Water Changes

jesse_224 · 03-18-2006, 04:46 PM

My tank has been cycled for a couple of months now and everything is going good. How important is it to do water changes if all of my tests are coming out great every time I test??? Should I still be doing water changes if everything is good?

Woodstock · 03-18-2006, 06:00 PM

I am a believer of regular water changes. They help dillute all the stuff we can not test for and replace essential elements. I just did a 20 gal change on my reef and it tested perfect (400 ca, 9 alk, zero - 5 ppm trAtes).

Rougiem · 03-18-2006, 06:16 PM

Ditto on what woody says! Also in the ocean the water is in constant movement and pollutants are diluted or washed away...what the water change can do to simulate that process...

Cheers!

jesse_224 · 03-18-2006, 07:03 PM

Ok cool. I will make sure and do them.

Witfull · 03-18-2006, 07:22 PM

i do 20% (50g) every 2-3 weeks.

KeyserSoze · 03-18-2006, 08:01 PM

My 2 cents are from my own newly learned knowledge. I was being very neglectful in water changes. All tests were good (ammonia nitrite nitrate 0)and I was just topping off water each week. A month ago I did my first real water change in *cough* months and was shocked at what came from the gravel. My hammer perked up the next day. This last week I did another 15% water change. More gunk! There are so many things that don't show up in tests that need to come out of the tank. Your salt mix adds alot of the things that we substitute additives for. Everything seemed to be perfect and everyone happy but I'm convinced that I avoided a future tragedy.

BoomerD · 03-18-2006, 11:43 PM

Gunk from your gravel? What kind of substrate do you have? Few marine creatures really like the crushed gravel sold at most LFS. It looks nice, but...
I'd encourage you to switch over to a fine aragonite sand instead.

jesse_224 · 03-19-2006, 12:18 AM

I know my "gravel" looks like crushed up seashells.....maybe it was a mistake buying that kind? the bag said live aragonite sand......

KeyserSoze · 03-19-2006, 01:08 AM

My substrate is CC. The gunk was detrius (sp). It was a cloudy mess when I siphoned it out. Phosphate and Nitrates were zero. I was shocked when I saw what I was leaving in the tank by not doing regular water changes.

BoomerD · 03-19-2006, 02:53 AM

Crushed coral and the shell type of substrates are big detritus traps, and will constantly be a maintenance headache. MUCH better to switch to a sugar-fine aragonite sand...Kind of a headache to makie the change, but your tank will be better for it.

cracker · 03-19-2006, 04:47 AM

Jesse, My tank crashed several years ago. It was due to my neglect and I lost all my beloved critters. It slowly crept up then suddenly CRASH! ALL gone! I payed dearly for that lesson.To me keeping up with routine maintenence chores wether You think the tank needs it or not is the most important and difficult part of this.

Paendora · 03-19-2006, 11:35 AM

When to start water changes on a new tank? and...forgive my innocence, just how to go about it?

My tank is a month old tomorrow. One LFS says wait 2 mths, the other says I should have put in a sump and only do changes every 6 mths. My tropical tank gets a 20% water change like clockwork every month.

My tests, and those of two different LFS, show my water to be doing exceptional. 1.023 salinity, 0 Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. varying 8.0-8.5 Ph,...overall very happy with the water.

There's stuff I've read that talks about cleaning the substrate, etc. When I do my tropical tank, I use a siphon vacuum, and then add fresh water about the same temp as what came out.

Do I use a similar siphon for my reef tank? Do I need to disturb the sand at all? I don't want to lose my LS up the vacuum. How critical is the temp of the water I'm adding back in? Suggestions on getting my saltwater up to 79 degrees? I'll be buying my premixed water from across town.

Thanks for all the help - luvin' the info on this board!

jumpincactus · 03-22-2006, 12:58 AM

Every knowledgable salt tank hobbyist will say 15-20 % water changes minimum of once a month. There is a reason for that. If you want to maintain a healthy balance in your tank get into the habit of regular water changes your fish and corals will love you for it.

