WHAT IS YOUR WATER CHANGE PROCEDURE?
- Thread starter cam78
- Start date
btldreef
Moderator
I do not vaccum my sand bed.
Before I do a water change I turn off all powerheads and blow a turkey baster over my rocks to kick up any debris that has been left behind by my CUC. Once I kick that up into the water column, I do a water change. I only vaccum out my sump once every 3-4 weeks because I keep CUC members in it and that helps A LOT.
I do weekly water changes of 30G on a 155G tank with a 35G sump and a 20G refugium.
Before I do a water change I turn off all powerheads and blow a turkey baster over my rocks to kick up any debris that has been left behind by my CUC. Once I kick that up into the water column, I do a water change. I only vaccum out my sump once every 3-4 weeks because I keep CUC members in it and that helps A LOT.
I do weekly water changes of 30G on a 155G tank with a 35G sump and a 20G refugium.
lbannie
Member
I used to take the water from the sump, but now I'm noticing lots of pods in there I don't want to lose (I have a Mandarin) So now I take the water from the DT. I use a piece of airline tubing and get a siphon going (from the powerhead) I suck out anything that looks gross from the sand bed (poop, discolored sand) Usually I do a 3 gal change every week (30 gal tank) The small airline tubing is a great tool....It doesn't suck the water out very fast so you can really take your time looking for poo! I have a larger siphon also if there's nothing on the sand bed.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by lbannie http:///forum/thread/382783/what-is-your-water-change-procedure#post_3343106
I used to take the water from the sump, but now I'm noticing lots of pods in there I don't want to lose (I have a Mandarin) So now I take the water from the DT. I use a piece of airline tubing and get a siphon going (from the powerhead) I suck out anything that looks gross from the sand bed (poop, discolored sand) Usually I do a 3 gal change every week (30 gal tank) The small airline tubing is a great tool....It doesn't suck the water out very fast so you can really take your time looking for poo! I have a larger siphon also if there's nothing on the sand bed.
With a proper CUC and a good power head you should not have poo to suck up. Fix that and get a little larger hose to do your water changes. Use a small pump (high up so not ot get sand in it) to pull the old water out and then swap it around and put it in the tub with new water to replace it. Quick and easy.
Originally Posted by lbannie http:///forum/thread/382783/what-is-your-water-change-procedure#post_3343106
I used to take the water from the sump, but now I'm noticing lots of pods in there I don't want to lose (I have a Mandarin) So now I take the water from the DT. I use a piece of airline tubing and get a siphon going (from the powerhead) I suck out anything that looks gross from the sand bed (poop, discolored sand) Usually I do a 3 gal change every week (30 gal tank) The small airline tubing is a great tool....It doesn't suck the water out very fast so you can really take your time looking for poo! I have a larger siphon also if there's nothing on the sand bed.
With a proper CUC and a good power head you should not have poo to suck up. Fix that and get a little larger hose to do your water changes. Use a small pump (high up so not ot get sand in it) to pull the old water out and then swap it around and put it in the tub with new water to replace it. Quick and easy.
acrylic51
Active Member
My routine involves wiping down the glass inside....I like to do all the corners with a toothbrush since I can get a little crazy with razor blades in the tank at times......I basically work my way from top to bottom in the tank, and then I stir a small section of my sand bed. and then I take water from both the DT and the sump area. There is nothing wrong or harmful with stirring or vacuuming your sand bed. As long as your not disturbing your entire sand bed at 1 time your fine.
As far as my LR, it gets the same treatment as my sand....the LR gets brushed with a dedicated toothbrush for the tank, and then I have a small PH with a hose attached that I use to blow things off with.......I do run filter socks on my sump, so that helps with catching larger stuff as well.
As far as equipment used it's pretty basic....Python water hose with 24" extension tube, razor blades, toothbrush, PH, and soft damp cloth to wipe down bulbs and reflectors as well.
As far as my LR, it gets the same treatment as my sand....the LR gets brushed with a dedicated toothbrush for the tank, and then I have a small PH with a hose attached that I use to blow things off with.......I do run filter socks on my sump, so that helps with catching larger stuff as well.
As far as equipment used it's pretty basic....Python water hose with 24" extension tube, razor blades, toothbrush, PH, and soft damp cloth to wipe down bulbs and reflectors as well.
ryancw01
Member
Mine is pretty similar to TommieLynn's. I turn off everything and do the turkey baster thing with the rocks and the sand a bit. I recently vacummed out most of my sand because of problems with phosphates so that has almost completely gotten rid of problem algae. I have a 30 gallon bucket that has been mixing water for 2 days close to my display at this point. I have a RO/DI unit under my sink that hooks direclty to the tank but also splits off for the mixing bucket. I take the pump out of there and attach a hose and put the outlet in my kitchen sink. I drop the pump in the tank and drain out about half of the water in the display. I have a 65 gallon and I know we are not supposed to do 50% water changes all the time, but I do.
I then put the pump back into the mixing bucket and pump that water into the display, turn everything back on, and then test the salinity once everything has been thoroughly pumped around and down to the refugium and everything. I do 50%-60% water changes once a month, but I do have a refugium and am very careful with draining frozen food and not overfeeding.
I then put the pump back into the mixing bucket and pump that water into the display, turn everything back on, and then test the salinity once everything has been thoroughly pumped around and down to the refugium and everything. I do 50%-60% water changes once a month, but I do have a refugium and am very careful with draining frozen food and not overfeeding.
cam78
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryancw01 http:///forum/thread/382783/what-is-your-water-change-procedure#post_3343237
Mine is pretty similar to TommieLynn's. I turn off everything and do the turkey baster thing with the rocks and the sand a bit. I recently vacummed out most of my sand because of problems with phosphates so that has almost completely gotten rid of problem algae. I have a 30 gallon bucket that has been mixing water for 2 days close to my display at this point. I have a RO/DI unit under my sink that hooks direclty to the tank but also splits off for the mixing bucket. I take the pump out of there and attach a hose and put the outlet in my kitchen sink. I drop the pump in the tank and drain out about half of the water in the display. I have a 65 gallon and I know we are not supposed to do 50% water changes all the time, but I do.
I then put the pump back into the mixing bucket and pump that water into the display, turn everything back on, and then test the salinity once everything has been thoroughly pumped around and down to the refugium and everything. I do 50%-60% water changes once a month, but I do have a refugium and am very careful with draining frozen food and not overfeeding.
You drain your frozen food? Huh?
Originally Posted by Ryancw01 http:///forum/thread/382783/what-is-your-water-change-procedure#post_3343237
Mine is pretty similar to TommieLynn's. I turn off everything and do the turkey baster thing with the rocks and the sand a bit. I recently vacummed out most of my sand because of problems with phosphates so that has almost completely gotten rid of problem algae. I have a 30 gallon bucket that has been mixing water for 2 days close to my display at this point. I have a RO/DI unit under my sink that hooks direclty to the tank but also splits off for the mixing bucket. I take the pump out of there and attach a hose and put the outlet in my kitchen sink. I drop the pump in the tank and drain out about half of the water in the display. I have a 65 gallon and I know we are not supposed to do 50% water changes all the time, but I do.
I then put the pump back into the mixing bucket and pump that water into the display, turn everything back on, and then test the salinity once everything has been thoroughly pumped around and down to the refugium and everything. I do 50%-60% water changes once a month, but I do have a refugium and am very careful with draining frozen food and not overfeeding.
You drain your frozen food? Huh?
