Thread on Water Changes

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

I only use Salifert Test kits alothough I am liking the looks of the new Red Sea Pro's. I have always had a problem groing coraline algae so I started doing Strontium tests after reading and seeing it can play a big roll in coral growth.
 
60 g tank + 10 g sump. I do a 10 gallon water change every week. (or try to)

32g brute,10g rodi h20, heater, quiet one 3000- bring to temp (78) and then add salt(TM PRO). Mix for 1-2 hrs no more and test Sg and Alk, adjust if needed and then perform the change.

FWIW, I dont do waterchanges to export waste as much as to keep my parameters even and replace trace elements.
 
I was thinking I was changing to much water but I guess I am right in there with the rest of you!
 
I have a question about this Brute can thing? Is a Brute can really necessary. I have a regular plastic garbage can that i bought at Orchard that i've been using for years. Why a Brute can?
 
it is food safe and doesnt leach po4 into the water. but if you dont leave the water in verylong you shouldnt have a problem.
 
I have a question about this Brute can thing? Is a Brute can really necessary. I have a regular plastic garbage can that i bought at Orchard that i've been using for years. Why a Brute can?

Brute I more reinforce
 
My water changes are automated via a litermeter III and currently changing about 3.7G per day or 25G per week on my system which is about 550G total water volume.

I keep 100G of mixed saltwater on hand. Its mixed from RODI. I have a little giant 4MD pump that turns on for 15 minutes every 3 hours to keep it from stagnating. I also have an airstone in the holding tank to keep it airated.

When I add rodi and salt to the holding tank, I push a button and the mixing pump turns on for an hour to mix things.
 
on my old 120 set-up (total of 175g w/sump) i changed water every 6 to 8 weeks. now on my 75g(total of 105g w/sump i have to do at least every 2 to 4 weeks.

i top off water level when ever needed to the proper level and salinity.

I like the brute garbage cans. they are tough cans. I have used Rubbermaid 32g trash cans before too.

i keep about 20g's of RO water for evaporation. once im done with that 20gs of water its time for a water change.
 
Wow, I guess I am a bit of an outlier here. I currently change 5g every Saturday on my 75g reef. I have been doing it that way for over a decade. It just is so much easier because that size bucket is readily available and is about the limit to easily carry from the garage to the tank.

Maybe I am just lazy. I use reef crystals and RO water. I have often thought about buying a DI system.
 
there is no set way to do water changes.... whatever works for you. if your nutrient levels are okay then there is no reason to change 20+% weekly or bi-weekly. My corals and fish love when i do water changes, even if my levels are in check.
 
seems a lot of people use grey or white not sure if there is a difference or not

my corals love it when I do a water change. Maybe because some stuff gets blown off the rocks and its like a buffet! LOL! I also have a set of rollers on my brute to wheel around then I have a RIO 600 with a hose and I just plug it up and fill up the sump, i spray it around and disturb anything on the bottom of the sump in the corners.
 
I fill a 47g Brute with water, mix in salt with a spare power head, and change out 15 - 20g on a 60g tank every 1 to 2 weeks. If I'm doing weekly water changes, I change 12g, if bi-weekly, 20g. Everything seems happy and parameters are stable now.
 
5 Gallons of RO/DI water, heat it, salt it, mix it, let it stir overnight, 5 Gallons out, 5 Gallons in while pumps are still running. Using Reef Crystals for over a decade.

Works for me :)
 
I do a 1 gallon water change once a week on my 20 gallon reef using Reef Crystals. I heat the RODI water in a bucket, add salt and mix with an old maxi-jet powerhead using the venturi attachment to aerate. After mixing for 24 hours I adjust specific gravity with a refractometer and adjust temperature. I divert my return pump to a bucket, remove a gallon, then add the fresh saltwater to the DT.
 
I have read that the grey 32 gallon brute trash can is "safe" for mixing salt and storing water. Can anyone confirm that they use them and have no issues with leaching phosphate?
 
I use them, no issues... they are "food safe" and do not leach phosphate. They are strong and can hold water with no problem. Just put them on rollers, that way you can move them around. Water changes are easier...
 
I do a 40 gallon water change every 3-4 months. Tank goes through 3 gallons a day of evaporation. 180G SPS reef.

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