Water changes

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?c=3578&articleid=2172&d=158&category=582

A timely article after our discussion yesterday on the merits of water changes. This article says more frequent smaller changes are better than large changes.

I have mixed opinions on water changes. I haven't done a single one since may of last year. going on 1 year now. I dose with fuel for trace elements and I does cal, mag, alk. Funny thing is I feed heavy, have ALOT of fish, and I have no cheato.....my fuge has rubble rock and a TON of feather dusters in there with 0 light in my sump. My tank looks healthy....I better knock on wood.

I guess the word "lots" is the key phrase to the statement. I used to do 20 gal per week in my 100 gal system. It ran well. Now I do one 50 gal change per month. Less time, less salt, system still runs well. {shoulder shrug}

My sps would be long gone if I didn't change water for a year!

Nah, does the ocean get water changes? My sps are doing well. My acros are growing and they have been in the tank since last summer.

I know a guy that has a 180 and no skimmer. His tank is ALL sps and he hasnt done a change for years. I got the idea from him.

What do you do for trace elements?

I'd be curious what your water parameters are. Do you test?