Water Changes & Adding After Evaporation

[FlyinggFish]

For water changes - for about 6 months - I've used water from the ocean.
I don't put it through any process, and I just came to the conclusion that the fresh ocean water is probably the problem to my outbreak of "the dreadful hair algae."

So I guess I'm going make to mixing my own water.
This is probably the best thing, right?
What do you think?


When I water when water's been evaporated, I always add RO water with two drops of Prime to the whole gallon of water.
Is this a good way of adding water?

 

[J. Montgomery]

Topping off with RO water is the way to go. I don't know what "Prime" is though, and it's not necessary.

Some people use natural sea water, and if it's working no real need to change.

The rest of us make our own b/c either we don't live near the ocean, or we want to have greater control over whats in the water used in our tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

So I guess I'm going make to mixing my own water.
This is probably the best thing, right?
What do you think?


I discuss how to make salt water here:

The “How To” Guide to Reef Aquarium Chemistry for Beginners, Part 1: The Salt Water Itself
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/rhf/index.php

When I water when water's been evaporated, I always add RO water with two drops of Prime to the whole gallon of water.
Is this a good way of adding water?

RO, or RO/DI?

Why are you using Prime in it?

Does your water supply use chloramine?

 

[Reefer07]

Keep in mind your tank is only 4ish months old and from my experience I believe that is the prime time for hair algae.....just keep doing frequent water changes (at least once a week). Other than that you just have to let it take its course.
You could try a blackout for a few days. No lights etc.

 

[FlyinggFish]

My tank isn't 4ish months old...it's over a year.

 

[FlyinggFish]

I use Prime to be extra safe.

 

[FlyinggFish]

And thanks a lot for the article, it really helped.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I use Prime to be extra safe.

If you do not need it, I wouldn't add it.

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Where and how are you collecting sea water? Have you tested nitrate or phosphate in that water?

 

[Reefer07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12738956#post12738956 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FlyinggFish
My tank isn't 4ish months old...it's over a year.

1/29/2007 hahah my bad. For some reason I was thinking 2008 or something I don't know...

 

[ReefMasta08]

i would check the sea water for phosphates, but prime is the denitrifier and slime coat if im thinking correctly, when doing a water change you should add some esential elements or something like that to replace lost minerals due to p. skimming and use by live stock..and also hair algae is caused by under wattage bulbs, too long of lighting, lights older then 6-7 monhts,sometimes lack of water flow, phosphates , high nirates and excessive detritus in rock or sand. its one of those.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

when doing a water change you should add some esential elements or something like that to replace lost minerals due to p. skimming and use by live stock..

you mean in addition to what is in the salt mix? I wouldn't. The salt mix has plenty of most elements unless you know you have a specific need, such as iron for macroalgae.

but prime is the denitrifier

Denitrifier? I don't think so. It is a dechlorinator. Any claims that it does something to nitrate are suspect, IMO.