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While the water exchange rate may not affect the ammonia and nitrites significantly as Mike Snaden suggests, the water exchange rate will definitely affect the nitrate and pheromone levels just as JR says. Even with all that trickle tower filtration.
The nitrate and pheromone levels ARE important to the well being of the koi, even though most folks in the hobby pay little or no attention to them.
The drop in pheromones and nitrates with significant water exchanges is why JR preaches water exchange so often when writing about this hobby.
That is also why JR spends as much as he does on the water for the exchange. Exchanging 40% of the water per week on a 7500 gallon system would be 156,000 gallons per year for the water exchange. That would cost about $900 for the water exchange at our local charge rate for Charleston, WV, city water. JR's point is that it is money well spent for the health and well being of the koi.
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