Water Changes: Heat and aeration

[WaterssretaW]

Hey everyone, here's my question.

I am receiving my first ro/di unit soon and would like to do a 50% water change to maximize the ro/di water.

What does everyone do to aerate the water?

I am using 2 Brute garbage cans to do the change.

thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I personally would not recommend changing 50% at once unless you are having a big problem of some sort.

That said, I change 1% daily, automatically, and so do not need to aerate the water after initial mixing, and do not heat it at all.

A powerhead for 24-48 h will aerate it adequately, if it is open.

 

[kzickovich]

when I got my RO/DI unit I thought like you and did a 30% water change and I could see stress in the coral. I would not take more than 25% for now on. To mix the salt I use a ViaAqua va-4900 not sure on gph but it is pretty strong.

 

[jimmy08]

So why dont you want to heater the ro water that your using for the change?

 

[kzickovich]

sorry missed the heater. I do let the water heat up while mixing.

 

[seapug]

I have one brute trash can that I use for all my mixing. I have a heater and powerhead in it all the time to keep it warm and circulating and mix a couple new gallons each each evening when I get home from work. That way I never really run out when I do my weekly 10% changes and there's always an aged, warm supply ready and waiting in case of emergencies.

Randy's method is probably best, but my setup is pretty low tech so it works well for someone like me without all the automated controls and elaborate plumbing. That's for the next tank..

 

[WaterssretaW]

Thanks for the help everyone...

All i have in the tank now is some live rock and a few fish...no coral yet. Now maybe the time to do the 50%

My issue is the brown algae that is constantly coming back after I clean it.

Its on the sand on the rock and on the sides of the tank...Iam pretty sure its my bad tap water.

It looks like it thrives off the lighting...i.e. the longer the duration of light the faster it comes.

Still against the 50% change?

 

[Zoophile]

If you're moving over to RO/DI water, the brown algae problem will go away pretty quickly (assuming you don't have any other sources besides your tapwater that was feeding it). It would be better to stick with smaller and more frequent water changes than a stressful 50% change.