Precise Water Changes

[helwrj28]

I have a reefer 350 that I will be starting soon and had a question about water changes... How do you go about the standard 10% water change with accuracy?

Has anyone marked specific water levels in the tank display to know when threshold is reached (and if so please provide)?

If not, what other methods do you use to maintain accuracy with output and input of water.. thanks!

 

[tsouth]

Create two 5 gallon buckets of new saltwater, temp and sg matched, ready to be poured.
Remove two 5 gallon buckets worth of old saltwater.
Refill with the two 5 gallon buckets of new water.

You can mark your buckets equally and use that as a measurement instead of using markings inside the tank. Using the tank may or may not alter due to an ATO not being turned off, skimmer going wonky, etc.

I prefer to turn everything off and close my return line via valve. I can then accurately draw water and refill in just a few minutes.

 

[Reef.]

I have a reefer 350 that I will be starting soon and had a question about water changes... How do you go about the standard 10% water change with accuracy?

Has anyone marked specific water levels in the tank display to know when threshold is reached (and if so please provide)?

If not, what other methods do you use to maintain accuracy with output and input of water.. thanks!

either Mark the level or refill to your ato sensor, both should get the same result.

 

[Biglew11]

10% is just a guideline, it doesn't have to be exact. I calculated my 75 tank with 20 gallon sump to hold about 85 gallons after sand and live rock.

I have a pin stripe on the sump that I fill up to after removing some water.

 

[Reef.]

Also remember cleaning has a result on the lvl and how much water you are removing.

if changing socks or filter wool, or cleaning your return pump, these will have an affect of your lvls.

 

[helwrj28]

either Mark the level or refill to your ato sensor, both should get the same result.

I don't plan on using the ATO. Is the tank display 73 gal all the way to the very edge of the rim?

 

[Reef.]

I don't plan on using the ATO. Is the tank display 73 gal all the way to the very edge of the rim?

Mark the lvl on the side then, no I doubt it and even if it were remember sand and rocks etc will reduce the volume quite a lot.

 

[Lizbeli]

I have a mark on both of my bins and typically fill them to the line every time. How no clue the exact volume but judging by the brute can, I can guess around 14gals.

It doesn’t need to be precise. Sometimes I fill it half way with no marks and eyeball it. However, I always check my return chamber to make sure its level with my ato when I am finished for salinity purposes.

 

[Reef.]

I don't plan on using the ATO. Is the tank display 73 gal all the way to the very edge of the rim?

you should have a mark on your tank already, so you know where to fill up to with rodi to top up your tank.

Just use the same Mark.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

I used math to calculate the volume of a 25% water change, and put a mark on the side of the tank indicating the level to drain down to (using the math to calculate how far down to put that mark).

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I agree with what's been suggested. Use measurable containers for draining and refilling. That will ensure you're adding back the same amount removed.