Water Change Procedure ?

[Steelhead1]

Corals dont look very good after water changes for several days. SPS polyps are retracked slightly. Some palys and zoo's close slightly. Frogspawn does'nt seem to be affected. This is the procedure I follow. My tank size is a 75g. with a 20 gallon sump/refugium.

RO DI water is made 10 gallons.
Two seperate 5 gallon containers.
Add Salt, Stir and check SG for 1.024-1.025.
Add Kalk water to raise PH to as close tp 8.2 as I can. Same as tank. I use the chemical test to validate this (seachem) Just ordered a digital tonight.
I put air stones in each container.
I keep the air going for at least (1) full day.
Just prior to adding water to tank.
I live in Michigan and its still cold here. so in order to raise the temp I boil some of the water/salt mixture to get temp up to approx 80deg.
I remove 5 gallons at a time from display tank via siphon.
Restart system pumps.

Suggestions Please.

 

[kraze3]

Not too bad but you could make it a little easier. Use a rubbermaid or brute trashcan to mix all the water together. You could also pick up a cheap powerhead and small heater to keep the water constantly circulating and heated. Will save you some time or boiling and mixing. You can also use the cheap PH to help pump the water into your sump.

 

[Toddrtrex]

The one thing I that I see is adding Kalk to it. Are you testing the Alk and Cal of the make up water? With adding Kalk to it, I am thinking that it is getting messed up, which would explain what you are seeing.

What is the pH of the water (( after mixing for a day )) if you don't add Kalk to it? I had never added anything to my water change water, beside salt that is.

 

[Toddrtrex]

And to add --- next time don't add any Kalk, and see what happens. Pretty easy to test, and I think your tank might be better for it.

 

[sondaar]

I only add salt to my RO/DI water before changes also but am new to SW (only 6 weeeks but my ph test shows 8.2 about an hour after the change never thought about testing ph in the new SW before adding. I just check temp and circulate for 8-10 hours.

 

[Flipper62]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14819850#post14819850 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toddrtrex
And to add --- next time don't add any Kalk, and see what happens. Pretty easy to test, and I think your tank might be better for it.

I'm a firm believer of NOT adding anything to the new water other then the salt. After adding the new saltwater to the tank, I wait a half day & then do my testing.....Then add any supplements as needed. I never dose anything without testing first.