Just did my first water change...

monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
My first water change today went fine, so far. The water, even in the dimmer light looks crystal clear and the tank looks terrific!!! I'll be doing water tests tomorrow after work. All of my little crabs and snails are very busy, and after dark the worms are out and about...I really hope that's a good thing.
Where this change went great and levels are ok, I decided to start keeping 2 buckets of water ready for changes...one with salt and one without, just in case.
My new lights are awesome, and it turns out my hubby is going to spring for those and a very nice gift certificate from my LFS (looks like a protein skimmer to me). Also for Mother's day, my daughter got me a VERY awesome salt water aquarium encyclopedia. It has everything, and I mean everything!!
This is such a fun hobby :joy:
Lisa :happyfish
 
who dey

who dey

Active Member
glad the change went well and BTW.... Happy Mother's Day!!!
if your going to keep the bucket i would suggest getting a small powerhead and heater for each bucket to keep circulation and temp up!!!
 
maurice

maurice

Member
Lisa,
Glad to hear everything is going good so far,and yes it is fun and very addicting. :joy: Definatly spring for the skimmer!
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Hi Who Dey,
Did that already. I went to Wal Mart and bought an air stone, pump, and a little heater for my water change stuff. It really worked out great. May have to do that for the second bucket though. I'm going to test water again tomorrow and see where I'm at.
Maurice, I actually was going to go for the skimmer this weekend, but weekends are just so short...and now I have that cert to help out... :jumping:
When I install my skimmer, will I still need to run my filter or do I replace my filter? I also decided this weekend that I'm definitely going to put a solid colored background on my tank...that encyclopedia had directions on how to do it...no guys, it's too late to paint, and besides, I'll probably change my color from time to time, so...
Well, have fun everybody....
Lisa :happyfish
 
maurice

maurice

Member
Glad to hear your going to get the skimmer,and yes i know how short the weekends can be.Yes you keep running your filter too.You will see a big difference in your water in no time at all,and you will have to dump your skimmer pretty often when you first get it going.Good luck!
 
ren99

ren99

Member
I'm just wondering why she has to keep the backup water's temperature up all the time?
Can't she heat it up just before addign the water into the main tank?
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
No, top offs don't fluctuate my tank at all temperature-wise, but with a partial change I definitately wanted the water I was adding to be at the temp in my tank...I don't have fish yet, but I do have snails, crabs, featherdusters, and 1 cute little polyp...don't want them freaking out...
I'm looking forward to getting my backdrop and skimmer...may next weekend. My family and I are all divers, and we've just kinda topped off on that hobby, equipment-wise, so this is pretty much becoming a family thing as well. My daughter wants to start her own salt water tank after mine is up a year or so, so that she can learn from what I go through with it...smart girl...
Lisa :happyfish
 
ren99

ren99

Member
ah I see. I thought there was a different reason to keep backup water at certain temp.
I never put a heater in my backup/topoff/change water.
When water changing, what I do is drip the water into my sump slowly as if I was acclimating. So that no one will notice the change. Just not comfortable with dumping in 10 gallon of change water at once.
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Who Dey,
What do you mean, should I just get one set of equipment for both buckets? If that's the case, I've got it. I'll just switch the equipment as the first bucket is used. Or are you saying that I need equipment in EACH bucket. If that's the case, I'll go and get it. Let me know if I'm misunderstanding...or if for gosh sake, there's an easier way!!! Always open for suggestions...
Side note...my tank is looking SO much better right now after the water change...can't wait for fishies!! couple of weeks for that though (at least).
Lisa :happyfish
 
who dey

who dey

Active Member
your water change water does not necessarily need to be heated until the day you do your change, but you should keep something in the bucket to circulate it so it doesn't get gross and stagnant and grow mold etc... your top off water needs to be heated and also have the same circulation, the heat is critical because if you add like i do(1 gallon every two days) it helps to add same temp water to your tank
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
Yeah Who Dey,
I'm definately doing all of that...well except that I need to get another airstone and pump for my second bucket, not a problem (5 gallon buckets). I was really happy with how great that worked out. Again, my tank right now, even in the dark, is looking MUCH better. I'm also thinking that I'll be doing some tweaking here and there all along, but then, isn't that the name of the game?
Lisa :happyfish
 
monalisa

monalisa

Active Member
I have tons of pics, but will try to post some tomorrow. You know, I happen to be very computer savvy, but I can't figure out this McIntosh stuff...love it, but it's taking a lot of time. I can't wait to post pics of my tank though...I love it...
Lisa :happyfish
 
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