Water change question , can I do 5 % twice a week instead of 10 % all at once

[Fishkins88]

Good afternoon Reefers,

I have a RODI system for my house that has a 3.5 gallon tank. I have a 29 gallon and do at least a 3 gallon water change weekly. I sometimes wait for my system to make more water and do up to a 5 gallon change. My issue is once the tank is drained it takes a long time to process more water.

I am thinking of upgrading to a 60 gallon all in one tank. I was wondering if instead of doing at 6 gallon water change once a week. Could I do a 3 gallon water change twice a week? I am trying to minimize costs and did not want purchase another RODI. I guess I could store 3 gallons and then use the tank. Any advice from experienced and frugal reefer would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Fishkins88

 

[Zach B]

Absolutely nothing wrong with smaller more frequent water changes. Best of luck

 

[Lavey29]

If you have a 29g with rock scape then you probably have a 23g tank so actually 3g once a week is fine.

 

[Fishkins88]

Awesome. Thank you or the lightning-fast response.

 

[Fishkins88]

If you have a 29g with rock scape then you probably have a 23g tank so actually 3g once a week is fine.

great point. My rock does eat up multiple gallons.

 

[death-by-reef]

that really should be fine honestly you could do .5g water changes evey day

 

[death-by-reef]

idk if that math is right probably isn't

 

[Lavey29]

great point. My rock does eat up multiple gallons.

10 to 15% weekly is perfect especially for nano rank.

 

[sdreef]

Good afternoon Reefers,

I have a RODI system for my house that has a 3.5 gallon tank. I have a 29 gallon and do at least a 3 gallon water change weekly. I sometimes wait for my system to make more water and do up to a 5 gallon change. My issue is once the tank is drained it takes a long time to process more water.

I am thinking of upgrading to a 60 gallon all in one tank. I was wondering if instead of doing at 6 gallon water change once a week. Could I do a 3 gallon water change twice a week? I am trying to minimize costs and did not want purchase another RODI. I guess I could store 3 gallons and then use the tank. Any advice from experienced and frugal reefer would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Fishkins88

Yes, but it doesn't exactly equal a 10% water change since you'll be changing out some of the new water you added previously. I do a daily smaller volume water exchange on my system which is the same concept. It's not a big deal, and there are advantages to more frequent small water changes.

 

[Fishkins88]

that really should be fine honestly you could do .5g water changes evey day

Haha. I am just obsessed enough to do this. I already turkey baste each day.

 

[death-by-reef]

sorry to hijack the thread but i am setting my first reef, its a 10g how much of a water change should i do in a week? i always heard with freshwater that bigger is always better in terms of water changes

 

[exnisstech]

I do small daily water changes. One tank 40ish g total I do 1g a day and on my other system 200ish I do 4 gallons a day

 

[Fishkins88]

sorry to hijack the thread but i am setting my first reef, its a 10g how much of a water change should i do in a week? i always heard with freshwater that bigger is always better in terms of water changes

sorry to hijack the thread but i am setting my first reef, its a 10g how much of a water change should i do in a week? i always heard with freshwater that bigger is always better in terms of water changes

This is my favorite youtuber for nano reef tanks: https://www.youtube.com/@TOMReefer He seems to aim for about 10 % . My 29 gallon is about 3 month with 13 corals and 4 fish. It has been running well with about a 10 % weekly

 

[death-by-reef]

nice

 

[Waters]

You want to do water changes based on your water chemistry. If you have elevated nitrates and phosphates, then you want to increase the size or frequency of the water changes. If they are low, then some skip water changes all together and just replenish trace elements.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Good afternoon Reefers,

I have a RODI system for my house that has a 3.5 gallon tank. I have a 29 gallon and do at least a 3 gallon water change weekly. I sometimes wait for my system to make more water and do up to a 5 gallon change. My issue is once the tank is drained it takes a long time to process more water.

I am thinking of upgrading to a 60 gallon all in one tank. I was wondering if instead of doing at 6 gallon water change once a week. Could I do a 3 gallon water change twice a week? I am trying to minimize costs and did not want purchase another RODI. I guess I could store 3 gallons and then use the tank. Any advice from experienced and frugal reefer would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Fishkins88

You can..but two things to think about.

1. Double the maintenance
2. Do the math. If you do ONE 10% change, you are removing 10% of the bad stuff. If you do TWO 5% water changes, you are only removing 9.75% of the bad stuff, ceteris paribus. I know it is di minimis, but it does add up.