How do you change your water?

[larryndana]

I'm just curious to how people change their water. Not interested in why, just how. The first couple of changes we did we ok, but it just seemed things could be better, faster, or more efficent.
Of course we had some mishaps happen in the begining, like running out of salt and running to the store to get some before they closed. We also use to use tap water and didn't even filter it before we dumped it in.
Here's how we do it now.
We buy premixed RO/DI salt water from our LFS.
I have a cheap water pump and some 5g buckets from a paint store(you can get them at any paint supply place, of course unused).
So I pour the new water into a bucket and then i test the water. I have come to trust my LFS but you never know.
Next I go to my tank and drop the cheap water pump in and fill an empty bucket
Then I take the new water and put the cheap pump in and filter it into the tank.
Of course I need to get a heater to get the temp right before my next water change.
So how do you do it? Is there anything should do different?

 

[shogun323]

I change 10% weekly for my 50 gallon. I mix R/O and Tropic Marin Salt in my bucket labeled "good" for 24 hours with a powerhead (with airhose attached) and heater. I test salinity often for accuracy.
First, I turn off the pumps. Then using a 5/8 inch tube, I syphon 5 gallons into a separate bucket labeled "bad."
Next, I test my new mix again to ensure it's salinity. Then I pump the good newly mixed water in using a powerhead with a 5/8 inch tube attached.

 

[michaeltx]

same here pumps make it much better to change water.
as far as the water its the same as above mix and airate for 24 hours then test temp and salinity and then change out the water
mike

 

[rcdude1990]

i kinda do wat larry does
i buy those 5 gallon buckets that have already mix salt water in i, i take it home and put it into a empty bucket, i onl need to do like 1/4 of the store bought water since the salt level is to high for my tank, and then i fill the rest of the bucket with fresh water, then i put a heater and a air stone inside the bucket and leave it alone for 24 hours. then the next day i shut everything off, take my overflow out and clean everything, the overflow, the Utube, the glass and my return spout then i take out old water and put the new water in the tank

 

[shogun323]

Originally Posted by shogun323
I change 10% weekly for my 50 gallon. I mix R/O and Tropic Marin Salt in my bucket labeled "good" for 24 hours with a powerhead (with airhose attached) and heater. I test salinity often for accuracy.
First, I turn off the pumps. Then using a 5/8 inch tube, I syphon 5 gallons into a separate bucket labeled "bad."
Next, I test my new mix again to ensure it's salinity. Then I pump the good newly mixed water in using a powerhead with a 5/8 inch tube attached.
Actually, I forgot one CRUCIAL step to the process......
Before I begin I always open an Ice Cold Samuel Adams Boston Lager.

 

[toan]

i use new 65gallon trashcans,
and for mixing i throw in my mag 7 pump

 

[rusting]

Originally Posted by shogun323
Actually, I forgot one CRUCIAL step to the process......
Before I begin I always open an Ice Cold Samuel Adams Boston Lager.
After a couple of Sams, who cares about water changes?

 

[cymbal67]

do you add water to the tank or the sump?

 

[rusting]

Originally Posted by cymbal67
do you add water to the tank or the sump?
I add my water to my sump. My display tank is on 1st floor, and everything else is in the basement.

 

[michaeltx]

sump its less likely for a salt burst * if it didnt all mix** to hit the corals and hurt them.
Mike

 

[rusting]

Originally Posted by MichaelTX
sump its less likely for a salt burst * if it didnt all mix** to hit the corals and hurt them.
Mike
I use on old 30 gal. tank with a powerhead to mix my water. I start it going a few days before water change day.

 

[larryndana]

Originally Posted by Toan
i use new 65gallon trashcans,
and for mixing i throw in my mag 7 pump

Thats cool, how big of a tank?

 

[hot883]

I mix water in the basement several days ahead of time. Mixed with a powerhead and heated. Then I haul the water upstairs by 1 gallon jugs. I pull the side of the cabinet off, turn the skimmer off and then turn the valve to drain the water into a 5 gal. bucket. (soon to be hooked up to the floor drain).
I then shut the valve off and pour in my water into the sump about 3 gallons or so at a time. Let it run through and get pumped up to the tank as I empty the 5 gallon bucket and reapeat until I have changed the desired amount.

 

[waterworld]

In my FOWLR every other waterchange I have a small spare powerhead that I plug in and hold by hand underwater. I then move it around directing the waterflow from the Power head onto the live rock in the tank. This lifts detrius that has settled onto the rock and it is suspended in the water. I then siphon water from the tank into a "bad water" bucket. I pre-mix my salt water in a 35 gallon trash can 2-3 days in advance. Run an airpump and heater 1 day in advance.
ALWAYS re-test the salt level before using the water that has been pre-mixed.
Good pointers from all and it is neat to see the different methods to accomplish the same task!
WW

 

[cymbal67]

do you turn the pumps off when you take water out?

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by cymbal67
do you turn the pumps off when you take water out?
Just my skimmer I turn off. I only take out 3-4 gallons at a time and then replace with fresh. Wait a few then repeat.

 

[happypants]

I do a 10% water change every two weeks. I use a 5 gallon bucket to remove old water. I use Culligan water and marine salt to replace the old stuff. It is sold in just about any large shopping center and the containers are much easier to use. They come in 5 gallon, 3 gallon and 1 gallon I believe. I mix my salt in the containers and let it set for at least a few hours shaking it up every half hour or so. I then remove eight gallons (75 gallon) and start adding the new water slowly. :happyfish

 

[cjml]

Originally Posted by hot883
I mix water in the basement several days ahead of time. Mixed with a powerhead and heated. Then I haul the water upstairs by 1 gallon jugs. I pull the side of the cabinet off, turn the skimmer off and then turn the valve to drain the water into a 5 gal. bucket. (soon to be hooked up to the floor drain).
I then shut the valve off and pour in my water into the sump about 3 gallons or so at a time. Let it run through and get pumped up to the tank as I empty the 5 gallon bucket and reapeat until I have changed the desired amount.

Beautiful tank---how do you do it???

 

[waterworld]

I turn off all pumps then siphon the required amount of my change from the main tank. Clean skimmer, foam pre-filters and Start pumps back up and good to go. Then check salt level an hour later to verify all is well.
WW

 

[lubeck]

larryndana,
Do you have a fuge?
do you have a ro/di?
do you have a basement?
I have my sump/fuge down in the basement. (110gal, display and 75gal sump/fuge).
I have a 45gal. rubbermaid. that has a kent auto topoff that is hooked up to my rodi unit with pressurized holding tank. So when i am ready, I turn the valve to on, come back the next day and theres my water, add tropic marin pro reef throw my mag9 in and let it mix for 1 to 2 days. Note: I don't have to worry with auto top; never touch the water or mess with the turning on/off the faucet... its on ALL the time(shuts off when topoff triggers). Usually I start the process every wednesday with water, then add salt on thurday and change on friday.
sorry it took so long to get to this point
So on friday, water is ready; temp;salinity ect..
I turn off my return pump on sump; the water falls and fills in the sump.
Add my mag9 to sump; mag9 which is hooked up to the vinyle tubing that runs along the ceiling of my basement and dumps into my utility sink.
unhook tube and throw mag in fresh sw rubbermaid and fill up the sump.
the whole process takes about 8minutes to change 35gal. AND I DON'T GET WET. Nor do i have to pick one thing up. Just plug and unplug twice. It seems complicated but very simple.
it got old hulling water up and down and running water;carrying buckets, wrapping up tubes ect...
i'll try to get pics