water change!!?

[Mbarnett93]

So when I'm doing a water change for my 55 gal., does the new water need to be heated ? I'm not sure how that part works?... sorry if that sounds like a silly question...

 

[gaz]

You need to match the tank as close as you can with temp and salinity. Are you using the same salt you used to setup?

 

[Afishionado]

try to match ph, temp and salinity.

 

[gaz]

I've never really bothered with PH in 3years should I be?

 

[Afishionado]

Not really but just stating the obvious lol.

 

[DeniseAndy]

As stated earlier, depends on how much you are changing really. If only 10%, not usually a huge deal. Match the specific gravity and you are good to go. If you are doing a large change, I would match the temp and pH too.

Perfect world? match pH, sg, and temp!

 

[gaz]

You will need to get the temp the same as the tank initially to get the salinity right I'm supposing your mixing your own water that is.

 

[Mbarnett93]

Well with the evaporation the salinity is a little high? So to match the temp should I have another heater or how do I go about that...

 

[gaz]

You should be topping off with fresh RO DI for evaporated water to keep the salt levels right. What is your salinity measuring at?

 

[ejxagraphic]

I have a sump setup with a heater in the first and last chamber. I pour room temperature Ro/Di water and saltwater right in the first chamber and by the time it hit the DT all ready in range

 

[melypr1985]

Well with the evaporation the salinity is a little high? So to match the temp should I have another heater or how do I go about that...

Yes you should be topping off with RODI to maintain your salinity. You will need a second heater to heat the new saltwater to the same temp as the DT. Some people are able to bypass this like mentioned above. others mix their water in the garage where, for at least half the year, the water will be already warm. Probably best just to get a $20 heater though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What to match (if anything) depends on how much you are changing and how fast. I use an automatic water changer that changes water very slowly, so I do not need to match anything (even salinity, if I want to change the salinity in the tank). FWIW, I never heat my new salt water.

But if you are changing larger amounts (like 10% or more), I'd at least match salinity and get temp within a few degrees. IMO, matching pH is not needed.

 

[gaz]

i was always told the water temp affects the salinity reading so you need to match the tank temp and to have refractometer at room temp is this not necessary then Randy?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Temp and specific gravity together will give you salinity. Technically, my understanding is that we cannot really gauge true salinity in such small confined water. However, you can estimate it using the temp and the specific gravity. There are a few conversions out there in some books.

 

[Mbarnett93]

Yes we do top it off with freshwater it was just a little high when I checked it at the time. Unfortunately we have well water and don't have an RODI yet so we use the already mixed sea water like they use in the tanked tv show just so we know the water is safe unlike well water...

 

[Mbarnett93]

Thank you everyone for all of the advice.

 

[gaz]

Your salinity shouldn't really go up then unless there's a different's in the batch of the brought sea water or not topping off enough maybe. look at getting a ATO (auto top off) which will keep your levels right

 

[Cameron]

I don't have a second heater, so when I am doing a water change, I heat the bucket of water in the bath tub. I just put the bucket in until it gets to the right temperature. It was actually my wife's idea, and it has worked quite well for me.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

i was always told the water temp affects the salinity reading so you need to match the tank temp and to have refractometer at room temp is this not necessary then Randy?

No, it isn't necessary for the water to match any other water.

There are many ways to measure salinity,a nd many of them (but not all) will compensate for different temperatures.

For a refractometer, many have "ATC" which is automatic temperature compensation. It corrects for temp variations, at least within its stated range.

I use a conductivity meter, which nearly always have a temp probe build in and automatically adjusts for temperature.

Swing arm hydrometers also automatically adjust for temp, but floating glass hydrometers do not.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Temp and specific gravity together will give you salinity. Technically, my understanding is that we cannot really gauge true salinity in such small confined water. However, you can estimate it using the temp and the specific gravity. There are a few conversions out there in some books.

Not sure what you mean. I can measure the salinity in a small volume just fine.