Hallowhead
2500 Club Member
Howdy,
I just wanted to share some experiences that I've had & some that have led to a stress free system...
1.) I have built a salt water mixing station
End of the day... don't get me wrong.. there is always stress involved. Fine tuning my methods & water changing system has been nothing but a chore, however, it's also been fun. I continue to better my approach & system to hopefully one day have it down to the point I can do it while my eyes are closed.
My piece of advise would be to start your builds around RO/DI & water changing systems and work up to the tank and pumps & fish & corals. You'll be shooting yourself later when your slugging 5 gallon buckets everywhere.
Best,
Joe
I just wanted to share some experiences that I've had & some that have led to a stress free system...
1.) I have built a salt water mixing station
- This although may be an expensive route it has eliminated the route of carrying five gallon buckets everywhere, spilling copious amounts of unwanted water, and finally using hundreds of rolls of paper towels cleaning water.
- Through over sizing the mixing pump I was able to run lengths of 30 feet of 1/2 vinyl from my garage to my playroom tank and to my basement tank. Obviously I don't leave them ran all the time... however, it wouldn't be that difficult or a bad idea. It would however make cleaning difficult... *thinks of five gallon buckets again*
- My water change on my 30 gallon AIO takes 20 mins MAX. I premix the salt the night before and leave it running overnight for full mixing. Than when it's time to clean I do my tank scrubbing basting & cleaning for 5 mins and than 10 mins of emptying water into yes... a five gallon bucket and finally 5 mins of refill..
- This also is a super easy way to refill my ATO buckets under my tanks. I have a second hose of same length that only runs pure RO/DI water and I simply unroll it to the location and let gravity feed it, upon being complete I simply open an air valve at the drum and empty the remaining water to ensure nothing is left in the tank.
- Through staying on a set schedule you don't create anymore maintenance then that is required. The longer you wait the more work you create!
- I learned this through my brother... He has a 65 gallon tank and does maybe one water change a month... and he wonders why his nitrates measure over 100ppm.
- I forced him to setup a water changing system. He obliged however, skimped compared to mine.
- Maintaining the schedule keeps all parameters in check and when you're not adding anything new to the tank nothing can go wrong... right?
- I do a water change in my 30 AIO at 2 weeks
- I do a water change in my 34 DT + 15 sump at 3 weeks right now, however when my frags grow and I add more will probably come down to 2.
- I am not saying you need the best equipment out there and the most expensive stuff on the market. You just need equipment.
- I didn't go with the more expensive circulation pump (panworld) I went with a jebao DCP pump and I couldn't be more happier... and if it does break well I can purchase another and still not equal one panworld pump.
- Having the tiny pumps to transfer water from here to there is also huge. They're from harbor freight for 8 bucks.. Can't go wrong.
- A big initial investment but the more you invest the more you're maintenance is going to feel less like maintenance and more like fun.
End of the day... don't get me wrong.. there is always stress involved. Fine tuning my methods & water changing system has been nothing but a chore, however, it's also been fun. I continue to better my approach & system to hopefully one day have it down to the point I can do it while my eyes are closed.
My piece of advise would be to start your builds around RO/DI & water changing systems and work up to the tank and pumps & fish & corals. You'll be shooting yourself later when your slugging 5 gallon buckets everywhere.
Best,
Joe
