

Test PO4 and NO3 minutes before a waterchange and then also 3 or 4 hours after a waterchange. Try this with a 7-gallon waterchange, and then try it with a 25% waterchange. You will find the numbers just before a waterchange and the numbers a few hours after a waterchange will be very similar to each other despite the size of the waterchange.

Waterchanges do little to reduce nutrients unless they are very big, and very often. Such as daily 50% waterchanges which I wouldn't recommend. Instead of thinking of waterchanges removing stuff, think of waterchanges as replenishing stuff.