Water Changes

[Fast Eddie H]

I have a question about water changes. I finally have the params where I want them in my new 90 gallon setup, and am getting ready to do my first water change. My question is this:

When you take out established water and replace it with new salt water, will this not throw the params out of whack?

 

[bertoni]

If the new saltwater is different from the tank, the parameters will change. I have to supplement magnesium and calcium when I mix saltwater because I use Instant Ocean, for example.

 

[drummereef]

You should get your params as close as possible with the tank water. I too bolster the calcium of IO salt to get it up where it needs to be. Other than that I temperature adjust and also get the salinity the same as the tank water and it's good to go. I let the new saltwater mix 24 hours prior to adding it to the tank.

Basic rule of thumb - Whatever you take out, put the same amount back in.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

When you take out established water and replace it with new salt water,

first thing...i personally dont buy into water being "established". Water is water. Now bacteria can become established, but the bacteria is on the rocks, sand, etc...all the surfaces, but not the water.

But to answer your question...drummer and bertoni pretty much covered it all.

 

[demonsp]

All this can do is lower the bad and raise the good. It helps control amonia and nitrates well replaces trace elements like calcium. The weekly change is most important and should be done during cycle also.

 

[Fast Eddie H]

Thanks guys!

 

[Joshua1023]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9489798#post9489798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
All this can do is lower the bad and raise the good. It helps control amonia and nitrates well replaces trace elements like calcium. The weekly change is most important and should be done during cycle also.

Not totally true. I have found that w/ most salts I purchase that the calcium level is too low. I dose it to bring it back up to 450 before I put it in the tank. Regardless of what they tell you there always seem to be minor differnences in salt from bucket to bucket. I try to make it a habit to check the levels of new salt water at least once per bucket to see what the levels are. Once again we come back to owning a quality set of water tests. I do agree about the weekly water changes though.

 

[uscharalph]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9489798#post9489798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by demonsp
All this can do is lower the bad and raise the good. It helps control amonia and nitrates well replaces trace elements like calcium. The weekly change is most important and should be done during cycle also.

I thought you weren't supposed to do any water changes till the cycle completed.

 

[Joshua1023]

Weekly water changes will keep the levels at least close to on point, thus keeping as much of the life on your live rock sustained.

 

[uscharalph]

I do a 20 - 25 gallon water change every 3 -4 weeks on my 55 gallon reef. I run a protein skimmer and try not to overfeed.

 

[chkra_hp]

I do about 10% which is 4gal of my 45gal tank every week. i think it better to change a little at a time