Nitrates=0 and almost 5 months since Water Change

[dtiedke]

I know my tank is still young (one year old this month) but I have not been able to detect any Nitrates since adding the DSB. I even bought a new test kit think my old one might be faulty. Still can't detect any...


My bio-load on my 135 is as follows:

2 Percula
1 Yellow Tang
2 Purple Firefish
1 Red Firefish
I Mandarin
1 Marine Comet
2 Split-tail Goby
1 Shrimp Goby
1 Filamented Wrasse
4 Clams, 3 Peppermint Shrip, 1 Pistol Shrimp
tons of snails, hermits, starfish...

Aside from a lost branching hammer, my corals seem to be doing OK. I lost a Lawnmower Blennie (he jumped onto the glass support and I didn't rescue him in time), but aside from that my fish seem to be doing OK too.

How long can I go without changing the water? At what point should I do it, or should I continue to use Nitrate levels as an water quality indicator?

I do add about 15cc each twice a week of Kent Marine's:
PhytoPlex
ChromaPlex
Micro Vert
Iron
Strontium & Molybdenum
Essential Elements
Iodine

I feed 1 cube of Mysis and 1 cube of brine daily, with a tablespoon of flake every-other day.

I do run a refuge, but have not been able to grow the grape and razor caulerpa very well....after 5 months online, I have yet to be able to trim it back any....

Any thoughts? I guess I would have to say I support the benefits of a DSB, but I reserve the right to change my mind in a few years....


Dave

 

[jimbo327]

You need to change water. I use to be lazy as well, and neglect water changes. But your water is probably depleted of essential trace elements and parameters are unbalanced. A simple water change will keep those levels at "good" levels. Some examples are calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, strontium, iodine, and many more. 8O

Jim

 

[reefann]

^^^^^^^^^^^^
I agree you are not adding everything that the water has.
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[Anonymous]

I change about 10 percent every few months....I have had no problem in a years time. Nitrates 0,Nitrites O,Ammonia 0,Calcium 450-500,salinity is stable(this is the only reason I do a water change),Ph is stable 8.2-8.3, my fish are doing great..and I have very few problems with "pest algae". I even use well water. You are adding the elements needed but be careful when adding them.....especially iodine. Get a kit to test your iodine levels if you are adding it. Just my opinion.