100% water change after cycle is over?

[xenon]

I made the mistake to use tap water because I had no idea what I was doing when I started.

After it was all setup and cycling with 60lb of uncured LR for a few weeks I started reading the forums and realized the mistake I made.

I ordered the SpectraPure Maxcap ro/di system yesterday and was wondering if I should do a 100% water change when I get the system installed since my cycle is pretty much complete?

 

[bertoni]

I would just do a series of 20% changes. That should be easier on the organisms in the tank, and do the job just as well.

 

[xenon]

How often should I do the 20% changes?

 

[Drix]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, lesson learned. As you do your water changes the contaminents you may have had will dillute to nothing over time. You're goign to be starting with hearty fish and moving up to the harder ones as you get going anyway.

 

[bertoni]

I'd probably just do 3-4 20% changes, a day or more apart.

 

[alizarin]

Maybe i'm impulsive but since it's a new tank and anything that survived the cycle is going to be pretty hardy, I'd change as much of the water as I could right away (like 80%). BUT... so as to minimize any shock have the water heated to the right temp, mixing with the salt for 24 hours, aerated (mixed with a powerhead for awhile), and maybe add a little buffer to make the ph closer to tank water. If you don't have a 40 gallon container to do all that with maybe just do 25% water changes every week for the first month, then move down to 10%. The only thing that's going to happen with tap water is that you'll proabably have more algae problems than usual so it's not the end of the world. You could even run extra carbon and a phosphate sponge to help out.

 

[philagothos]

I'm with alizarin. I do 90% water changes regularly on my 10 and everything is growing like weeds. Match salinty and temperature and, if possible, pH. I use a 3/4" vinyl tube and drain the tank to the grass outside. Then I use the same tube and gravity feed the replacement water from upstairs. It takes me less than 5 minutes and the next day all of my corals look great! I don't get any form of cycle and my nitrates have never been over 2.5.

Your tank is substantially larger, but if you can do it quickly, go for it. Btw, 5 20% water changes leaves 33% of the original water that you are trying to get rid of. 1 95% water change leaves only 5% of the original water. It would take 13 20% water changes to get the same net effect as 1 95% water change. It is more drastic, but since you don't really have anything in there to worry about, why not get it done and over with.

Just my thoughts, feel free to disagree.

-Kevin

 

[drummereef]

I agree with with Bertoni. Smaller more frequent water changes are more beneficial to the life in the tank. :thumbsup:

Little something to read:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8899975#post8899975 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
I agree with with Bertoni. Smaller more frequent water changes are more beneficial to the life in the tank. :thumbsup:

Little something to read:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

Reading that basicly told me to replace as much as possible all in one shot. Especially since I have nothing in my tank to disturb.

I dont understand thou.

If I replace 95% of my water would I need to start my cycle all over again? Wouldin't I loose important things that took so long to estabish iteslf while it was cycling?

 

[Myka]

There is very little nitrifying bacteria in the water column; it is mostly in the filter media, LR, sand, etc. So you shouldn't have a cycle at all if you replace a large amount of water. However I'm not condoning it as I am not experienced enough to advise you on that! I asking almost the EXACT same question in my thread titled "first waterchange coming soon"...check the answers there too.

 

[sruiz]

I not a pro, but I do know that since you are going to cycle your tank with uncured rock you probably will be doing some water changes. Bertoni is the pro, listen to what he has to say.

 

[philagothos]

I don't know that there is any such thing as a "pro" in this hobby. There are many different ways to do things. I think it was either Calfo or one of the other big name guys that first got me on the idea of massive water changes. Bertoni is certainly not a rookie and his method is nice and safe and will eventually get the bad stuff out without stressing the microrganisms in the tank. But it takes 13 20% water changes to get the same effect and you use more than 2.75 times as much water and salt. That stuff isn't free for most of us. My experience says that the microrganisms are plenty hardy enough for large water changes. For that matter, I typically see a population boom after doing large water changes.

It's your tank and your decision and believe it or not, your future success as a reefer does not ride on this one decision. Believe me, you'll get plenty of other chances to nuke your tank. Have fun and remember, it is just a hobby.

Happy Reefing,
-Kevin

 

[aquarius77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8901740#post8901740 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by philagothos
Have fun and remember, it is just a hobby.

Happy Reefing,
-Kevin

HA!
Its 230 in the morning, I stink like coral bad, I am on RC instead of in the shower.
:rollface:

 

[mission man]

Seems to me all he has in the tank is rock?

 

[luke33]

If your going to wait a few months before you add corals.....i would just do 20% changes....why do 100%? I don't think its going to make that much of a difference.

 

[Myka]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8901740#post8901740 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by philagothos
Believe me, you'll get plenty of other chances to nuke your tank. Have fun and remember, it is just a hobby.

Happy Reefing,
-Kevin

LMAO!!!

 

[dcombs44]

No offense to anyone on these forums, but I will probably lean more on the advice of a mod, staff, or team rc member before many other people on the forums.

If you are going to do a large water change, toss a piece of raw shrimp in the tank after the change and let it recycle if it needs to. If there's nothing in the tank anyway, what could it hurt. All you'd be letting your tank do is mature a bit more.

 

[bertoni]

There upsides and downsides to large water changes. In general, I don't want to expose live rock to air, since that can kill sponges immediately. Dead sponges can be a problem. If these large water changes are repeated regularly, that's not as much an issue, since anything that can be damaged is dead.

In general, I don't think the small extra cleanup of a large water change is worth the danger of shocking the animals. Some people do report massive problems with large changes. I don't do them except in emergencies, so I can't speak from personal experience.

 

[sruiz]

by referring to bertoni as a pro my opinion is that he know much more than the others here in this thread(no offense to anyone), but in my case he has given me some really helpful advice. Just read his threads and you will see.

 

[Myka]

Yep, bertoni has helped me more than everyone else combined on here!

Let's have a party for him. I'll bring wine and cheese.