How do you do a water change

[zack schwartz]

How do you do a water change. Take me through the steps. Do I just put the vacume in??
HELP <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[mr.bubble]

Its fairly easy, and there are MANY different ways to do this. i dont use a vacume at all! heres what i do.
materials:
1) cup
2)bucket
procedure:
1)take the cup and put cup after cup into the bucket. i use those 5 gallon bucket, they seem to work the best. so anyway, you take some water out doing it that way. i ussually change 5-10 gallons weekly. so thats 2 buckets
2) you should already have aged sea water, or freahly prepared sea water. just pour in 5-10 gallons(how ever many gallons you took out).
3) or another way is to use the vacume insted of the cup. so you dont have to keep sticking your hand in the tank. if you have any Q's on this, POST BACK!

 

[adrian]

You can use a length of flexable tubing from a hardware store to syphon the water into a bucket, be sure to dechlorinate if using tap water, no pun intended, and make sure the water is mixed and brought to the proper temp before you start Whether or not you use a vaccum depends on what substrate you are using, no need for one if you have a live sand bed, or are trying to create one. If you have a crushed coral bed and it tends to accumulate detritus it would be a good idea to give it a good cleaning. HTH

 

[richard rendos]

Gravel vacs work the best. Remove water quickly and make no mess. The cup method may be okay for small tanks, but for bigger tanks, it would take you forever.

 

[nss11110]

i premix the water the day before. let it set overnight with a powerhead. the next day take out 5 gals. and pump in the new water. thats it

 

[msb27]

I think that you shouldnt just "pour in the new water." Add the water slowly. I have a 5 gallon jug that can sit on top and the water can be added a slower rate. A litter faster than dripping but not streaming.
Scott

 

[twicklund]

I add mine to the sump...I try not to add anything to the main tank...This way, the fish don't even know there is anything going on...
tw

 

[trying4reef]

I add mine to the sump as well, and use vacum to take it out.

 

[banshee]

I have a 50 gallon trash can (brand new and clean) that I use to mix the water. I siphon the water out of the tank into 5 gal buckets. I then use a power head with (semi)flexible tubing to pump the fresh water from the trash can into my sump. It's pretty painless and no water gets on the floor.

 

[salvatore]

Banshee: Are you really in Tallahassee? If you get a moment, drop me an email...Id like to pick your brain about LFSs
salvatore@palmisanonet.com