Whats the point of a water change ?

ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
The mix water has calcium in it too, which is why you should test your mix water to know where you stand. It is not water without anything in it. IMO, you are at greater risk of damaging your corals by adding all of that stuff than by just doing water changes and monitoring/dosing for alk and calcium as needed.
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2466990
this may sound off but if you have your levels at one point lets say calcium at 450...and u change 20 percent of the water wont the calicum go down ?? and u must dose to get it back to 450 ? this goes for all other elements as well ? I'm trying to understand how if you change 20 percent of the water now you had water with no calcium isn't this going to change ur levels ? I'm trying to save money but keep the 35 corals and lifstock alive.
Because when you do a water change you use salt water to replace what you took out. The salt you use contains all the trace elements you test for and need for a healthy reef tank. Calcium is in your salt mix as is iodine, magnesium, stronium etc etc... all of the trace elements you dose. When your corals and inhabitants use these trace elements your routine water changes replace them. Thats why testing your water chemistry and or the presence of increased nitrates will dictate when you should do a water change. when you notice a drop in these elements... thats your indication a water change is needed.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Yeah, believe me, synthetic salt mixes are already, on average, WAAAYYYY higher in many of these "trace" elements than what you would find in natural sea water. The thought of adding even more is strange to me. Water change, water change, water change...that is the best dosing you can do, IMO

Not to mention you can only test for a handful of all the possible parameters that can impact animals.
 
emtguy

emtguy

Member
Originally Posted by PerfectDark
http:///forum/post/2467127
Because when you do a water change you use salt water to replace what you took out. The salt you use contains all the trace elements you test for and need for a healthy reef tank. Calcium is in your salt mix as is iodine, magnesium, stronium etc etc... all of the trace elements you dose. When your corals and inhabitants use these trace elements your routine water changes replace them. Thats why testing your water chemistry and or the presence of increased nitrates will dictate when you should do a water change. when you notice a drop in these elements... thats your indication a water change is needed.

Thanks, thats a good answer and helped answer some of my questions i have not ask.
 
sh2000

sh2000

Member
whats the advantages of mixing water for 18-24 hours before adding to sump ? the salt could be mixed within a few hours or less , just wondering ?
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by SH2000
http:///forum/post/2468843
whats the advantages of mixing water for 18-24 hours before adding to sump ? the salt could be mixed within a few hours or less , just wondering ?
It also creates an equilibrium between oxygen and carbon dioxide. The longer it is mixed for the more stable the water is. I prepare mine a week ahead of time and let a PH airate it for 5 to 7 days.
 
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