If You Are New to Reef Central, Introduce Yourself Here!
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horrible newbie question!
horrible newbie question!
I've been reading RC about DI and RO water and auto top off of s/w and replacement fresh water and pumping, float switches, controllers for sensing water levels, specific gravity, etc. -
--doesn't a lot of the fresh water evaporate, therefore just fresh needs to be added every day or week to maintain the water level? In my fish only tanks of the past, I never adequately resolved this issue. For a reef, does one need both a salt water supply and freshwater supply and top off from both based upon the specific gravity you have in your tank water and based upon the water level? How does one go about this if it is a really big tank like 100+ gallons? Some type of specially switched pump with sensors that tell a valve to pump in fresh or salt water (ASW?)? I am super confused about this issue and know that for a reef, it is very important to maintain the correc S.G., alkalinity, and pH. Please help. I am extremely dangerous to my animals and inverts unless I can get a good handle on this issue.
---Wishfish
horrible newbie question!
I've been reading RC about DI and RO water and auto top off of s/w and replacement fresh water and pumping, float switches, controllers for sensing water levels, specific gravity, etc. -
--doesn't a lot of the fresh water evaporate, therefore just fresh needs to be added every day or week to maintain the water level? In my fish only tanks of the past, I never adequately resolved this issue. For a reef, does one need both a salt water supply and freshwater supply and top off from both based upon the specific gravity you have in your tank water and based upon the water level? How does one go about this if it is a really big tank like 100+ gallons? Some type of specially switched pump with sensors that tell a valve to pump in fresh or salt water (ASW?)? I am super confused about this issue and know that for a reef, it is very important to maintain the correc S.G., alkalinity, and pH. Please help. I am extremely dangerous to my animals and inverts unless I can get a good handle on this issue.
---Wishfish
Paul B
Premium Member
You just need to replace fresh water, the salt stays there unless you change water. You need to replace a little saltwater that is lost by skimming but this is usually replaced by water changes.
I have a 100 gallon tank which evaporates a little more than a gallon a day. I have a float switch that replaces the water with fresh ro/di water. About a drop every five seconds enters my tank to make up for evaporation.
You can just add water every day manually if you are home every day. A gallon or two does not make a big difference in a 100 gallon tank but an auto fill is best.
I have a 100 gallon tank which evaporates a little more than a gallon a day. I have a float switch that replaces the water with fresh ro/di water. About a drop every five seconds enters my tank to make up for evaporation.
You can just add water every day manually if you are home every day. A gallon or two does not make a big difference in a 100 gallon tank but an auto fill is best.
horrible newbie question! - water changes
horrible newbie question! - water changes
Thanks a lot, Paul B - That is great to hear. Do you ever have a problem with the RO DI producing too much water, say, while you are away for a couple of days?
I also thought that the water changes would be made with the auto top up too? So that the changes could be made incrementally instead of mixing up a huge batch of water each week or so? Is this possible? Does anyone do this? It seems like a good thing to be able to top up daily and accomplish the water changes at the same time? I guess you'd have to have a big bucket of ASW heated, mixed, and tested for several things sitting there with a pump/hose/line in it going to the tank. Don't people have the Neptune and other controllers doing this type of thing or is the wiring real complicated? As I said, I never really got good water changes or display tank water levels consistent or correct. I appreciate any help you can give. I see you have had a reef going since 1972? Holy moly! Also, you are a lobster too? I go for them down here in S. Florida but just with mask & snorkel.
:smokin:
horrible newbie question! - water changes
Thanks a lot, Paul B - That is great to hear. Do you ever have a problem with the RO DI producing too much water, say, while you are away for a couple of days?
I also thought that the water changes would be made with the auto top up too?
So that the changes could be made incrementally instead of mixing up a huge batch of water each week or so? Is this possible? Does anyone do this? It seems like a good thing to be able to top up daily and accomplish the water changes at the same time? I guess you'd have to have a big bucket of ASW heated, mixed, and tested for several things sitting there with a pump/hose/line in it going to the tank. Don't people have the Neptune and other controllers doing this type of thing or is the wiring real complicated? As I said, I never really got good water changes or display tank water levels consistent or correct. I appreciate any help you can give. I see you have had a reef going since 1972? Holy moly! Also, you are a lobster too? I go for them down here in S. Florida but just with mask & snorkel.:smokin:
Paul B
Premium Member
I don't make too much water. I built a shut off switch on my water tank.
I don't know what you mean by incremently changing water.
You do need to mix up whatever amount you want to change like 30 gallons at one time. You can't really change tiny amounts a day. Well I guess you can but I think a larger change would be better and much easier
I don't know what you mean by incremently changing water.
