Water Changes?
- Thread starter 2fishy
- Start date
CleveYank
20 Years and Over
More water changes usually improve or maintain excellent water quality.
What is going in...is being constantly dilluted out.
Food, trace and other additives good or bad.
The biggie.
Or the thing you worry about with alot of water changes. Concerns delicate or SPS tanks the most.
For example.
Instant Ocean regular salt mix. Comes in with low Alk and Low Ca and therefore SPS folks need to adjust or "account" for this defficiency.
Fish only, most LPS and soft coral tanks....not too much to worry about.
As long as you are aging overnight...letting the fresh mix reach dissolving and ionic and pH balance by mixing it with a powerhead is best with an airstone and heating it to the exact temp of your tank.
It's ready to go. Checking the pH once in a while just to see it's in the 8 to 8.3 range is a good idea so that you know what things start out at. Some may do this all the time...but maybe I'm a bad example but I do not check the pH of new mix that often. Oh and in case you didn't know. The best method is to add salt to the water while mixing and not filling water up over dry salt.
Enjoy.
What is going in...is being constantly dilluted out.
Food, trace and other additives good or bad.
The biggie.
Or the thing you worry about with alot of water changes. Concerns delicate or SPS tanks the most.
For example.
Instant Ocean regular salt mix. Comes in with low Alk and Low Ca and therefore SPS folks need to adjust or "account" for this defficiency.
Fish only, most LPS and soft coral tanks....not too much to worry about.
As long as you are aging overnight...letting the fresh mix reach dissolving and ionic and pH balance by mixing it with a powerhead is best with an airstone and heating it to the exact temp of your tank.
It's ready to go. Checking the pH once in a while just to see it's in the 8 to 8.3 range is a good idea so that you know what things start out at. Some may do this all the time...but maybe I'm a bad example but I do not check the pH of new mix that often. Oh and in case you didn't know. The best method is to add salt to the water while mixing and not filling water up over dry salt.
Enjoy.
sk8rreefgeek
New member
I usually do about 25% weekly/bi-weekly.
definitely no problems. I imagine you could even do a lot more and be fine. I think it also depends on your livestock as well.
I love that fish btw
definitely no problems. I imagine you could even do a lot more and be fine. I think it also depends on your livestock as well.
I love that fish btw
2fishy
New member
Thanks for the info, and thanks for the comment on the fish!
I don't run a skimmer & really can't get one behind the tank as there is only 3" of space, but have experienced an increase of nitrates. The only skimmer that I could add would be the Prizm & that not even the large one. I only have starburst polyps, blue mushrooms on an oyster, a very small purple tree coral, & what appears to be a bouquet of rock anemones!:eek2:
I don't run a skimmer & really can't get one behind the tank as there is only 3" of space, but have experienced an increase of nitrates. The only skimmer that I could add would be the Prizm & that not even the large one. I only have starburst polyps, blue mushrooms on an oyster, a very small purple tree coral, & what appears to be a bouquet of rock anemones!:eek2:
10% weekly is near the high end of what most folks do, but there can be certain benefits of going even higher if you want certain effects.
I change 1% daily automatically (not more than your 10% weekly), but I thought you might be interested in seeing what specifically can be accomplished with different size changes:
Water Changes in Reef Aquaria
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php
I change 1% daily automatically (not more than your 10% weekly), but I thought you might be interested in seeing what specifically can be accomplished with different size changes:
Water Changes in Reef Aquaria
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php
sk8rreefgeek
New member
whoa! nice pic!
2fishy
New member
Thank you Randy! That is exactly what I need to look at. Initially the problem with nitrates in my aquarium may be coming from 2 bio-wheels on the HOB filter, I need to lower the nitrates another way so that I can get my filter maintenance back to par, before attempting to remove any of the bio-wheels.
Thank you Randy!
You're welcome.
Happy Reefing.
You're welcome.
Happy Reefing.
Capt_Cully
Active member
I've just started a 10% weekly water change regimen. I had been a little inconsistent. One of our Local Stores has a 180 with very simple plumbing, no reactor, no refugium, small sump. He has amazing growth, polyp extension, and water quality. His secret: He does HUGE water changes 1-2x a week (30-60gallons) and doses B-Ionic. Obviously most of us don't have the time and cash it takes to burn that much salt mix and dosing supplements.
BUT, my point is, I've seen first had the benefits of a strict water change schedule. I'm a believer. I run a reactor, I dose Mg and Ca once a week and have been doing the 10% changes and definitely see an improvement! I figured the extra $$$ I've spent on supplements and other remedies outweighs the cost of a bucket of salt every 6 weeks.
Stick with it and you won't be sorry!!!
Best of Luck!
BUT, my point is, I've seen first had the benefits of a strict water change schedule. I'm a believer. I run a reactor, I dose Mg and Ca once a week and have been doing the 10% changes and definitely see an improvement! I figured the extra $$$ I've spent on supplements and other remedies outweighs the cost of a bucket of salt every 6 weeks.
Stick with it and you won't be sorry!!!
Best of Luck!
Canarygirl
New member
Why is it recommended to aerate a new batch of ASW for 24-48 hrs prior to use? What exactly happens to the ions to make them healthier than they would be if used after only 6 hrs of aeration? I understand that ph needs to be the same as the tank water and more mixing means higher ph. but is there anything more to it than that?
It is the equilibration of CO2 to stabilize pH that is one factor that takes time. It may rise or lower with aeration, depending on the starting mix and the home air CO2 levels.
Oxygenation is also important in many applications.
Most other changes are just folks speculating, IMO...
Oxygenation is also important in many applications.
Most other changes are just folks speculating, IMO...
I usually change 35 gallons of water every week in a 185 gallon system. But the last few weeks I havent for the fact is that my DI resin is spent and I have to have one on order. But when I get it , I will go back to the every week.
2fishy
New member
WOOT!!!!!!!:dance: :beer:
After the fear of pulling the bio-wheels off of my HOB filter, but a constant battle with high nitrates for over a year, I finally made the commitment in January to pull the bio-wheels and to doing 20% weekly water changes. For the first time in a long time, I am at near zero readings on my nitrates. I wouldn't call the reading on my API test a solid zero, but it is definately less than 5 ppms!!
Whew! Finally!
After the fear of pulling the bio-wheels off of my HOB filter, but a constant battle with high nitrates for over a year, I finally made the commitment in January to pull the bio-wheels and to doing 20% weekly water changes. For the first time in a long time, I am at near zero readings on my nitrates. I wouldn't call the reading on my API test a solid zero, but it is definately less than 5 ppms!!
Whew! Finally!
2fishy
New member
Now if I could only figure out this problem! Now, I have a section of cyano that popped up on one rock! I know it can't be water flow because right now I am running with a Penguin 350, a Magnum 350, & 2 maxi-jet 1200's on the tank. I'm reading at zero phosphates (however, I read that the phosphate test kit may not give accurate readings), and the only thing that is very apparent is the fluctuation of pH from morning to night! I'm assuming that it may be coming from the pH fluctuation due to CO2. Last night the pH was 8.0, this morning 7.8.
I sure wish summer would hurry up and get here, so I could open the windows!
