snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Yes! The good ole' water change. Nothing can beat it. A water change is something that should be done to reduce nitrates and phosphates and to replenish major and minor trace elements in a saltwater aquarium. Water changes remove toxins, built up detritus and other debris, and balances out all the chemicals in their rightful places. A water change can breathe “fresh air” and give life into an aquarium.
There are many, many methods to do a water change, and this is just the basics. I am going to list a few methods, but there is a general guideline to start with:
[*]
Only use pure, freshwater. Distilled water is great, but usually too exensive. Therefore, many aquarists prefer to use Reverse Osmosis (RO) water that can be store bought, or from a vending machine or water store.
[*]
Use a high quality salt. Not all salt mixes are the same! There are two types of salt, natural and synthetic. Pick one that will suit your tank. A salt mix that is low in calcium and alkalinity would be perfect for a fish only or fish only with live rock tank, but unacceptable for a reef tank. If you have a reef tank, use a high quality, high calcium and alkalinity salt.
[*]
Always pour your salt into your freshwater. Never pour freshwater into your salt. It says it in the directions on every salt packaging, but I will reiterate it here. If you pour water into your salt, it doesn't allow some elements to completely dissolve until atmosphereic CO2 and your waters CO2 reaches equilibrium. Your salt may be cloudy for awhile and you may see some precipitation if you do it that way. So, always mix your salt into your water.
[*]
Newly mixed cloudy saltwater is caused by the salt having too high of a moisture content. If you are using salt that is as hard as a brick, it will be cloudy and will not completely dissolve for days. If you absolutely have to use the hardened salt, I recommend using an air pump and air stone and using an oversized powerhead to mix it. It will eventually become clear, but it's not worth it when salt is so cheap and you shouldn't take the risk.
Newly made saltwater should be mixed for 24 hours before using it. In an emergency, you can use newly mixed saltwater within minutes, however, it hasn't had the opportunity to age, stabilize pH and alkalinity and other factors. If you use an oversized powerhead and an aerator, you may be able to get by with using newly mixed saltwater after two to six hours of the initial mixing.
Mix your saltwater to match the same salinity as your tanks saltwater content. Generally, a fish only tank has a low salinity at 1.022. While a reef tank has a higher salinity of 1.026. (SG 35ppt)
Your newly mixed saltwater should have the same temp, pH and salinity as your display tanks water before you do your water change. (or at least as close to it as possible.)
You can use a hydrometer to measure your salt content, but an accurate refractometer is preferred.
So, now that we have all of that out of the way, here are some basic steps for doing a water change: Method 1:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
Mix your saltwater for 24 hours before use.
[*]
Match your pH, salinity, and temp of your make up water to your display tank water.
[*]
Use a turkey baster to blast detritus and other debris into the water column.
[*]
Use a 5g container and a siphon tube to remove water from your display tank, or use a pump to push water out of your sump into the container.
[*]
Empty the container one at a time until the last 5g. Keep the 5g container of old saltwater. I'll explain this in a minute.
[*]
PUMP your newly mixed saltwater into your display tank from your mixing container. It will save your back to get yourself a pump that will not only mix your saltwater, but also with some vinyl tubing, pump it into your display tank for you.
[*]
Re-check your salinity and make sure your display tank's water level is at the same as it started. If it's a little lower than when you started, add a little bit of the OLD water back to the tank. This will keep the salinity the same.
[*]
Clean up!
Method 2:
Mix your saltwater 24 hours before use with a pump.
Match your pH, salinity and temp of your make up water to your display tank water.
Use a turkey baster to blast detritus and other debris into the water column.
Mark the display tank on the side at the exact point that a % water change you are trying to do.
Pump the water out of your display tank down a drain or toilet.
Pump water from your mixing container into your display tank.
Clean up.
[/list type=decimal]
Method 3:
/>
[list type=decimal]
[*]
Mix your saltwater 24 hours before use with a pump.
[*]
Match your pH, salinity and temp of your make up water to your display tank water.
[*]
Use a turkey baster to blast detritus and other debris into the water column.
[*]
Empty your display tank 5g at a time and pour it down the toilet.
Keep your last 5g of old saltwater.
