salt?
- Thread starter adio_54
- Start date
earlybird
Active Member
I like how mrdc does it.
Originally Posted by mrdc
Just thought I would drop a few words about how I do a water change in hopes in may help the new people and if I am doing something wrong, I will ALWAYS take some helpful advice.
1) Decide on how frequent you want to do water changes so you can decide how much water to change at a time. I do a weekly 10% on a 120g tank. Some people do weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, ... and never (not suggested). I mentioned time and % because I look it as you should change more water as time passes. For example, if I did monthly changes I may do 15%. I don't have a formula but I wouldn't want to do say a 40% water change a month to compensate for 10% weekly water changes. It also depends on how much you feed, things dieing, ... and checking your water paramters. Sometimes, intermediate water changes outside your schedule are needed. Basically there is no clear agreement on how often or much to do water channges. However, large water changes should only be needed when something is going wrong.
2) I also really don't want to get into the whole RO / tap water argument (even though I use RO water) so basically fill your container (use a dedicated container) with water (I use an 18g dedicated plastic container).
3) Add a powerhead that is sufficient enough to circulate the entire container and a heater set at a temp to match your tank's temp.
4) Slowly add the salt. I know how many scoops my changes need and I like to add 1/4 of the amount needed slowly and then let it circulate for about ten minutes. After that, some of the salt sits at the bottom which I will pick the power head up and manually blow it around. I wait another 5 minutes or so and then add another 1/4 and repeat the process until 100% of the salt is added.
5) Even though I know how much salt I usually need, not every scoop is perfect so I still use my refractometer which I reccommend. I also calibrate it every few weeks. If you use a plastic hydrometer then I guess use it.
6) Once the salt has been added and I can see no settling, I test the salinity and if it's slightly low or high (and I mean slightly) I leave it.
7) I let it circulate for roughly 22 hours. I then test the temp and salinity and if either is off I fix it over the next 2 hours. Temp is easy to fix and is self explanatory and I don't worry about a degree or 2. If the salinity is low (which should only be slightly if you followed step 6 and left the "off" as slightly), I add a little salt and check periodically. I add more if needed which usually isn't needed. If it's high, I slowly add some more RO water.
8) After everything is in place (salinity and temp in normal parameters), I let it circulate for about another hour and then do my water change.
9) I have another 18g dedicated container for the old water.
Side notes:
1) I believe in having dedicated containers, one for water change and one for old water and those containers are ONLY used for the purpose of water changes.
2) I replace evaporated water ONLY with fresh RO water and nothing else. If your salinity is off in your main tank, I would correct the problem but either adding water with salt or taking away some water and replacing it with water with no salt before I do a water change. I would do it this way and not by trying to correcting it cia water change and I would correct either way very slowly. So if your salinity is off by A LOT for some reason, don't start adding a bunch of salt and try correcting it in 5 minutes. That will shock your tank and may have bad consequences.
3) Get a refractometer. I won't argue about the RO / tap water or which salt to use but if you want accuracy, IMO a refractometer is a must. And don't leave it in the garage if it gets hot in your area because the plastic cover over the reading area will warp! Also, calibrate it with the right water or other solution.
Well that's it for now and I hope that I may help someone because my first water change came with questions. I may add more later and if anyone has more to add, go for it.
Thanks for reading.
Originally Posted by mrdc
Just thought I would drop a few words about how I do a water change in hopes in may help the new people and if I am doing something wrong, I will ALWAYS take some helpful advice.
1) Decide on how frequent you want to do water changes so you can decide how much water to change at a time. I do a weekly 10% on a 120g tank. Some people do weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, ... and never (not suggested). I mentioned time and % because I look it as you should change more water as time passes. For example, if I did monthly changes I may do 15%. I don't have a formula but I wouldn't want to do say a 40% water change a month to compensate for 10% weekly water changes. It also depends on how much you feed, things dieing, ... and checking your water paramters. Sometimes, intermediate water changes outside your schedule are needed. Basically there is no clear agreement on how often or much to do water channges. However, large water changes should only be needed when something is going wrong.
2) I also really don't want to get into the whole RO / tap water argument (even though I use RO water) so basically fill your container (use a dedicated container) with water (I use an 18g dedicated plastic container).
3) Add a powerhead that is sufficient enough to circulate the entire container and a heater set at a temp to match your tank's temp.
4) Slowly add the salt. I know how many scoops my changes need and I like to add 1/4 of the amount needed slowly and then let it circulate for about ten minutes. After that, some of the salt sits at the bottom which I will pick the power head up and manually blow it around. I wait another 5 minutes or so and then add another 1/4 and repeat the process until 100% of the salt is added.
5) Even though I know how much salt I usually need, not every scoop is perfect so I still use my refractometer which I reccommend. I also calibrate it every few weeks. If you use a plastic hydrometer then I guess use it.
6) Once the salt has been added and I can see no settling, I test the salinity and if it's slightly low or high (and I mean slightly) I leave it.
7) I let it circulate for roughly 22 hours. I then test the temp and salinity and if either is off I fix it over the next 2 hours. Temp is easy to fix and is self explanatory and I don't worry about a degree or 2. If the salinity is low (which should only be slightly if you followed step 6 and left the "off" as slightly), I add a little salt and check periodically. I add more if needed which usually isn't needed. If it's high, I slowly add some more RO water.
8) After everything is in place (salinity and temp in normal parameters), I let it circulate for about another hour and then do my water change.
9) I have another 18g dedicated container for the old water.
Side notes:
1) I believe in having dedicated containers, one for water change and one for old water and those containers are ONLY used for the purpose of water changes.
2) I replace evaporated water ONLY with fresh RO water and nothing else. If your salinity is off in your main tank, I would correct the problem but either adding water with salt or taking away some water and replacing it with water with no salt before I do a water change. I would do it this way and not by trying to correcting it cia water change and I would correct either way very slowly. So if your salinity is off by A LOT for some reason, don't start adding a bunch of salt and try correcting it in 5 minutes. That will shock your tank and may have bad consequences.
3) Get a refractometer. I won't argue about the RO / tap water or which salt to use but if you want accuracy, IMO a refractometer is a must. And don't leave it in the garage if it gets hot in your area because the plastic cover over the reading area will warp! Also, calibrate it with the right water or other solution.
Well that's it for now and I hope that I may help someone because my first water change came with questions. I may add more later and if anyone has more to add, go for it.
Thanks for reading.