Water changes

[infalable]

Due to a disaster in my tank I am rethinking how I accomplish my routine tasks. I do water changes about every two weeks, however, I have no standard procedure. Can some one let me know the steps they use to chnage their water. I suspect the best way to get my tank back to normal is quality water changes. Thanks.

 

[tony detroit]

What was the disaster.
I do 25 % a month. Make sure the salinity and temp is right up to what is in the tank, this will make it less stressful.

 

[infalable]

Lost all but my fish, shrimps, corals, snails. Only a few have survived, my fighting conch, one open brain, and one nesarrius. Fish seem to be fine. Assume a nitrate spike, but not sure. I am hoping someone can tell me how they do a water chage in detail. I want to do this right, and wondering if I am missing something.

 

[slofish]

i like to try to do water changes every week. I do about a 10% change. Same as most people do. Premix the saltwater, let aerate and keep it moving w a powerhead for a couple of days. Check salinity and temp of the new batch to make sure it matches your tank.
If you were doing water changes every two weeks, it could have been another reason for the tank disaster. Do you have ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph test kits?

 

[infalable]

Thanks Slo. I have all the test kits. I dont think that my water changes caused the prob. However, I do want to make sure that everything is done correctly. Now is the time to correct any errors. One thing I dont do is aerate. I will start doing that. I assume aeration and using the powerheads is to make sure the water is oxygenated and that the salt is completely dissolved.

 

[reefnut]

I'll give it a shot... here is my method or madness??
1. Make RO/DI water
2. Add about 3/4 of the salt
3. Mix a little and add a heater
4. Mix and aerate with a powerhead until temp is reached
5. Check salinity and adjust appropriately
6. Let aerate overnight (although I've read 48hrs is preferred)
7. NEW STEP-- quick PH & ALK test
8. Remove water from the display
9. Fill new water into the sump
That's about it. If I'm missing something please let me know... o-yea, 5g once a week or every other week for me.

 

[infalable]

How quickly do you guys add the new water. All at once or slowly?

 

[squidd]

Preferably, if you have a sump, you can pour/pump it in as fast as you took the old water out...
As long as you don't disturb the sand bed/sediments in the sump.
The "new" water will disburse with the sump water before it is pumped to the tank where it will be disbursed again with the tank water...thereby causing minimal "shock" to the inhabitants.
If you don't have a sump/fuge to add water to, try to pour it in near an area of high water flow...(powerhead output) where it will be mixed and disbursed through out the tank.

 

[slofish]

sumps are great. If you do have one, pour in the new water away from your return pump, that'll give it some time to mix in with the water already there before it gets sent back to your main tank.
If no sump, pour in slowly near a high flow. As squidd said, just mainly want to make sure you dont shock anything w/ new water.
Also, if you have the space and an extra powerhead and heater laying around, grab a 25 gallon or so rubbermaid type container from Walmart for a couple of dollars and use that to mix your salt water. Ive got one now that constantly has at least 10 gallons of premixed water in there that is always being circulated. So you'll have new water at all times just in case.

 

[infalable]

Hey Slo, that sounds like a good idea. Having a larger volumn of mide water might make this easier.

 

[infalable]

mide = mixed. I can spell.

 

[infalable]

Hey Slo, what kind of PH do you use in the 25 gal can, somethimng that sits on the bottom or attached to the side?

 

[slofish]

I use a powersweep PH. Its the one that has a rotating head that sweeps back and forth. It suctions onto the side of the container. Doesnt make that much of a difference if its suctioned on the side or put at the bottom, as long as the water is being circulated.

 

[infalable]

Thanks

 

[theplowking]

I do 20 % every two weeks. I start by preparing the water three
days ahead of the water change. I put about 15 g of water in
a keg bucket. Mix in the salt, heater and powerhead. Test
the salt level a day before. I then do the water change.
A great way to spend your Sunday morning!