I let my fish and coral tell me. When they look or seem unhappy, its time for a water test and decision that water change will fix it.
Come to think of it, I always feed my tanks before a water change. I do it because I know that I’m going to clean it right after. I was wondering from the aspect of when are the corals most sensitive to being disturbed and touched and having the water parameters change. Thx!
Yeah I'm not entirely sure on that one I've always just done them at the same time always. as far as what time is it day or night corals might be more or less sensitive or susceptible to stress that's going to need somebody way smarter than me LOL sorry beyond my expertise
I’m not so sure that is a good idea. I have gotten into trouble following that approach. Now, I try to catch a bad situation before it happens. This time, I’m too late and I have a dark green hair algae outbreak on a couple of rocks and I have to do a water change. Thx!
Sounds like you feed just like me LOL
I completely agree about the consistency of your actions. The little creatures are a lot smarter than you might think. When you look at the size of their brains to ours there is no comparison. When you look at the size of their brain relative to their body size and the size of their world, it’s a completely different story. My guys know it’s feeding time when the pumps go off, you can see them start to get excited.
I always seem to think it’s a good idea to give them a little extra too. LOL!
I'd say we're in the majority that does I think most people do even if they're secretive about it
This is one of the things I was looking for, specifically. Thank you. I was thinking about it this morning and how changing the water early might be a better idea than when they are all open and waving around in the water drinking up food and light. Awesome!
I personally usually do it in the morning before things are 'open' - But I have a little different set up. My tank is in a walk-out basement - near a double glass door - so from about 8 or so - there is direct sunlight on the tank (until about noon) - its about then that my light starts up - and ramps up - and down - finally shuts off at 10PM - In the AM though - most of the stuff is not open - and seems less stressful for the fish... But - probably not a big concern
I like doing it in the morning too before everyone ‘wakes up’ and I like doing it on Sunday which has its advantages for me. If I need/want a little help, I can call out and my lovely husband will come over and hand me something or will hold the hose to refill the tank while I start cleanup of all the buckets and garbage cans and extension cords and paper towels and other towels and thermometers and solutions, glue, salt buckets, utensils...you know the drill. My reef aquarium is in my great room so, I gotta drag E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G from where I store it which is from my attached garage into the house. It’s a bit of an ordeal, for sure. When I had shoulder surgery last summer, I had to come up with ways to do all four of my aquariums with my dominant arm/hand in a sling. With all that I had to think about to develop the new processes, I created a much more streamlined way to do water changes at least from a ‘lifting bucket’ perspective. No heavy lifting required. I change the water in my little 50 gallon reef tank with 295 gallon/hour power heads with 5/8” plastic tubes at various lengths powered by extension cords and surge protectors so I only have to press a button. No pushing or pulling electrical cords in/out of sockets. It saved my shoulder as well as potentially saving me from electrocution. Makes it easier.
