Water changes?
- Thread starter aelene
- Start date
fishrule
Member
This goes along the lines of your thread, sorta... Sorry for the small thread steal... :happyfish
If using RO water for water changes and top offs, is there anything I should be adding besides salt for water changes??? Also, I thought I read somewhere that I need to have the mixed RO water and Salt sit for 24hrs before placing in the tank? Do I need to add anything to the RO water when doing top offs?
Are there different instructions for using distilled water that differ form RO???
I have been using my tap water (Noob) and am going to make my switch to RO this weekend. I don't want to miss a step...
If using RO water for water changes and top offs, is there anything I should be adding besides salt for water changes??? Also, I thought I read somewhere that I need to have the mixed RO water and Salt sit for 24hrs before placing in the tank? Do I need to add anything to the RO water when doing top offs?
Are there different instructions for using distilled water that differ form RO???
I have been using my tap water (Noob) and am going to make my switch to RO this weekend. I don't want to miss a step...
petieaztec
Member
I don't understand what you mean by letting the water SIT? i would have a powerhead in there mixing the water becaue the salt could settle on the bottom of the bucket and give you an inacurate reading of salinity. i don't know about RO water i use the deionized and only add salt to the water, mix it for a couple hours using a pwoerhead and have my heater warm up the water.
petieaztec
Member
good idea.
razelynn
Member
when you mix your salt mix with your water you need to let it become in a circulating environment. I drain my RO into a 150g rubbermaid trough with a powerhead on each en and a 250 watt submersible heater. Always check salinity of tank and replacement water before changing, dont want to spike your salinity.
petieaztec
Member
the more you let it mix the better the concentration will be all around. i would do what bill said that is a good rule of thumb. i usually put everything in the morning before work and after dinner do my change, if you work weekends.
aelene
Member
Originally Posted by ReefNut
Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly... whatever works best for you. I like small weekly changes myself.
If you do monthly, what % water change would you do? I mean technically, if I'm topping off 5 gallons a week to account for evaporation, does that count as fresh water since all the levels are at zero? Or no?
Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly... whatever works best for you. I like small weekly changes myself.
If you do monthly, what % water change would you do? I mean technically, if I'm topping off 5 gallons a week to account for evaporation, does that count as fresh water since all the levels are at zero? Or no?
petieaztec
Member
to tell you the truth i would do the changes weekly, or bi-weekly but if you do the change bi-weekly monitor your nitrates.
ruaround
Active Member
Originally Posted by Aelene
If you do monthly, what % water change would you do? I mean technically, if I'm topping off 5 gallons a week to account for evaporation, does that count as fresh water since all the levels are at zero? Or no?
what do you have in your tank... IMO your set up should dictate how much and how often...
If you do monthly, what % water change would you do? I mean technically, if I'm topping off 5 gallons a week to account for evaporation, does that count as fresh water since all the levels are at zero? Or no?
what do you have in your tank... IMO your set up should dictate how much and how often...
petieaztec
Member
no offense but that doesn't sound right. are you cycling your tank?
reefnut
Active Member
Originally Posted by Aelene
If you do monthly, what % water change would you do? I mean technically, if I'm topping off 5 gallons a week to account for evaporation, does that count as fresh water since all the levels are at zero? Or no?
20% monthly. Top off water does not count toward water changes... and even with good perimeters water changes are a VERY good idea. There are many elements we can not test for such as heavy metals, toxins from corals, organic phosphates, etc... water changes will also help replenish trace elements.
If you do monthly, what % water change would you do? I mean technically, if I'm topping off 5 gallons a week to account for evaporation, does that count as fresh water since all the levels are at zero? Or no?
20% monthly. Top off water does not count toward water changes... and even with good perimeters water changes are a VERY good idea. There are many elements we can not test for such as heavy metals, toxins from corals, organic phosphates, etc... water changes will also help replenish trace elements.