Pour in your newly mixed or store bought saltwater slowly into your tank.
Clean up.
[/list type=decimal]
If you would like to read more of my articles and threads, please visit this link: Snake's Methods.
There are many, many methods to do a water change, and this is just the basics. I am going to list a few methods, but there is a general guideline to start with:
[*]
Only use pure, freshwater. Distilled water is great, but usually too exensive. Therefore, many aquarists prefer to use Reverse Osmosis (RO) water that can be store bought, or from a vending machine or water store.
[*]
Use a high quality salt. Not all salt mixes are the same! There are two types of salt, natural and synthetic. Pick one that will suit your tank. A salt mix that is low in calcium and alkalinity would be perfect for a fish only or fish only with live rock tank, but unacceptable for a reef tank. If you have a reef tank, use a high quality, high calcium and alkalinity salt.
[*]
Always pour your salt into your freshwater. Never pour freshwater into your salt. It says it in the directions on every salt packaging, but I will reiterate it here. If you pour water into your salt, it doesn't allow some elements to completely dissolve until atmosphereic CO2 and your waters CO2 reaches equilibrium. Your salt may be cloudy for awhile and you may see some precipitation if you do it that way. So, always mix your salt into your water.
[*]
Newly mixed cloudy saltwater is caused by the salt having too high of a moisture content. If you are using salt that is as hard as a brick, it will be cloudy and will not completely dissolve for days. If you absolutely have to use the hardened salt, I recommend using an air pump and air stone and using an oversized powerhead to mix it. It will eventually become clear, but it's not worth it when salt is so cheap and you shouldn't take the risk.
Newly made saltwater should be mixed for 24 hours before using it. In an emergency, you can use newly mixed saltwater within minutes, however, it hasn't had the opportunity to age, stabilize pH and alkalinity and other factors. If you use an oversized powerhead and an aerator, you may be able to get by with using newly mixed saltwater after two to six hours of the initial mixing.
Mix your saltwater to match the same salinity as your tanks saltwater content. Generally, a fish only tank has a low salinity at 1.022. While a reef tank has a higher salinity of 1.026. (SG 35ppt)
Your newly mixed saltwater should have the same temp, pH and salinity as your display tanks water before you do your water change. (or at least as close to it as possible.)
You can use a hydrometer to measure your salt content, but an accurate refractometer is preferred.
So, now that we have all of that out of the way, here are some basic steps for doing a water change: Method 1:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
Mix your saltwater for 24 hours before use.
[*]
Match your pH, salinity, and temp of your make up water to your display tank water.
[*]
Use a turkey baster to blast detritus and other debris into the water column.
[*]
Use a 5g container and a siphon tube to remove water from your display tank, or use a pump to push water out of your sump into the container.
[*]
Empty the container one at a time until the last 5g. Keep the 5g container of old saltwater. I'll explain this in a minute.
[*]
PUMP your newly mixed saltwater into your display tank from your mixing container. It will save your back to get yourself a pump that will not only mix your saltwater, but also with some vinyl tubing, pump it into your display tank for you.
[*]
Re-check your salinity and make sure your display tank's water level is at the same as it started. If it's a little lower than when you started, add a little bit of the OLD water back to the tank. This will keep the salinity the same.
[*]
Clean up!
Method 2:
Mix your saltwater 24 hours before use with a pump.
Match your pH, salinity and temp of your make up water to your display tank water.
Use a turkey baster to blast detritus and other debris into the water column.
Mark the display tank on the side at the exact point that a % water change you are trying to do.
Pump the water out of your display tank down a drain or toilet.
Pump water from your mixing container into your display tank.
Clean up.
[/list type=decimal]
Method 3:
/>
[list type=decimal]
[*]
Mix your saltwater 24 hours before use with a pump.
[*]
Match your pH, salinity and temp of your make up water to your display tank water.
[*]
Use a turkey baster to blast detritus and other debris into the water column.
[*]
Empty your display tank 5g at a time and pour it down the toilet.
Keep your last 5g of old saltwater.
Pour in your newly mixed or store bought saltwater slowly into your tank.
Clean up.
[/list type=decimal]
If you would like to read more of my articles and threads, please visit this link: Snake's Methods.