You do need to mix up whatever amount you want to change like 30 gallons at one time. You can't really change tiny amounts a day. Well I guess you can but I think a larger change would be better and much easier
water changing
water changing
I don't know what you mean about the shut off valve. Can you describe the setup for me? How do you get the water into your tank? With about 6 five gal. buckets? Seems like there is an easier way. Do you siphon it in there? How do you draw the tank down in order to change the 30 gal. of water?
You said earlier that you had a constant drip for top up? Is that right? And what about the RO DI system? How do you make it sot that the RO DI does not produce too much water or not enough water for the topping up? Are there controllers that can do some of this stuff for you? Like monitor how much RO DI you need and monitor the top up flow to the tank? Does the shut off switch on your water tank have a modulating valve to allow varying amounts of water depending on how much evaporates? Do you know of other methods for this type of thing? Sorry, but this issue really has me off base. Like I said, I had a devil of a time with water changes and topping up messing with my Specif. Grav. big time.
:smokin: ---Wishfish
water changing
I don't know what you mean about the shut off valve. Can you describe the setup for me? How do you get the water into your tank? With about 6 five gal. buckets? Seems like there is an easier way. Do you siphon it in there? How do you draw the tank down in order to change the 30 gal. of water?
You said earlier that you had a constant drip for top up? Is that right? And what about the RO DI system? How do you make it sot that the RO DI does not produce too much water or not enough water for the topping up? Are there controllers that can do some of this stuff for you? Like monitor how much RO DI you need and monitor the top up flow to the tank? Does the shut off switch on your water tank have a modulating valve to allow varying amounts of water depending on how much evaporates? Do you know of other methods for this type of thing? Sorry, but this issue really has me off base. Like I said, I had a devil of a time with water changes and topping up messing with my Specif. Grav. big time.
:smokin: ---Wishfish
Paul B
Premium Member
To change water I first mix up about 25 gallons of ASW or I collect NSW. I have it in a 40 gallon plastic garbage can that I installed a spiket on the bottom but it doesen't matter, any plastic can will work. Then I remove 25 gallons of water from my tank. I installed a valve on my skimmer tio remove it but for years I just siphoned it out. I throw that out but I save five gallons just in case I removed too much. Then I put the water from the 40 gallon can into five gallon buckets (or carboys) and dump it in.
For top ups, I have my ro/di pump water to a five gallon bucket. I built a float switch which shuts off the electric valve that feeds the RO/DI. When the bucket fills the electric valve shuts off the water so no more water flows into the bucket. I have the bucket higher than my tank. There is a float valve on the fish tank with a hose connected to the five gallon bucket.
When the tank needs water the float valve opens allowing water to come in by gravity from the five gallon bucket. When the water in the bucket gets low, the electric valve in there tells the electric valve to open allowing water to go into the RO/DI. It is all automatic and I don't have to touch it until I want to change resins or change the membrane every couple of years.
For top ups, I have my ro/di pump water to a five gallon bucket. I built a float switch which shuts off the electric valve that feeds the RO/DI. When the bucket fills the electric valve shuts off the water so no more water flows into the bucket. I have the bucket higher than my tank. There is a float valve on the fish tank with a hose connected to the five gallon bucket.
When the tank needs water the float valve opens allowing water to come in by gravity from the five gallon bucket. When the water in the bucket gets low, the electric valve in there tells the electric valve to open allowing water to go into the RO/DI. It is all automatic and I don't have to touch it until I want to change resins or change the membrane every couple of years.
Awesome! I really appreciate the description of how you go about this changing thing. Thanks so much. My stupid questions must be incredibly annoying so I apologize for them now and in the future. One last thing, is the tank float valve in the tank or in the overflow area and is it electric or some kind of toilet tank mechanical thing? Also, I suppose the ASW has a power head and heater in it for several hours or days before using, is that right?
--Wishfish
--Wishfish
Paul B
Premium Member
Your stupid questions are not stupid at all. Don't worry about it.
Paul
The tank float switch is in my tank. I don't have a sump but if you have a sump, it goes in there. it is like a mini toilet bowl valve. They sell them in aquarium magazines and probably from one of the sponsors on here.
I mix my ASW right before I need it. I wait until it is all disolved, like an hour, then I use it.
Paul
The tank float switch is in my tank. I don't have a sump but if you have a sump, it goes in there. it is like a mini toilet bowl valve. They sell them in aquarium magazines and probably from one of the sponsors on here.
