how to do water change?

[maluskeeter]

when im doing a 5% water change to a 55 gallon tank - should i add the salt to the incoming water BEFORE i add the water to the tank OR should i add the incoming water and then AFTER add the salt to the tank??

if its before, should i make sure the S.G. of the incoming water is the same as the tank?

 

[mfinn]

Mix up your water and salt in a bucket before you put either in the tank.
If the salinity is a little high in the display tank, this is a good time to correct it a little by using less salt.

 

[Playa-1]

Use Ro/Di water and salt mix of your choice. Mix it at least several hours in advance of your water change and let it circulate with a powerhead. If you can, let it mix overnight. I personally use a 30 gallon container and keep mixed saltwater in it at all times. I have another 30 gallon container that I keep RO/DI water in at all times. You should check salinity and temp well before doing any water changes and make the corrections as necessary.

 

[mfinn]

I'd go ahead and do a 10% water change with a 5 gallon bucket.

 

[maluskeeter]

ok thanks for that guys...what should i make the Specific gravity of the incoming water before i add?

 

[brians4671]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13306542#post13306542 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mfinn
Mix up your water and salt in a bucket before you put either in the tank.
If the salinity is a little high in the display tank, this is a good time to correct it a little by using less salt.

depending if the level is high or low in your main tank. it can be corrected when you do the water change.

 

[Playa-1]

I would recommend that you keep your salinity at 35 ppt
sg = 1.026

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[maluskeeter]

well my specific gravity right now is 1.023, so i should make the S.G. of the incoming at 1.025/1.026, correct?

 

[maluskeeter]

anyone?

 

[MazdaSPD3]

I think you would want the incoming water to be 1.023 unless you want to up your salinity to 1.025/1.026 then adding a slightly higher saline water mixture would be the thing to use.

 

[Playa-1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13306728#post13306728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maluskeeter
well my specific gravity right now is 1.023, so i should make the S.G. of the incoming at 1.025/1.026, correct?

Yes, that is correct. This will slowly begin to raise your salinity over several water changes. Also make sure your using a properly calibrated refractometer to check your salinity.

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13307302#post13307302 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Playa-1
Yes, that is correct. This will slowly begin to raise your salinity over several water changes. Also make sure your using a properly calibrated refractometer to check your salinity.

yes, and remember to never add salt directly to the tank or sump always mix the water thoroughly i mix mine overnight.

 

[maluskeeter]

ive learned now but before today, i made a mistake and added the ssalt directly to the tank - any issues this could have to the livestock?

 

[sps1-2-b]

Unmixed salt could irritate the corals, but if you had no corals dying then you prolly got away with it. Just make sure the salt is completely mix in the future. No worries.

 

[Almon]

In addition to to what has already been stated, I siphon new saltwater from the storage container into the sump at the same time I am siphoning water out of the tank and down the drain. I have a total of 380g and perform 50g water changes.

Definitely change at least 5g at a time, no less. 10g would also be good.

 

[Billybeau1]

Salt should always be mixed in a separate container and well aerated before adding it to the tank to allow equilibrium with CO₂.

Usually overnight is fine.

 

[maluskeeter]

thanks guys...also i aksed this b4 but i dont htink it was answered...what should the pH of the incoming water be around? the wal-mart RO water (culligans) was 8.8, i think that was the reason my royal gramma died this am

 

[jdieck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13308710#post13308710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maluskeeter
thanks guys...also i aksed this b4 but i dont htink it was answered...what should the pH of the incoming water be around? the wal-mart RO water (culligans) was 8.8, i think that was the reason my royal gramma died this am

In general the PH of the RO or RO/DI water is irrelevant because it contains no buffers (alkalinity) and as such the PH will change very easily with any supplementation. As soon as you mix in the salt, the supplements in it will take care of it. Well mixed and areated salt water mix will be in the range of 8.1 to 8.4

 

[wsboyette]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13308710#post13308710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maluskeeter
thanks guys...also i aksed this b4 but i dont htink it was answered...what should the pH of the incoming water be around? the wal-mart RO water (culligans) was 8.8, i think that was the reason my royal gramma died this am

When I ran my fish-only setup, its PH stayed around 8.0 with no problems. Mandarin, Maroon Clown, and Puffer thrived. I would inclined to think that 8.8 may be above the danger level.