Water Changes When Nitrates consistently read zero?

[mark]

Water changes are a bit of my own made hassle as when I do them, I siphon out ~15g from the display to get the detritus that collects in the corners of my BB and the remaining 10g from my basement sump/fuge.

If I just did water change from the sump only, it could be a 5-10 minute job. Other than leaving the sediment in the display (which really isn't that much) any negatives. It would save me from having bring upstairs the waste barrel and dolly, carting the 15g to the main floor bathroom tub, clean up, etc.

[Lance]

I just read an article by Dr. Dieter Brockman who says:

Quote: "It is the experience of many aquarists that a change of between 10 and 20 per cent of the water per month is optimal for reef aquariums; higher percentages are, in my opinion, counterproductive. For fish-only tanks, the percentage can be significantly higher, up to 50 percent per month. Partial water changes that go beyond this limit for reef aquariums endanger the system's stability and increase algal growth. For any aquarium system, small and frequent partial water changes are also preferable to a single large one per month: Small volume changes are less hard on the chemical parameters of the system. The current approach to my 220-gallon tank is to replace 12 percent (aproximately 25 gallons) per month, divided into four weekly changes of roughly 6 gallons.

[PoonTang]

Originally Posted by Lance

I just read an article by Dr. Dieter Brockman who says:

Quote: "It is the experience of many aquarists that a change of between 10 and 20 per cent of the water per month is optimal for reef aquariums; higher percentages are, in my opinion, counterproductive. For fish-only tanks, the percentage can be significantly higher, up to 50 percent per month. Partial water changes that go beyond this limit for reef aquariums endanger the system's stability and increase algal growth. For any aquarium system, small and frequent partial water changes are also preferable to a single large one per month: Small volume changes are less hard on the chemical parameters of the system. The current approach to my 220-gallon tank is to replace 12 percent (aproximately 25 gallons) per month, divided into four weekly changes of roughly 6 gallons.

Yaaaaaaay, now I can cut back on my water changes with a clear conscience.

[mark]

any picture of Dr. Dieter's 220g

[Lance]

Originally Posted by mark

any picture of Dr. Dieter's 220g

Nope, no pics in the article. Maybe it's an algae-enfested mess: Sometimes the experts can't grow anything.

[raceit]

Are you suggesting I may be an expert? From diatom farmer to expert in one day. How great is that.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by raceit

Are you suggesting I may be an expert? From diatom farmer to expert in one day. How great is that.

I don't know about expert but if Japan went crazy over algae like they did with the pine mushrooms a few years back, I'd be rich. Algae exporter extroardinaire!

[steve fedyk]

I do daily water changes, in my 120G. I do about 1.5G a day. Its automated on a timer and drain.
My tank has never looked so good.