Water change on new set up

[brayden]

I just switched from a 30g to a 135g. How long do you think I should wait for my first water change and how much should I change out?

 

[brayden]

Water change on new set up

I just switched from a 30g to a 135g. How long do you think I should wait for my first water change and how much should I change out?

 

[dileggi]

When you switched, did you also use your old water in the setup?

When I set up my tank, I wated two weeks before I changed the water. After that two week waiting period, I changed approximately 20% a week for 4 weeks. After that, I switched back to bi-weekly 20% changes.

 

[bertoni]

I do monthly changes of about 20%. That seems reasonable, although smaller, more frequent changes might be better, and I'd start after about a month.

 

[brayden]

Use of old water

Use of old water

Yeah I actually got about 50g out of my old tank. I set up a tub a couple weeks before I switched over and kept some of the water from water changes circulating and heated with some new live rock as well.

 

[ihopss]

Wait untill you have no Ammo,doing water changes prolongs the cycle.

 

[Fuzzfish]

I have to agree that water changes on a new setup will only slow down your cycle, and i've heard varying opinions as to whether skimming during the cycle will do the same. I'm a 10% per week guy myself, although I have a small reef (34 gal).

 

[Jeremy_holt]

wait until the cycle completes before you make any changes.

 

[brayden]

Salinity swings and high trites and trates

Salinity swings and high trites and trates

I have a salinity swing between 1.023 and 1.025 on my new 135g and I also have high trites and trates. I believe the trites and trates are from placing the old sand from my 30g in the new tank. What do you think? Also any ideas on why I am getting salinity swings?

 

[brayden]

Salinity swings and high trites and trates

Salinity swings and high trites and trates

I have a salinity swing between 1.023 and 1.025 on my new 135g and I also have high trites and trates. I believe the trites and trates are from placing the old sand from my 30g in the new tank. What do you think? Also any ideas on why I am getting salinity swings?

 

[Jeremy_holt]

evaporation? you adding fresh water to account for water loss?

 

[bertoni]

Moved to NTTH as more a propos.

 

[seapug]

I treat new, cycling tanks just like established ones. The bacteria you are trying to "grow" during the cycle lives on live rock surfaces where their food is present, it's not so much "swimming" in the water. As long as there is die-off happening on the rocks, the cycle will continue uninterrupted. I feel performing water changes during the cycle keeps Alkalinity and trace element levels optimized to encourage the growth of coralline algae and microfauna you want. Letting the water "go to stink" works but can kill off a lot of the life you want to preserve.

 

[brayden]

Salinity swing

Salinity swing

Yeah, I actually do have an auto top off system for fresh water and dosing connected to a float valve which is why I can't figure out the salinity swings.

 

[bertoni]

The float valve might not be very precise, especially for such a small system. I use a pair of float switches and a peristaltic pump. That's one thought, anyway.