Water changes - how large and how often?

[houser]

how long is the "garbage can" life of salt once mixed????

If it is in a sealed container and constantly mixed you are good for a couple of months. The key is a seal container to keep in evaporation and to constantly keep it moving.

Lately I've been running a bigger external pump for mixing duties, then a smaller internal pump for circulation solely to reduce electrical consumption.

 

[r0ck0]

how long is the "garbage can" life of salt once mixed????

If it is in a sealed container and constantly mixed you are good for a couple of months. The key is a seal container to keep in evaporation and to constantly keep it moving.

Lately I've been running a bigger external pump for mixing duties, then a smaller internal pump for circulation solely to reduce electrical consumption.

I let my water sit still for 5 days between water changes, no heating either, starting the heater and mixing pump 24hours prior to the water change to let pH and DO equalize. Whats it matter if the water is not being mixed when not in use, seems like a waste of electricity?

as to the OP, I change 3 gallons weekly and 4 gallons once a month when I clean the skimmer, on a 17g tank.

 

[eldiablosrt8]

how long is the "garbage can" life of salt once mixed????

If it is in a sealed container and constantly mixed you are good for a couple of months. The key is a seal container to keep in evaporation and to constantly keep it moving.

Lately I've been running a bigger external pump for mixing duties, then a smaller internal pump for circulation solely to reduce electrical consumption.

i have a spare mag 7 i was gonna use for constant mixing since im moving to concord i wanna start making my own watter

 

[Euphyllia]

I have a crappy skimmer so I do 20% every week or two. I also run a lot of carbon and phosphate remover.

 

[A_Lee]

My skimmer-less 20g reef tank gets 10% water change once a week.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ant_l/5096921697/

 

[GDawson]

25% weekly on a 100 gal total vol tank. But I also have nitrate issues.......

-Gregory

 

[mray2660]

We change 30g for 120g tank plus 30g sump every 6 to 7 days.

Mike

 

[ryanjiang]

I have been doing 10G water change on monthly base for my 75G tank. With the time and money I spent on the hobby my wife is on the edge to force me quitting, I don't even dare to ask her if I can setup RO & mixing stations etc. I buy nature sea water and RO water for top-off, it is really expensive to do mass WC.

I am testing with my tank the theory that if you can achieve optimized balance of nutrient import and export, mass WC is not required, but so far the result is not satisfying.

 

[yardartist]

14 percent weekly(5gal for 40gal tank), but at every five days now as the NO3- is high while I transition to fugeless.