Refilling a tank with water.

[Maebh]

I'm wondering if you fill a tank that leaked 90% of its water, would you refill it with just plain RODI water or would you add something to it. My feeling is that it would be a bit of a shock to the corals and the fish, like us breathing air (oxygen, nitrogen and carbon) and then getting 100% pure oxygen.
Not even talking about the beneficial bacteria, more so the elements like phosphates and the nitrates? Would dosing beneficial bac help?

 

[Solo McReefer]

I would add Reef Crystals to it first

Or wonder why it leaked in the first place

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying, but I've done 90% water changes in the past, I've never had an issue with these large water changes.

 

[Maebh]

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying, but I've done 90% water changes in the past, I've never had an issue with these large water changes.

Okay, so just salt and RODI water? I feel like it would be a bit stressful for corals and fish. Unless your salt mix added normal levels of nitrates phosphates etc.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Okay, so just salt and RODI water? I feel like it would be a bit stressful for corals and fish. Unless your salt mix added normal levels of nitrates phosphates etc.

You mix salt and rodi water in a bucket, then pour the mixed saltwater into the tank. For a large water change like that, temp and salinity must be carefully matched to the tank temp and salinity. Salt mix contains all the trace minerals your tank needs to survive, its one of the reasons we do regular water changes, to remove nutrients and add trace minerals back to the water.

 

[Waters]

If I understand what you are asking, yes, you want to have the chemistry makeup as close as possible to your existing water. Anything way out of whack can affect the fish (which is why we normally drip acclimate new fish to your tank). Regarding strictly fish, I wouldn't worry too much about the phosphate or nitrate changes and focus more on the temp/salinity/PH.

 

[Dom]

Water evaporates, not salt. If you lost 90% of your salt water, you MUST add salt water back. The only time you put plain RODI in to a tank is when you are replacing evaporated water.

 

[Pntbll687]

I'm wondering if you fill a tank that leaked 90% of its water, would you refill it with just plain RODI water or would you add something to it. My feeling is that it would be a bit of a shock to the corals and the fish, like us breathing air (oxygen, nitrogen and carbon) and then getting 100% pure oxygen.
Not even talking about the beneficial bacteria, more so the elements like phosphates and the nitrates? Would dosing beneficial bac help?

I think you're overthinking this a little bit.

It's just a bigger water change. RODI water mixed with salt, match temp and salinity, pump into tank.

You can add phosphate and nitrate if you want, but not really needed. Corals should be unaffected.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I usually mix fresh salt water in a bucket using a small return pump and a heater. Once the salinity and temperature reach the level of my tank, I add the water to it.

 

[Maebh]

Okay, thanks all! Just a hypothetical, but I was curious what everyone else thinks. Thanks!