How often to do multiple water changes?

[Z-Man07]

OK, it's my turn to be the newb!!

I tried to go an extra week without doing a water change and it is not working out well at all. My wife called me and told me that one of my crabs was having a special breakfast... my tomato clown!!!!!!

So I drove home to see what is going on and get her out of the tank. My params are off!!

My salinity is up to 1.026. (I just now found out that my wife did not top off the last two days like I had asked her to do.)

ammonia is at .10ppm, due to my clown I am sure. Nitrites at .17ppm. and nitrates at 2ppm.

I know that I need to do multiple water changes. I just changed out 6 of my 48 gallons. I was going to do another six gallon change but here is the question.

How long do I want to wait between water changes (when trying to undo my stupidity) and what is the percentage that I would want to change at any one time?

All responses welcome, even the ones to tell me how I should have not skipped that scheduled water change!!!

Thanks for all the help!

 

[cdangel0]

You'd be fine with a 20% water change - test your params about an hour after each water change - if you still have elevated levels plan on another change the following day.

Just be careful to match salinity, temp, etc, that's why most people reccomend 10% - even a temp or SG that is off on the new water won't have a disatrous effect on your tank.

 

[Z-Man07]

Thank you, cdangel0!!! I am really stressing right now. This is the first "real problem". I am just scared that my whole tank is gonna crash now!!

May I clarify, please? Do one 20% water change each day until my params are back where they should be?

Thanks again!

 

[cdangel0]

STOP - Take a deep breath - amd repeat after me... "It'll be OK"

Your parameters are elevated - not ridiculous, do a 20% water change and see where you're at - it may take a day for the bacteria in your tank to get your Amonia and Nitrite down but they will stabilize and zero out.


Change your water at 20% intervals until your back where you can sleep again :lol:

I would not reccomend doing anymore then that in a day though - too easy to throw your whole tank off if you change out too much water.

 

[Z-Man07]

~deep breath~ OK I feel a little better.

Thank you. I really appreciate it.

 

[cdangel0]

No problem. That's what we're here for.

 

[scottwhitson]

I agree with the water changes as suggested but I don't think that those levels would have caused the death of a HEALTY fish. Did the tomatoe clown have any health issues prior to this?

 

[Z-Man07]

First, I need to correct myself. In my haste, I said Tomato when she is (was...sniff, sniff) in fact a Cinnamon.

To answer your question - Not that I know of. She was eating everyday. I feed frozen food nearly everyday. Four out of five days on average. Usually rotating Emerald Entree and Marine Cuisine every other feeding. I also feed an approximately two inch by three inch strip of nori every day and she would eat at that too.

She swam nearly all the time. In all areas and depths of the tank. She did not have anything to host though. She never has. Could that have caused her some stress? I had hoped that she would take to my Torch Coral as I do not feel ready to try my hand at an anemone. Maybe I should have?

She also did not have mate. Could that cause stress? I did not get her a mate as I was planning to put her towards trade on a pair of GSMs, when my new 120 is up and running.

I am really unsure of what is happening. All inhabitants are accounted for and my water tested great six days ago.

my params six days ago were:
temp 80
ph 8.3
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
calcium 410
kh/alk 10.8

Thanks,

 

[Z-Man07]

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Euclid537]

Check your water parameters frequently and do 20% water changes accordingly. Make sure to keep your salinity relatively stable.