Do you heat your water?

During water changes do you heat your water beforehand?

  • Yes

    Votes: 31 68.9%
  • No

    Votes: 14 31.1%

  • Total voters
    45
This has a lot to do with the size/percentage of tank and change and “unheated” new water starting temp.

On my 150g system I can do 10-15 gal without worrying. The fresh mix is anywhere from 55-65F (NE basement storage) and might pull the tank down a degree briefly.

However on the nano 16, I commonly do a 4 gallon change and that needs to be heated or else the system would see a major swing.
 
I do in my mixing station, just use a Petco 10W heater in the saltwater side during mixing. Over the course of 2+ hours while it mixes I have the heater wired to turn on if the mixing pump is on. Pretty easy to do and you don’t need a big heater for the sizes of water most people would use during a water change.
 
I put a heater in my 40 gallon mixing tank to bring it to 78 degrees. During the summer the tank may go up to 80 plus which I will then place ice packs in the mix to cool it down. I like the temperature to match as close as possible as I usually change 35 gallons for my 180!
 
When just doing regular (small) water changes, I don't heat my SW. I just leave it circulating, no heat. when pumping in a few unheated gallons into the DT, the temp may drop a quarter or half of a degree at most. not enough for me to worry about.

If I'm doing a larger water change, or doing a water change in my QT, then yes, I will usually throw a heater in to heat up the water first to get it to match.
 
Since I did (and recommend) slow and steady water changes with an AWC, there's never any reason to heat the new salt water, and reasons to not do it include cost and increased precipitation of calcium carbonate in the new salt water.
 
I do AWCs all week long and leave a heater in the Brute at all times....too easy not to heat it. Also gives me an extra 32 gallons of heated water which is ready to go in case of any emergencies.
 
I don't. My water change water is in my basement, so it's probably about 60 degrees (f). With how small my water changes are, it's not even enough for the heaters in the tank to turn on. I don't heat my ATO water either and there's probably more water entering the tank on a daily basis from the ATO than from water changes.
 
I mix the salt at room temperature and the following day heat to 78. 25 gallons twice a month in a 90DT with 50 sump.
 
Only when doing large water changes or cleaning the tank. When its just the AWC's going I dont bother because the temp in the tank wont be effected.

To be fair the room is 72-76 so usually the mix pump is enough to heat it.
 
I live in FL, I dont heat anything. Last I checked my RODI and salt bin in the garage was at near 90f. If anything I have to toss in some cold packs to bring it down a few before adding to the tank.
Haha I'm in Massachusetts. In the winter my water change water ends up at like 65!
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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