I mix my ASW right before I need it. I wait until it is all disolved, like an hour, then I use it.
hey everyone.. new to salt
hey everyone.. new to salt
Hey everyone.. I have pretty good experience with fresh water aquariums. But always wanted a salt water tank.
I did start one a couple years ago which did not last very long. I went against advice from friends.. they told me the bigger the tank the easier to maintain. I was on a budget and was bored so I bought a 6 gallon eclipse tank and a couple fish.
Let me tell you those poor fish did not stand a chance. The biggest mistake I made was that I kept adding salt in the water I added not even thinking that salt doesn't evaporate with the water!
But anyhow.. I'm ready to learn things the right way and hopefully the community here can help me decide what size tank, what kinda set up, etc etc would be best for me
Thanks!
hey everyone.. new to salt
Hey everyone.. I have pretty good experience with fresh water aquariums. But always wanted a salt water tank.
I did start one a couple years ago which did not last very long. I went against advice from friends.. they told me the bigger the tank the easier to maintain. I was on a budget and was bored so I bought a 6 gallon eclipse tank and a couple fish.
Let me tell you those poor fish did not stand a chance. The biggest mistake I made was that I kept adding salt in the water I added not even thinking that salt doesn't evaporate with the water!
But anyhow.. I'm ready to learn things the right way and hopefully the community here can help me decide what size tank, what kinda set up, etc etc would be best for me
Thanks!
water changing
water changing
Thanks a lot Paul B! This clears up a lot. I guess I always thought SOME (at least a little) of the salt went out of the tank with the evaporation. I should have used my Specif. Grav. tester like a mad fiend instead of relying on my gut feelings which were way off base.
Long live Reef Central!
:smokin: ---Wishfish
water changing
Thanks a lot Paul B! This clears up a lot. I guess I always thought SOME (at least a little) of the salt went out of the tank with the evaporation. I should have used my Specif. Grav. tester like a mad fiend instead of relying on my gut feelings which were way off base.
Long live Reef Central!
:smokin: ---Wishfish
chiquireef
New member
Hi Everyone!
At First, I'm sorry for my english, I'm from Spain.
I've decided to register to learn of all of you. I have a tank of 47 gallons (180 liters, I think) and a 25 gallons sump but is not started yet.
This is my first marine tank and I'm scared..
Adrian
At First, I'm sorry for my english, I'm from Spain.
I've decided to register to learn of all of you. I have a tank of 47 gallons (180 liters, I think) and a 25 gallons sump but is not started yet.
This is my first marine tank and I'm scared..
Adrian
Aquarist007
New member
Re: hey everyone.. new to salt
Re: hey everyone.. new to salt
[welcome]
I would suggest you start by reading the articles in this thread by water keeper:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1031074
Re: hey everyone.. new to salt
[welcome]
I would suggest you start by reading the articles in this thread by water keeper:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1031074
Aquarist007
New member
Your english is very good. If you are frightened because of lack of knowledge then you come to the right place.
[welcome]
You can't improve your English by reading anything I write. 
Hi! The name is B. I'm a Paramedic from Glendale, AZ. I just started about 1 week ago with a 3g salt water. I don't have the space yet for anything bigger, but I plan on expanding. I heard 3g tanks are suicide for beginners. So, I'm out to prove to myself and others that it isn't all that bad. So far, I'm having a blast. With just what I have in my tank, I can't stop starring at what is going on. Just when I thought I saw everything in my tank, I saw something new. It was amazing.
Currently I have
1lbs fiji
reef shelf
3 hermit crabs (Tank, Dozer, and Dumptruck)
Xenia
zooanthid polyp
kenya tree
3 tiny tiny star fish (Oreo, Cookie Crunch, and Somoa)
Currently I have
1lbs fiji
reef shelf
3 hermit crabs (Tank, Dozer, and Dumptruck)
Xenia
zooanthid polyp
kenya tree
3 tiny tiny star fish (Oreo, Cookie Crunch, and Somoa)
chiquireef
New member
Thanks for the welcome. I hope to learn much here (even english, waterkeeper jaja)
Blownsvt
New member
Hello everyone. Just cam across this site tonight while searching for images of reef tanks online. My name is nick and i live in Minnesota. I am brand new to this hobby and i am just trying to learn as much as possible about everything. I recently got a 125 gallon cornerflow tank from my wife as a birthday gift. I have always wanted to have a reef tank so i am pretty excited for it all. I have spent the last few days talking to as many people as possible at various stores as well as people i know who currently have tanks. I picked up a recirculating skimmer this morning and am looking at lighting right now. Pretty sure i am going with a halide/t5 combo with moon lights. Still looking for the right sump/heater etc. Any input is appreciated.
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