Well done! Nicely put!

rtk


Tidepool Geek wrote:
bo0ger1 wrote:

The water changes help to LIMIT not PREVENT changes in ionic composition.


Booger,

Let me see if I understand your logic. You recommend against water
changes because they limit but do not eliminate certain problems with
water degradation. By analogy, can we assume the following?

1. You recommend smoking since quitting limits but doesn't eliminate
the chance of lung cancer.

2. You recommend fatty foods because a healthy diet limits but doesn't
eliminate the chance of heart disease.

3. You recommend ignoring traffic laws because adherence to them limits
but does not eliminate the chance of an accident.

4. You recommend running with scissors because not doing so limits but
does not eliminate the chance of stabbing yourself.

5. You recommend hunting with Dick Cheney since avoiding him limits but
doesn't eliminate the chance of getting shot.

Oddly enough, I don't totally disagree with the idea that water changes
aren't always necessary (just as I sometimes drive fast while eating a
cheeseburger). OTOH: The people who keep reef type aquariums without
changing water are few and far between and they tend to be quite
sophisticated in their understanding of what's going on in their
system. Further, such people are using a combination of filtration and
bio-load tailored to their (non) water change regime. For everyone else
water changing is the easiest way to insure that trace elements are
maintained and trace toxins are removed.

Your posts imply that water changes can simply be stopped; without
regard to any other system considerations. Given that many of the
people reading this forum are relative newcomers to reefkeeping it is
irresponsible of you to make such claims. This is especially true in
light of the fact that you have apparently chosen to not keep those
animals (mainly cnidarians) which are most sensitive to water quality
and to which this forum is dedicated.


Changeably yours,

Alex