CHANGING WATER question from a beginner !!!

[fasturtle30]

Hi im gonna do my first water change over my 55gl just cycled and i wonder what techniques are the best to do it???
I mean you stop the powerheads before you do that? what about the main filter or overflow and return spout you keep it working? or maybe you can do it trought the sump? im a beginner so im trying to do all right! i was mixing 15% salwater same temperature than my tank and same SG i just need to do t right ! comments here .

 

[Tennsquire]

I turn my pumps off because when I do a 5-10% change, the water level goes below the overflow level. You can change water through the sump so as to distrub less of the tank. Sometimes, adding water to the tank and stirring it up a bit is what you actually want. The important thing is to let the newly mixed water age a bit so that it gets oxygenated. I usually wait a day after I mix it before changing any water. HTH

 

[tdchicago]

i got a vacuum that siphons out the water. I just put the whole apparatus in the tank, remove the air from the tub and start dropping water into a bucket.

I remove from the display, not the sump. The siphon is too big for that..

I shut everything off, nothing can run dry.

While the water level is low, I clean and re-arrange any rockwork. My are stays dryer!

My advice, but two 5 gallon buckets from home depot ($5) and siphon into those. Makes it easier, and not too heavy to carry.

 

[alexb518]

#1 (most important) make sure your heater is not going to be exposed. unplug it if it is. i think that is the biggest mistake people make. and trust me, they'll only make it once.
#2) just unplug anything that will fall above the water line.
#3 yes, i unplug my return pump, then pull the water out of my tank. that leaves water in the sump which will mix with the new clean water before entering the tank. you might want to get a turkey baster to squirt your rocks before pulling the water out as well.

 

[tdchicago]

and only use ro/di water. My skimmer goes nuts with tap.

 

[fasturtle30]

ive been mixing my water since 2 nights ago so i guess i should do it tomorrow morning tough ! i got those from home depot so thats where i was mixing my water

 

[fasturtle30]

thanks alex i didnt think about my heater til u told me thanks how much you advice to change? 10%, 15% or 20%?
i added my cleaning crew yesterday, should i have to be careful with them? specially when i rearranged my rocks? how do you do?

 

[alexb518]

i do 10% weekly. i used to do 15% every other week, but i had too many algae problems when i did that. are you using at least RO water to mix your salt? if not, i'd definately look into either buying an RO/DI filter or you can probably fill up just RO water at some grocery stores. as for hermits...they usually take a suicide dive off the rocks when you pick a piece up. or, if one is in the way, i'll just pick it up and throw it in a corner. i do the same with the snails. but, you shouldn't move your rocks around really. once you've got them where you want them, buy some reef safe expoxy and set it all in place.

 

[fasturtle30]

yes i using RO water for changes and top off, and yes i got your point about snails i really plan to move my rocks once since i got the pile and wanna make a hole place for my fish you know for shorcuts swimming ! here is how my rocks look like now ! any commenst here?

http://es.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/joyma2/detail?.dir=c3ecscd&.dnm=8701scd.jpg&.src=ph

 

[malintner]

One thing I would add to all the other good advice here is get your new water temperature close to the tank temperature. a few degrees won't make much difference in a 55 on a 10% water change, but a 20 degree difference will.

 

[Nano Chris]

I do about 15 gallons a week (having to do more because i have an algae problem.)