If the quality of the water becomes less than ideal, some livestock will suffer and possibly die. It is necessary to keep the highest quality of water we can manage. Over an extended period of time, this can only be done with frequent water changes (a minimum of 12% to 15% every 2 weeks).
Following a regular schedule:
You may, after a while, happen to skip a scheduled water change. The reef will seem to be fine, but when you do the next water change you may notice that certain corals have retracted. Sometimes they will never be the same again. This is a shock to the delicate coral, and it may lead to a slow death. This is not responsible reef management. Not only is it unfair to the delicate livestock; it is costly because of unnecessary losses. You must be willing to perform water changes every two weeks for responsible reef management and optimum results!
The water changes should be done on an absolutely regular basis; if you agree to a two-week schedule, stick to it! The livestock will get used to this and expect the change every two weeks. The problem is that sometimes we begin with two weeks, then skip a week and go to a three-week schedule for a while, return to the two-week schedule eventually, and so on—we keep fluctuating. This is not good for the reef. By keeping a regular schedule of water changes (every two weeks), you will maintain a higher quality of water.
Regular water changes with a high quality salt mix will:
A high-quality salt mix introduced regularly is all that is required to provide the reef with what it needs to thrive, without having to be concerned with adding unfamiliar elements (not in the salt mix) that could possibly encourage the growth of micro-algae or add undesirable substances to the reef!
Start at one end of the tank. Remove the gravel cleaning attachment from the tubing, and leave it in the tank. Using only the tubing as a vacuum, place it on the rock, and remove any loose debris and sediment from the rock. Be extremely thorough, paying particular attention to the crevices and nooks and crannies. When you have done the face of the rock, stick the tubing behind, under, and into areas you cannot see. Use the tubing as a probe. When you see a lot of debris getting sucked up, hold the tube in that area until the water flowing through looks clear. You should be impressed with the amount of waste and sediment being removed.
Work your way very thoroughly, top to bottom, from one end to the other. Keep an eye on the reference mark on the tank, so you know how much water is being removed. Use the crimping action to stop the water when you are not vacuuming. By allowing water to flow through the siphon only when you are vacuuming, you will have enough time to clean all the rock and bottom area thoroughly before the planned amount of water has drained out of the tank.
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