Woodstock · 03-22-2006, 07:51 AM

Welcome to RS Paendora~~

I would begin water changes immediately after the cycle is finished. Have a goal of 10 ppm or less of nitrAtes. I use a siphon hose during my weekly water changes. I gently stir the top 1/2" of sand and then siphon out any floating debris. You can attach an object to the end of the siphon hose so that it sticks out abouit 3"; this way the stick/object will stir the sand but will keep the siphon hose far enough away to keep from sucking out the sand. Make sense?

The importance of water changes should not be underestimated. They are very important to the health of your inhabitants. I do a weekly 20 gal change on my 90 gal reef no matter how well my test results are... why wait for a problem to arise? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure~~

Paendora · 06-03-2006, 10:46 AM

An update on my water change issue -

wish I had gone with a sump - and am starting to save up, gather what I need. Until then, I'm doing a 15 gal water change every two weeks. The hang on filter would probably suffice for a smaller bio load. I haven't had a nitrate issue with the steady changes. Nitrates start to creep up near 40 by the end of two weeks.

There was a bit of a cyno problem for awhile. Two diamond gobies and a bit of change in powerhead direction have helped eliminate that issue.

03-18-2006, 04:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
jesse_224 Serpent Star Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 211 View Gallery Karma Komment	Water Changes My tank has been cycled for a couple of months now and everything is going good. How important is it to do water changes if all of my tests are coming out great every time I test??? Should I still be doing water changes if everything is good? __________________ 10g Nano 10g Sump 20lbs Live Sand 15lbs Live Fiji Rock 1 Percula Clownfish 1 Scarlet hermit Several Blue legged hermits 2 Turbo snail 2 Green Star Polyp Colonies Watermelon Mushroom 1 Peppermint Shrimp

03-18-2006, 06:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,586 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes I am a believer of regular water changes. They help dillute all the stuff we can not test for and replace essential elements. I just did a 20 gal change on my reef and it tested perfect (400 ca, 9 alk, zero - 5 ppm trAtes). __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

03-18-2006, 06:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rougiem Ichthy Inquisitor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Biggest Little City In The World Posts: 2,898 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes Ditto on what woody says! Also in the ocean the water is in constant movement and pollutants are diluted or washed away...what the water change can do to simulate that process... Cheers! __________________ "Apes don't read philosophy." "Yes they do Otto, they just don't understand it." Intial School Tank Set Up and Progress

03-18-2006, 07:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
jesse_224 Serpent Star Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 211 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes Ok cool. I will make sure and do them. __________________ 10g Nano 10g Sump 20lbs Live Sand 15lbs Live Fiji Rock 1 Percula Clownfish 1 Scarlet hermit Several Blue legged hermits 2 Turbo snail 2 Green Star Polyp Colonies Watermelon Mushroom 1 Peppermint Shrimp

03-18-2006, 08:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
KeyserSoze Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 111 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes My 2 cents are from my own newly learned knowledge. I was being very neglectful in water changes. All tests were good (ammonia nitrite nitrate 0)and I was just topping off water each week. A month ago I did my first real water change in cough months and was shocked at what came from the gravel. My hammer perked up the next day. This last week I did another 15% water change. More gunk! There are so many things that don't show up in tests that need to come out of the tank. Your salt mix adds alot of the things that we substitute additives for. Everything seemed to be perfect and everyone happy but I'm convinced that I avoided a future tragedy.

03-18-2006, 11:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes Gunk from your gravel? What kind of substrate do you have? Few marine creatures really like the crushed gravel sold at most LFS. It looks nice, but... I'd encourage you to switch over to a fine aragonite sand instead. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

03-19-2006, 12:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
jesse_224 Serpent Star Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 211 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes I know my "gravel" looks like crushed up seashells.....maybe it was a mistake buying that kind? the bag said live aragonite sand...... __________________ 10g Nano 10g Sump 20lbs Live Sand 15lbs Live Fiji Rock 1 Percula Clownfish 1 Scarlet hermit Several Blue legged hermits 2 Turbo snail 2 Green Star Polyp Colonies Watermelon Mushroom 1 Peppermint Shrimp

03-19-2006, 01:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
KeyserSoze Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Kansas Posts: 111 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes My substrate is CC. The gunk was detrius (sp). It was a cloudy mess when I siphoned it out. Phosphate and Nitrates were zero. I was shocked when I saw what I was leaving in the tank by not doing regular water changes.

