Thread on Water Changes

[kissman]

How often do you do water changes and how much water do you change and why? How do you mix your salt. Just thought I would start a thread and see what other peoples practices are. What are the side effects of to many and not enough? Theories etc....


I have a 55g Reef Tank I do a 5g water change on Sunday and Thursday of every week. Probably way to much but it seems to work for me and my corals and fish are happy. I am thinking of trying to do a 5g water change every Wed and see what happens. I guess I am just scared of losing control of the Nitrates again so I try to keep them in check by ding the 2 water changes a week. The Nitrates at one time were 160ppm+ and now they stay between 2-5ppm.

I always start by letting my RO/DI run for a few minutes. Then I test the TDS (need to get an inline) and then start filling my 15g Brute Trash can. Once the its full I add the salt, my power head, air stone and a heater it usually sits for a day till the temp gets to 79 and then I test salt to make sure its up to 1.026. I always check strontium, magnesium, calcium, and Alk when I first open my bucket of Red Sea Coral Pro, and somewhere in the middle of the bucket.

 

[mixedreeferhead]

I also do the same mixing method, however I use a 32 gallon trash can. I change roughly 60 gallons of water every two weeks in my 155 gallon mixed reef. I also use reef crystals

 

[campos]

question if using a power head to mix your salt why do you need an air stone? Just curious

 

[kissman]

question if using a power head to mix your salt why do you need an air stone? Just curious

Don't need it to be honest it was collecting dust so I put it to use. I have Hydor pointed at the surface

 

[ReeferBill]

Water Changes?

Water Changes?

I try to change 30 gallons per week in my 46 bow connected to my 38 gallon refugium but I use fresh saltwater from Boyton Beach Inlet at High Tide. I do not think you need an airstone in your freshly mixed saltwater if you have a powerhead pointed at the suface of your mixing container. Happy reefing!!!

 

[RotaryGeek]

Lol I have a 180 and do a 10 gallon water change like once or twice a month.

 

[mixedreeferhead]

yeah that would be awesome to go collect REAL saltwater! And agreed no need for an air stone..just a powerhead to mix up water and help stabilize ph.

 

[RotaryGeek]

Lol I have a 180 and do a 10 gallon water change like once or twice a month.

 

[Algaenot]

Every two weeks I do a 20% change using a 32 gal trash can and a powerhead.

 

[mwilliams62]

Water Changes

Water Changes

I also do the same mixing method, however I use a 32 gallon trash can. I change roughly 60 gallons of water every two weeks in my 155 gallon mixed reef. I also use reef crystals

How can you do a 60 gal water change every 2wks in a 32 gallon trash can??? Also wouldn't that be too much and taking out the nutrients thaat is needed ???

 

[Lynnmw1208]

I do a 30 gallon water change every 3 weeks. I use a 47 gallon trash can and a new maxijet 1200 with the attachments to mix the water. seems to work for me!

 

[Bnortz]

I do a 5 gallon water change in my 60 gallon usually twice every ten days

 

[Catchoftheday]

real Ocean salt water for water changes

real Ocean salt water for water changes

I try to change 30 gallons per week in my 46 bow connected to my 38 gallon refugium but I use fresh saltwater from Boyton Beach Inlet at High Tide. I do not think you need an airstone in your freshly mixed saltwater if you have a powerhead pointed at the suface of your mixing container. Happy reefing!!!

I live in south orange county san clemente beach can i really just go down to the beach and get my salt water or should i just stay with getting it from my LFS

 

[Greedo]

How can you do a 60 gal water change every 2wks in a 32 gallon trash can??? Also wouldn't that be too much and taking out the nutrients thaat is needed ???

how can you do a 60g water change with a 32 gallon can? Mixing 2x batches that's how! :lolspin:

And the point of doing the WC is to remove nutrients, and add more of minerals and elements that marine life needs.

I do 20% every weekend, same way everyone has done it so far bucket, mix, circulate, WC.

 

[droth335]

I do a 25 gallon water change every week for my 210. I use a 32 gallon brute with a heater and powerhead to mix up the ASW 2-3 days in advance

 

[Froggy]

I only do 5 gallons weekly on my 120.....

Looks like that is WAY under what most people that have posted are doing.

Are these large water changes you guys are doing due to how you run your tank. No skimmer, algae scrubber, smaller skimmer, HEAVY bioloads etc.?

I have a large skimmer and do not feel that large water changes are needed as long as I do the small ones each and every week. Large water changes would seem like a challenge to maintain stability in the tank as well...Do you guys notice any parameter swings with the large changes ?

Joe

 

[AquaReeferMan]

32g Brute trashcan + 15.5g of RO/DI water + Salt + Pump + Heater + 24 hours = My weekly water changes. I change 15g out of my 65g tank and 0.5g out of my 2g Spec.

 

[ludiNano]

which test kit do you use to test strontium and why???

 

[allsps40]

10% weekly.

 

[campos]

i do 10 gallons once a week on my 125. Also use a heater and power head