Water Change

[becky]

Sorry to be asking all these questions all the time... but i need to understand more clearly on this. I have been told some by the LFS about doing a water change. Is there anyone that can tell me step by step how to do this... for my 30 gallon tank it should not be too much to take out (20%).
Do you add the salt in the water u are putting back into the tank?? BY the way i am gonna use distilled water from the store.
Thanks Becky

 

[amphiprion]

Any water that you use for water changes should be mixed with the salt 24 hours in advance. Freshly mixed salt water can be very caustic and deadly to fish.
I use a rubbermaid trashcan to mix up my saltwater, put a powerhead in to mix and aerate , with a heater. With your small tank, you need to make sure that the new water is the same temp and salinity as your main tank.

 

[becky]

thanks.. one more question how do you get the water out
???? by hand
with tubes??

 

[amphiprion]

I use a pump that connects to a hose, it pumps the old water out and pumps the new water in. The pump cost me 40.00 at True Value hardware store. I connect it to the hose from my Python cleaner. I have two large tanks and a 29 that I do water changes on every 10-14 days, so it's cost effective for me. But with your small tank, you could probably just scoop it out with a small bucket. 20% water change on your tank is 6 gallons. HTH

 

[fender]

I mix the water the day before in in two 5 gallon buckets - (I have a 90g tank). Get the salinity the same as it is in my tank - I have a cup that based on experience gets me close with three cups of Instant Ocean. I then throw in a spare Rio 600 and let mix.
You may need to add a heater if the water temp is different, mine is usually close.
The next day - I top off the tank if it needs it and let it mix for a few and then I siphon water out of my tank using a 1/2 tube from LFS, but any hardware store can provide 10 feet for cheap and into another bucket. This I dump in the toilet then go back for another trip. I then place the mixed saltwater in the bucket on a desk next to my tank, plug in a Rio 600 pump and let the water slowly go into the tank. When it's done I get the second bucket and repeat. Water change done....

 

[becky]

What is toping off the tank mean??
and how do i know when its time to do water change?? When trates are high???
also i am still wating on my amonia to go back down... still hasnt yet. If i go monday and buy another chunk of LR will it shoot up again??? Don' want to kill my little buddies!!

 

[fender]

Water changes are done for nitrate/dissolved nutrient reduction, and to replenish trace elements. Some ppl have gone a year without water changes and not had any detectable nitrates, but I don't recommend it.
I do about a 10% every week or every two weeks, and this has been ok for me.
Some ppl do 10% a month, other do 5% a week.
Just depends on what works for you. You'll find a balance over time.
Topping off:
Water evaporates overtime. In some tanks the evaporation can be significant. I was losing a gallon a day sometimes during the summer.
This water needs to be replaced, so we add FRESHWATER to keep the level in the tank the same and keep salinity the same. Use freshwater because the salt doe not evaporate.
If you do not top off, your water level drops and salinity goes up.
If you have a sump of refugium, this is where the water level drops and where top off water should be added.
Using kalkwasser as a top off water source also maintains calcium and alkalinity. But thats another topic

 

[amphiprion]

If you don't have a sump, put a line or piece of tape on your tank where the highest water level is. When water evaporates below this marked lined, you should add fresh water to the marked line. This way your salinity levels will not fluctuate. As stated above, when water evaporates, it leaves the salt behind, thus increasing your salinity.
If you have ammonia in your tank, it is most likely still cycling. You should not do your first water change until your tank is cycled. If you do, you just prolong the cycle.

 

[becky]

Thanks guys.. i topped off the other day and didn't know it Also just put another post with my water levels and i think i am near end of my cycle...