Water change Question and Nitrate Question

[Randrew215]

I change 10 gallons weekly on a ~100 gallon system. This week I changed 30 gallons because I over-adjusted my b ionic dosing and wanted to dilute it down. I came up with a couple of questions. When I dump my water in, the end of the pour is visibly saltier. I mix my saltwater with a large plastic spoon like you might cook with because this is the way I was shown to do it when I was introduced to the hobby. Should I be using a powerhead to mix? Or should I be adding the water to my sump instead? I never really thought about it, but my anemone and orange torch look like they have a couple of whitened tips near my pour zone.

Also, I have a salifert nitrate kit and I'm wondering if there is an easier way to discriminate low range nitrates. I have a hue IQ of 10, but that doesn't help me very much to discriminate between changes in nitrate levels on the color card. Mine seem to stay around 10ppm, but I have a tough time saying anything more accurate than that. Specifically, I started using GFO and it brought my phosphates straight to zero but my chaeto also stopped growing and I'm wondering if that will affect my nitrates at all. I'd love to be able to measure them more accurately. Thanks,
Andy

 

[daveml]

I always use a powerhead to mix and let sit for 24 hours when doing a 25% plus water change. I have done smaller changes without letting the water age. I use a small maxi-jet pump to pump the water into the sump instead of dumping directly into the tank.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

imo/ime

imo/ime

*stir pasta with spoons and get a powerhead or pump to mix new saltwater

*aerate new saltwater for 24 hours before introducing into aquarium. Bring up to temp and double check S.G. with refracto. So often it's the basics that are stumbling blocks for many people!

*the API (Aquarium Pharmeceuticals) nitrate test kit is as good as (or better) than the Salifert

EDIT: when making new saltwater ALWAYS add saltmix (slowly) to water. DON'T add water to saltmix. Aerate freshwater prior to adding any salt.

 

[Randrew215]

The deeper I get into this hobby, the more I realize that almost everything that I was initially told was in some way inaccurate. I suppose I will come to look upon the stir spoon much as I now look upon the pitchers I used to top off tapwater with- lacking knowledge and finesse. I'm not complaining- figuring out why practices are bad is a great way to come to understand good husbandry practices. I'll have to modify my system. Gary, when you say aerate, do you mean with an airpump and tubing?
Thanks.

On a totally unrelated note, I've been streaming the new Cee Lo album off NPR and it is smooth and awesome. I recommend it.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

aerate refers to moving the water. You can use airstone, pump or spoon to aerate new saltwater.

Before RC I learned a lot of things the hard way. There's no reason for me to watch others suffer what I went through

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

use pumps instead of buckets to move water during a water change

 

[Randrew215]

I'll have to see if I can automate the spoon. Thanks.

 

[aquadonkey]

The deeper I get into this hobby, the more I realize that almost everything that I was initially told was in some way inaccurate. I suppose I will come to look upon the stir spoon much as I now look upon the pitchers I used to top off tapwater with- lacking knowledge and finesse. I'm not complaining- figuring out why practices are bad is a great way to come to understand good husbandry practices. I'll have to modify my system. Gary, when you say aerate, do you mean with an airpump and tubing?
Thanks.

On a totally unrelated note, I've been streaming the new Cee Lo album off NPR and it is smooth and awesome. I recommend it.

Wait - what's wrong with pitchers for top-off water?
I use empty gallon jugs - problem??

FWIW - I came to the whole stirring with a wooden spoon thing on my own volition I use a PH now - less labor intensive.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

if I remember my mixing procedures correctly

if I remember my mixing procedures correctly

I graduated from hand to spoon to maxijet to Mag 7

tip: Mag 7 eliminates the need for a heater in the mixing bucket because of the heat it produces

 

[cardiffgiant]

Wait - what's wrong with pitchers for top-off water?
I use empty gallon jugs - problem??

I believe that he's referring to the use of tap water more than the use of hte pitcher. Though, he may (like me) be looking at the pitcher in his arsenal of supplies and thinking about how he used that before he used an ATO

I suppose I will come to look upon the stir spoon much as I now look upon the pitchers I used to top off tapwater with- lacking knowledge and finesse. I'm not complaining- figuring out why practices are bad is a great way to come to understand good husbandry practices.

This statement is like looking back into my (not so distant) past.

 

[wetbehindears]

I graduated from hand to spoon to maxijet to Mag 7

tip: Mag 7 eliminates the need for a heater in the mixing bucket because of the heat it produces

I'm the same way my waters changes are 50 to 100 gallons I use a 9.5 like u said it mixes to clear heated ready water in no time.