Water change question

nfrench2100

nfrench2100

New member
So I am getting ready to do a 10 gallon WC on my 75. This will be the first WC performed on this tank, as it's been setup for approximately 3 weeks now. This will also be my very first WC I've performed on a tank with a sump. DT is clear of any detritus, while the sump has collected most, if not all of it. So i would like to siphon out of the sump, as opposed to the DT, to get detritus out. I did away with the filter sock about 2 days ago because it was catching tons of pods. I'll be doing 5 gallons at a time (two 5 gallon buckets of fresh mixed RODI/SW mix)

Question is. Do I need to turn the return pump off or do anything else with sump when I do the WC? I keep trying to picture in my head how this is gonna go and just don't want to mess anything up during the process. I hope this question makes some sort of sense lol

TIA!

93321d3693abcb01e9fee2a195c48fee.jpg
a6db243a9307b2597cb3b9e9cc4c83b8.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I suppose you could turn off the return pump to do a water change. I never do and just watch the sump level when doing the water change to make sure the pump doesn't run dry. If you turn off the return make sure you have a check valve on the line so it doesn't syphon water back down into the sump from the DT
 
I would turn off the pump and the ATO. Looks like 10 gallons out of that sump would run the pump dry once the level got below your overflow.
 
Jon0807 said:
I would turn off the pump and the ATO. Looks like 10 gallons out of that sump would run the pump dry once the level got below your overflow.
Click to expand...



Thanks for the reply! Don't forget that I'm doing two 5 gallon changes tho (limited on buckets) so I will do 5 gallons, refill fresh water, let circulate, then do another 5 gallons. Make sense? So would it still need to turn the return pump off? ATO will need to be turned off indefinitely I know


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
nfrench2100 said:
Thanks for the reply! Don't forget that I'm doing two 5 gallon changes tho (limited on buckets) so I will do 5 gallons, refill fresh water, let circulate, then do another 5 gallons. Make sense? So would it still need to turn the return pump off? ATO will need to be turned off indefinitely I know


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

It really depends on if the level in the return area once you drain the 5 gallons. You don't need to turn ofd the return pump if it stays submerged. But then again, turning it off won't hurt anything either. The only problem would be if there isn't enough room in the sump for the water that drains out of the display tank once the pump is turned off. If that's the case then something needs to be done about that or else you'll have a flood on your hands when the power goes out.
 
@ 3 weeks I wouldn't bother with a water change at all.

but if you must do something I'd turn off the return. pump out what you will from the sump and replace. turn the return back on and stop.

after displacement you are likely closer to actual 50 gallons of water anyway. 5 gallons is 10%, more than adequate.

You can of course change more but it's not necessary.

if the grit offends, a small net with a touch of poly batting inside swirled around that chamber will catch most of it. or just stir it up and send it back to the tank.
 
Detritus buildup will eventually cause nitrate problems. Do not send it back into the tank, get rid of it.

Do you realize that two 5 gallon water changes are not as effective as one 10 gallon wc?
 
Thanks for your insight guys. This tank had little to zero cycle, as it was an established tank and none of the rock got out of temp or water during the move. So I want to get some detritus that's accumulated out.

And i didn't even think about the whole 5g and 5g as opposed to just all 10g at one go, so I'll do that way instead

You guys rock


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I do 10G out of my 80G with 30G sump. After displacement I have roughly 80G. lol

I turn off the equipment, let everything drain down, pump out 10G, pump in fresh 10G, turn on equipment. Takes all of 10 minutes.
 
Ok I have a question for you sump siphoners. What do you use to siphon the detritus out? My sump is at floor level so I can't use the normal siphon. I thought about using a maxijet but then I don't know if the hoses would stay on while I try to siphon detritus. Sorry for hijacking the thread
 
Bucket head shop vac. Its just the wet/dry head and snaps onto a 5 gallon bucket.

Best 20$ I ever spent for my tank.
 
Jon0807 said:
Ok I have a question for you sump siphoners. What do you use to siphon the detritus out? My sump is at floor level so I can't use the normal siphon. I thought about using a maxijet but then I don't know if the hoses would stay on while I try to siphon detritus. Sorry for hijacking the thread
Click to expand...



No that's actually a great question and I'm glad you asked lol. Because I didn't even think about that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
Setting up new 60 gallon tank. Mixing initial water question
Replies
7
Views
188
Elmareefer
E
E
Getting back into the hobby
Replies
11
Views
259
Uncle99
Uncle99
K
Seeding Marine Pure Gems
Replies
5
Views
97
wvned
wvned
E
Setting up 10g quarantine tank
Replies
9
Views
220
Dr. Reef
Dr. Reef
D
Which sump would you choose?
Replies
5
Views
224
Devilphish
D
Back
Top