Water change day

[artist55]

I know I asked this question the other day but I just want to double check. I am doing a 10% water change in my tank today. I checked the SG in the tank this morning and it was at 1.021. I wanted to start raising the SG gradually so I have mixed the new water at just a hair under 1.022. Would this change stress the fish too much or would it be ok? I'm not going to raise it again until the next change which will be next week so as to give the fish a chance to get adjusted. Is that doing it gradually enough? Thanks for any help. I'm new and haven't had a SW tank since the middle 80s and want to do things right. So far it seems to be a bit easier than it used to be with all the new equipment out there.

 

[1911_guy]

Sounds a little overly cautious to me, until I see you are running a 30G???
With an aquarium of that size I would definetly make ANY changes as gradual as possible. Don't forget though, SG rises with evaporation. How often are you topping off? Make sure you use fresh water to top off, just a reminder.

 

[artist55]

Only having to top off once every week and a half and I do use well aged fresh water. Anyway, I'd rather be cautious at this point because of the small tank. As soon as I get more used to salt again I'm going to set up a much larger tank.

 

[1911_guy]

Originally Posted by artist55
Only having to top off once every week and a half and I do use well aged fresh water.
WOW, you must not have an evaporation problem. Must be nice.

I lose about 1/2 gallon per day.

 

[artist55]

Yes, my lighting is only the regular full flourescent hood which is probably why the slow evaporation. When I get a little more fancy I'm sure I'll have much more evap.

 

[uberlink]

Sorry to hijack:
1911 Guy: Which part of Alaska are you in? I grew up in Anchorage, but I had a recent run in with a bad coral seller in Fairbanks. Let me know where you're at, and I'll tell you who to avoid.

 

[celacanthr]

Originally Posted by artist55
I know I asked this question the other day but I just want to double check. I am doing a 10% water change in my tank today. I checked the SG in the tank this morning and it was at 1.021. I wanted to start raising the SG gradually so I have mixed the new water at just a hair under 1.022. Would this change stress the fish too much or would it be ok? I'm not going to raise it again until the next change which will be next week so as to give the fish a chance to get adjusted. Is that doing it gradually enough? Thanks for any help. I'm new and haven't had a SW tank since the middle 80s and want to do things right. So far it seems to be a bit easier than it used to be with all the new equipment out there.
Yes, that is a very nice, cautious plan (cautious is better than sorry, especially with saltwater tanks), just be aware that the water in your tank will not be 1.022 after the water change, so make every batch of water after this 1.022 until you have raised the tanks SG to 1.022, and then make every batch of water after that 1.023, until the tanks SG is 1.023, then make every batch after that 1.024, until the tanks SG is 1.024, and so on until you get to the desired SG.
What SG are you aiming for? What kind of tank do you have? FOWLR, FO, Reef?

 

[artist55]

I'm aiming for 1.024 at the end. I have a 30g FOWLR with three fish in it at this point. The tank is only 6 weeks old but doing really well as far as all my levels being 0. Made one big mistake to start with. I got a very small yellow tang only to find out afterwards that this tank is WAY too small for it. I have already made arraqngements with my friend at the LFS to trade it in which I'm going to get done this week. Other than that I have a a 2 1/2 inch Coral Beauty and a Royal Gramma. I know I can't put much else in it but at some point I'd like to get a small Percula and one more fish or a cleaner shrimp. Thanks Celacanthr.

 

[artist55]

PS Celacanthr, where in SC are you?

 

[celacanthr]

Always happy to help!
oh, I am in the Peidmont region, near Charlotte, NC.
I hope you have lukc with trading in your tang!
Have you thought of maybe getting a psitol shrimp/goby combo, instead of 2 more fish?

 

[artist55]

Yep already have the ok to trade the tang which I'll do this week. I'm sure it'll be a real pleasure trying to catch him...lol...I'll look into the shrimp or goby combo. Sounds interesting. Thanks again :happyfish

 

[1911_guy]

Originally Posted by uberlink
Sorry to hijack:
1911 Guy: Which part of Alaska are you in? I grew up in Anchorage, but I had a recent run in with a bad coral seller in Fairbanks. Let me know where you're at, and I'll tell you who to avoid.
Anchorage, I don't go to Fairbanks

 

[uberlink]

Originally Posted by 1911_Guy
Anchorage, I don't go to Fairbanks
Good deal. I bought from a guy up in Fairbanks on the big auction site, and he sent me a bunch of corals in as bad a shape as anything you've ever seen. Packaged them terribly.