coralgazer
Member
Once my batch of saltwater is mixed (I use instant ocean), is it okay to microwave a portion of it to warm up the batch? or does microwaving harm the saltwater in some way?
Microwave water ok?
- Thread starter coralgazer
- Start date
David Shaw
Well-Known Member
Just put a heater in the water.
coralgazer
Member
I have a 5 gallon bucket I have to keep outside for water changes. The water gets frigid, and the heater cant keep up. So I nuke a quart at a time and add back in to heat up for the changes. Just starter wondering if this harms the salt somehow.
Choff
Well-Known Member
Yep, your fish will def grow a 3rd nipple if you continue to use nucleated water.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/MicrowavedSalt_FishMutations.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/rhf/MicrowavedSalt_FishMutations.php
reefer gladness
Well-Known Member
I'd be more concerned about the salt dissolving completely if its being mixed at a temp that low. Consider ESV B-ionic salt, its a 2part salt you can mix in about an hour (inside) and then just use a heater to bring it up to tank temp.
lbiminiblue
Well-Known Member
erm, why do you heat it up in the first place? And no it probably wouldn't hurt...
reefer gladness
Well-Known Member
Seriously? Bringing the freshly mixed water up to tank temp is part of basic waterchange 101.
meknudson2
Active Member
It should be fine, I do this sometimes because I broke my spare heater. I do a little at a time until the water temp. matches the tank.
Choff
Well-Known Member
Ok, sorry for my failed attempt at humor.
Red Sea has recently released new guidelines for mixing their salt. They say to not heat the water first to avoid the cloudiness issue. They go on to say it's fine to add that to the tank if you are doing a small water change that the temp variance shouldn't be a big deal.
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Red Sea has recently released new guidelines for mixing their salt. They say to not heat the water first to avoid the cloudiness issue. They go on to say it's fine to add that to the tank if you are doing a small water change that the temp variance shouldn't be a big deal.
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lbiminiblue
Well-Known Member
hm, never done that before...but if the tank is big enough and the water change occurs gradually enough, shouldn't it be ok to put small amounts of different temperatures in?
reefer gladness
Well-Known Member
Rapid temperature changes stress the fish. Stressed fish are more susceptible to disease so it really is something to be avoided.
Whether you have a 30 gallon tank or a 300 gallon tank the typical water change is 10-20% of the water volume and the freshly mixed water is generally added over a very short period of time. My entire water change takes about 20 minutes without using pumps.
OP said they're mixing water outside and it's 'frigid', let's just say that means 50 degrees although probably colder. Now assume your tank is 80 degrees. Doing a 20% waterchange mixing 4 parts 80F + 1 part 50F is ((80*4)+50)/5=74F. That's a 6 degree drop over a very short period of time. Doing a 10% waterchange with 9 parts 80F + 1 part 50F is ((80*9)+50)/10=77F. That's still a 3 degree drop in a very short period of time, not to mention the colder water segments in the first few minutes before the pumps mix the warmer and colder waters together. That rapid temp change is enough to stress the fish so I would avoid it at all costs.
Whether you have a 30 gallon tank or a 300 gallon tank the typical water change is 10-20% of the water volume and the freshly mixed water is generally added over a very short period of time. My entire water change takes about 20 minutes without using pumps.
OP said they're mixing water outside and it's 'frigid', let's just say that means 50 degrees although probably colder. Now assume your tank is 80 degrees. Doing a 20% waterchange mixing 4 parts 80F + 1 part 50F is ((80*4)+50)/5=74F. That's a 6 degree drop over a very short period of time. Doing a 10% waterchange with 9 parts 80F + 1 part 50F is ((80*9)+50)/10=77F. That's still a 3 degree drop in a very short period of time, not to mention the colder water segments in the first few minutes before the pumps mix the warmer and colder waters together. That rapid temp change is enough to stress the fish so I would avoid it at all costs.
lbiminiblue
Well-Known Member
...hence the term "gradually"
reefer gladness
Well-Known Member
Who does a waterchange gradually? I place a high value on my time and won't take 3 hours to do something that can be done better in 20 minutes.
Lol! Good one bud!
I would not heat the saltwater this way. You can destroy the nutrient value from over heating.
Get a heater and gradually heat the water until you reach the appropriate temperature.
I personally shoot for 78º f
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I must be missing something? Your tank is inside, correct? If so you need to bring the water inside to the tank, a 5 gallon bucket isn't very large, why can't you bring it inside to warm it up? It's got to be better, easier, and less mees than carrying it back and forth to the microwave.
Choff
Well-Known Member
Good point reefer, overlooked the frigid part.
I don't heat my water, but room temp is 68-70 and the water floats up to 72+ deg from the mixing pump alone.With my tank temp generally 78.# , after my 10% WC I only see about a .5 deg drop.
Like others said, I would mix in the garage and them set the bucket down inside with a heater to warm it for an hour or 2 then do the WC.
I don't heat my water, but room temp is 68-70 and the water floats up to 72+ deg from the mixing pump alone.With my tank temp generally 78.# , after my 10% WC I only see about a .5 deg drop.
Like others said, I would mix in the garage and them set the bucket down inside with a heater to warm it for an hour or 2 then do the WC.
lbiminiblue
Well-Known Member
alright. No one was challenging you.