03-19-2006, 02:53 AM	#10 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes Crushed coral and the shell type of substrates are big detritus traps, and will constantly be a maintenance headache. MUCH better to switch to a sugar-fine aragonite sand...Kind of a headache to makie the change, but your tank will be better for it. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

03-19-2006, 04:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
cracker Acropora Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,785 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes Jesse, My tank crashed several years ago. It was due to my neglect and I lost all my beloved critters. It slowly crept up then suddenly CRASH! ALL gone! I payed dearly for that lesson.To me keeping up with routine maintenence chores wether You think the tank needs it or not is the most important and difficult part of this.

03-19-2006, 11:35 AM	#12 (permalink)
Paendora Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Amarillo TX Posts: 24 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes When to start water changes on a new tank? and...forgive my innocence, just how to go about it? My tank is a month old tomorrow. One LFS says wait 2 mths, the other says I should have put in a sump and only do changes every 6 mths. My tropical tank gets a 20% water change like clockwork every month. My tests, and those of two different LFS, show my water to be doing exceptional. 1.023 salinity, 0 Ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. varying 8.0-8.5 Ph,...overall very happy with the water. There's stuff I've read that talks about cleaning the substrate, etc. When I do my tropical tank, I use a siphon vacuum, and then add fresh water about the same temp as what came out. Do I use a similar siphon for my reef tank? Do I need to disturb the sand at all? I don't want to lose my LS up the vacuum. How critical is the temp of the water I'm adding back in? Suggestions on getting my saltwater up to 79 degrees? I'll be buying my premixed water from across town. Thanks for all the help - luvin' the info on this board! __________________ ___________________ Susan 75 gal reef tank started up Feb 2006 85 lbs live rock, 8 fish, growing collection of corals and 2 teenagers that make saltwater stuff seem easy!

03-22-2006, 12:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
jumpincactus Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 17 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes Every knowledgable salt tank hobbyist will say 15-20 % water changes minimum of once a month. There is a reason for that. If you want to maintain a healthy balance in your tank get into the habit of regular water changes your fish and corals will love you for it. __________________ Look on wifes face as she sees me standing looking at our 500,000 gallon man made lake figuring out how much salt I need to order........ Priceless

03-22-2006, 07:51 AM	#14 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,586 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Water Changes Welcome to RS Paendora~~ I would begin water changes immediately after the cycle is finished. Have a goal of 10 ppm or less of nitrAtes. I use a siphon hose during my weekly water changes. I gently stir the top 1/2" of sand and then siphon out any floating debris. You can attach an object to the end of the siphon hose so that it sticks out abouit 3"; this way the stick/object will stir the sand but will keep the siphon hose far enough away to keep from sucking out the sand. Make sense? The importance of water changes should not be underestimated. They are very important to the health of your inhabitants. I do a weekly 20 gal change on my 90 gal reef no matter how well my test results are... why wait for a problem to arise? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure~~ __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

06-03-2006, 10:46 AM	#15 (permalink)
Paendora Tunicate Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Amarillo TX Posts: 24 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Water Changes An update on my water change issue - wish I had gone with a sump - and am starting to save up, gather what I need. Until then, I'm doing a 15 gal water change every two weeks. The hang on filter would probably suffice for a smaller bio load. I haven't had a nitrate issue with the steady changes. Nitrates start to creep up near 40 by the end of two weeks. There was a bit of a cyno problem for awhile. Two diamond gobies and a bit of change in powerhead direction have helped eliminate that issue. __________________ ___________________ Susan 75 gal reef tank started up Feb 2006 85 lbs live rock, 8 fish, growing collection of corals and 2 teenagers that make saltwater stuff seem easy!

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