engineer goby
Has been struck by the ban stick
When I fist started out I use to mix 5 gallon buckets of salt water by hand. It was time consuming, sloppy and just not the ideal way of doing it since not all the salt would disolve. I thought there has to be a better way so I asked questions and this is what I came up with:
Equipment: 1. RO/DI unit from bulkreefsupply, 1. Rio 400 pump for mixing the salt and pumping the water into my tank, 1. 200 watt heater set to 79, 5 feet of clear tube and 1 Brute trash can on wheels
I usually fill the trash can with about 25 Gallons of RO/DI Water:
Then I place my pump with the output facing upward in the center of the trash can and the heater on the bottom.
I measure out my salts and gently shake it into the can. I don't pour it in as to avoid clumping.
I then put the lid on the can and let the pump run for about 48 hours. After that I will test the salinity and adjust as necessary.
Once the water has been properly mixed I wheel the can next to my tank along with a 5 gallon bucket for the waste water and the siphon tube.
I suck up any hair algae or Tang poo I can find. I do 3 to 4 buckets depending on the tanks conditions weekly. It might be a little more then needed but I rather be safe then sorry.
Now that I have removed 15 to 20 gallons it's time to replace it with a nice fresh salty treat for my corals.
I attach the tube to the pump then run it into my filter sock in the sump. I plug the pump in and turn my sumps return pump back on.
I have a sticker on my sump that marks the water line.
Doing my water changes this way keeps me from ever having to lift any buckets, other then carrying the waste water buckets outside to my storm drain. I'm also not dumping large amounts of water in the top of my tank disturbing the fish and corals. Consistency is another great benefit as I match up the temp and salinity as close as possible to my tank. I hope that some will find this helpfull.
Equipment: 1. RO/DI unit from bulkreefsupply, 1. Rio 400 pump for mixing the salt and pumping the water into my tank, 1. 200 watt heater set to 79, 5 feet of clear tube and 1 Brute trash can on wheels
I usually fill the trash can with about 25 Gallons of RO/DI Water:
Then I place my pump with the output facing upward in the center of the trash can and the heater on the bottom.
I measure out my salts and gently shake it into the can. I don't pour it in as to avoid clumping.
I then put the lid on the can and let the pump run for about 48 hours. After that I will test the salinity and adjust as necessary.
Once the water has been properly mixed I wheel the can next to my tank along with a 5 gallon bucket for the waste water and the siphon tube.
I suck up any hair algae or Tang poo I can find. I do 3 to 4 buckets depending on the tanks conditions weekly. It might be a little more then needed but I rather be safe then sorry.
Now that I have removed 15 to 20 gallons it's time to replace it with a nice fresh salty treat for my corals.
I attach the tube to the pump then run it into my filter sock in the sump. I plug the pump in and turn my sumps return pump back on.
I have a sticker on my sump that marks the water line.
Doing my water changes this way keeps me from ever having to lift any buckets, other then carrying the waste water buckets outside to my storm drain. I'm also not dumping large amounts of water in the top of my tank disturbing the fish and corals. Consistency is another great benefit as I match up the temp and salinity as close as possible to my tank. I hope that some will find this helpfull.
