if ammonia is 0 nitrites 0 and nitrates 0 should I still make a partial water change in my saltwater tank?

Question

I have a hang on refugium with live sand and plants. my nitrates came down to barely detectable to undetectable. Yes, I am using a saltwater test kit.

Answer 1

The answers above are correct, and hint at the the reason, but I thought I'd add in to help out.

You want to do regular water changes not to "remove" the bad stuff, but also to "add" the good stuff. While the main focus is on the nitrogenous waste compounds that fish, etc. make, they and other animals in the tank need lots of other nutrients that they can extract straight from the water.

Doing regular water changes ensures that the balance of these nutrients and chemicals is roughly maintained -- pH, salinity, calcium levels, and many others are some of the characteristics of salt water that should be maintained in a range for the critters.

Hope it helps!

Answer 2

Most definitely yes. For two reasons, Firstly as mentioned it emulates nature, which may induce fish to spawn or some sort of behaviour which is usually associated with rain, and the second is that the fish will grow bigger. This may sound odd, but fish give off chemical pheremones which are detected by the fish subconsciously, rather like a person registering a smell. The fish will grow according to the concentration, this is why a fish never outgrows it tank.... By doing partial water changes the chemical is diluted and the fish is fooled in to thinking it's in a bigger environment, it will therefore grow bigger

Answer 3

In theory no. That said I think you are misreading your tests, or using freshwater tests. Food + Fish = ammonia/nitrites/nitrates. It's a basic biological fact. So unless your tank is really new this just can't occur. In a newer tank, and in a well clean under stocked you might not have enough nitrate for the test you are using to show nitrates.

Answer 4

Yes, even though the ammonia and nitrates are 0, a water change would emulate the natural change that fish would normally experience in the wild, and is considered good for them.

Answer 5

Even if your chemicals are balanced, you should always perform partial water changes in any aquarium. My boyfriend and I do one in all three of our tanks once every two weeks. It will help keep the water clean and keep your fish healthy and vibrantly colored. We have three freshwater and do a 30 gall change in the 90 and 55 gal tanks. We cant do a water change in the other right now cause it has molly fry in it.

Answer 6

there are so many studies shows that water change (at least 10%) must happen every 2weeks - 1month.

i have searched this topic for a long time, and now i change my water every 3 weeks.
also keep in mind that there are more things that might be bad for you fish like "calcium, phosphate ..etc".

Answer 7

how long has the tank been running? You should be showing nitrates if it's cycled. What did you use to kick start the cycle?

Answer 8

You should always do your routine monthly partial water change