"dun need to change water" FOWLR tank

[jun]

i understand that for a reef tank we need change water to replace the minerals/nutrients..etc.. for the corals..etc

but for a FOWLR tank ,is it possible to have a "dun need to change water" tank, if the Biological Filtration system is achieve in top quality/strength and/or is more than enough to maintain the bio load?

...

meaning

...the

beneficial bacteria population out numbers the bio-load placed on the aquarium.

[surferguy1978]

i understand that for a reef tank we need change water to replace the minerals/nutrients..etc.. for the corals..etc

but for a FOWLR tank ,is it possible to have a "dun need to change water" tank, if the Biological Filtration system is achieve in top quality/strength and/or is more than enough to maintain the bio load?

...

meaning

...the

beneficial bacteria population out numbers the bio-load placed on the aquarium.

i think it possible... i seen someone who keep the marine fish in the office. he only top up the water and never change the water at all. bioload is 2 nemo, 1 shrimp and 1 tang. some mushroom n star polyps n tube worms.

[cdckjn]

I have run sort of a FWOLR and since last National Day did only 3 or 4 water change - a pail or two each time, and the tank/fishes still ok. although has some algae problem due to the fact hat I am using tap water other than that the tank is ok. fishes and alive and well. growing well too.

[jamomatt]

I have seen a reef tank that never changes water. But that one is pretty big though, iirc 6 footer.

[cherietung]

Technically speaking, if all inputs equals output, then it is possible. This is usually for low life stock with lotsa of LR as filtration media ###### a good skimmer.

[jun]

hope my 2 kg of biohome can handle bio load of my 2ft tank....plannin to keep ard 10 small fishes.....

[Alvin Tan]

some people will use the sealab trace elements to help maintain the tank condition when they dun even wish to do a water change...

[jun]

some people will use the sealab trace elements to help maintain the tank condition when they dun even wish to do a water change...

trace elements..tats more important for reef tank wif corals??

for a FOWLR .... dun need much of the trace elements rite??

[big_ben102000]

i think u can top up the trance elements by adding addictives ?

[jun]

i think u can top up the trance elements by adding addictives ?

FOWLR need trace elements???

[Alvin Tan]

FOWLR need trace elements???

yes they do....if nt the colouration wun be so intense....it will turn pale IMO...

[KennethK]

Just like human need vitamins. Calcium for their bones and strontium for build.

[big_ben102000]

i was juz thinking .... anyone here is successful with corals without having to change their tank water ?

juz replenishing the trace elements using addictives and topping up water due to evaporation.

[mansiz]

Corals of course not, you will sure need to change the water. It's just how often you need to change it. It's not only trace element that plays a part here. If you keep replenishing trace element, do you think NO3 and PO4 level won't increase? Corals need feeding as well, and feeding sure contribute to PO4 and NO3 level increase. But if you monitor your tank closely, get a very very good skimmer, get a calcium reactor, get a fluidise reactor, top up of water with RO/DI water, monitor NO3 and PO4 level closely, set calcium, magnesium, strongtium, iodine level to optimum, correct temp, and most importantly PH and KH, then it should be ok with no water changes. But the amount of work you put in really cover up the work you have to do for water changing. But even if water change was performed, you will still need to test the water. PH and KH is one thing that is difficult to maintain for most marine aquarist.

[big_ben102000]

i guess it depends how good is the filtration and the equipment being used for the tank.

[bawater]

i understand that for a reef tank we need change water to replace the minerals/nutrients..etc.. for the corals..etc

but for a FOWLR tank ,is it possible to have a "dun need to change water" tank, if the Biological Filtration system is achieve in top quality/strength and/or is more than enough to maintain the bio load?

...

meaning

...the

beneficial bacteria population out numbers the bio-load placed on the aquarium.

Hi Jun,

We don't just change water to replenish elements - there are always additives to do that. It has much more benefit than that.

For a FOWLR tank with tip top filtration & low bioload - it will minimise or prolong water changes (depending on you filtration/equipment/capacity - to once a month,once every 2mths,once every 3mths or longer) of course water changing is a chore - to someone who keeps a 4ft,6ft or 8ft tank but for a 2ft - it can be done in less than 15mins. That's 15mins per month

Bacteria populations will never over populate bio-load , it will always stay in proportion to the bioload(assuming enough surface area is available).

A major factor for water change in a Fowlr is nitrate reduction (by dilution), Fishes can tolerate nitrate but only up to a certain point before getting stress. With no NO3 removal and accumulation of hundreds of ppm in NO3 a yr down the road, you may end up with OWLR (only with live rock).

With or Without water changes, you need basic additives for sure - KH & pH will drop. You just need the basic like kalkwasser and an alkalinity supplement,Do not dose without checking.

For the amount of Fish you want and if they are not 10 eviota gobies- you are overstocking, nitrate will be an issue for sure(10 fish need a lot of food). For your low maintainence/less water change with current filtration in a 2ftx1x1.5- you're looking at 2-4 small fishes (taking into account fishes grow- safer to say 2 fishes)

If you want to utilise the NO3 reduction & filtration factor from Liverock - you need the equation of half Kg of LR per 4ltr of water. In the specs you provided (2ft+2ft sump) you are looking at ard 25gal or 100ltrs, that's 11.25kg of LR(problem is leaving no space for fish).

The biohome + LR you have now will do fine for the ammonia & nitrite part.

Hope this helps