dangerfish
Member
So I have heard of the water change but never really understood it and i would like to know how I would do one
How do you do a water change
- Thread starter dangerfish
- Start date
flower
Well-Known Member
Hello,
Water change is exactly that...you remove some water from the display tank, and then replace what you removed with new mixed saltwater. Match the SG, and get as close as possible to the temp of what is in the display tank.
Each person has their own way of doing things...this is mine.
I have a 37g plastic garbage can (marked FISH ONLY) I fill the can with RO (Reverse Osmosis) water. Then I swirl the water and add my salt mix (1/2 cup per gallon) the idea is not just dump in the salt but slowly add it so the salt does not settle on the bottom of the can (hence why I swirl the water while I add the salt). Once I have enough salt added to match the gallons of water, I put a power head in the can to keep it churning at least 24 hours before I use it.
I test the SG with my hydrometer or refractometer, I make sure it matches the water SG in the display. Some folks add a heater to the mixing tub as well as a power head at least 24 hours to match temps too. I then remove some water from the display, and add the new mixed saltwater.
If the mixing tub has the SG too high...add (a little at a time) of more RO water to bring the numbers down, and likewise if the salt is too low...add more salt. Remember once it's close to make sure to add or remove it just a bit at a time, or it will go the other way, and let it churn some more (5 to 6 hours) before testing the SG again. I have been doing it so long now, that the salt I add is almost always right where I want it first try. However it took some practice to be able to do that.
Just so you know: Top off water is not a water change, top off is just adding freshwater to the tank to bring it back up to the original level of water... because water evaporates, but the salt does not. As the water evaporates, the SG rises, to bring it back into the right range all you need to do is replace the water that evaporated.
Water change is exactly that...you remove some water from the display tank, and then replace what you removed with new mixed saltwater. Match the SG, and get as close as possible to the temp of what is in the display tank.
Each person has their own way of doing things...this is mine.
I have a 37g plastic garbage can (marked FISH ONLY) I fill the can with RO (Reverse Osmosis) water. Then I swirl the water and add my salt mix (1/2 cup per gallon) the idea is not just dump in the salt but slowly add it so the salt does not settle on the bottom of the can (hence why I swirl the water while I add the salt). Once I have enough salt added to match the gallons of water, I put a power head in the can to keep it churning at least 24 hours before I use it.
I test the SG with my hydrometer or refractometer, I make sure it matches the water SG in the display. Some folks add a heater to the mixing tub as well as a power head at least 24 hours to match temps too. I then remove some water from the display, and add the new mixed saltwater.
If the mixing tub has the SG too high...add (a little at a time) of more RO water to bring the numbers down, and likewise if the salt is too low...add more salt. Remember once it's close to make sure to add or remove it just a bit at a time, or it will go the other way, and let it churn some more (5 to 6 hours) before testing the SG again. I have been doing it so long now, that the salt I add is almost always right where I want it first try. However it took some practice to be able to do that.
Just so you know: Top off water is not a water change, top off is just adding freshwater to the tank to bring it back up to the original level of water... because water evaporates, but the salt does not. As the water evaporates, the SG rises, to bring it back into the right range all you need to do is replace the water that evaporated.
dangerfish
Member
So what i am doing is takeing out some water after I have my other water that I am going to put in ready then put that water in (how much water should I take out and how often should I do this).
flower
Well-Known Member
HI,
It all depends on your tank size as to how much. For example:
I can do 1/3rd water change on my 90g tank = 30g of water. Once a month
Or I can do 5g to 10g water changes = once each week
Or I can do 1 gallon daily.
To do water changes daily, you would have to have a tub of saltwater up and ready all the time...that takes space. If I had a small tank (30g or smaller) I would go for a gallon a day water change, the smaller the tank, the more unstable it is. The larger the tank, the easier it is to take care of.
dangerfish
Member
So I want a 75g tank so I would take out 25 gallons 3 times once a month
flower
Well-Known Member
Um... no, using my example: For a 75g tank you would take out and replace 25gs once a month = 1/3 once a month, or 5g once a week (both equal 25g a month), or 1g daily. You are not trying to replace all of your water, you are trying to keep nitrates and phosphates at 0. IF you had problems, such as ammonia spikes, or serious hair algae issues...then perhaps you would do up to 1/2 of your water each month to try and fix it, otherwise you are just working yourself to death on nothing but water changes.
dangerfish
Member
o that makes more sense