Water Changes Advice

[brianguz760]

What's up guys so basically what I'm asking is what kind of advise can I get as far as doing water changes . What kind of steps do you guys take when your doing water changes

These are the steps that I take and I'm fully open minded in changing some of them if you guys have a better way if doing things. Please let me know if there is anything you think I'm doing wrong I will try and post as much as I can.

1. I top off with r/o water then taking out the hood and then the heater and power head.

2. I turn off the canister filter(have no room for sump )

3 I start scraping the glass top to bottom to get any dried salt, waste etc.

4. Once this is done I open up the canister filter and have separate bowls filled with tank water once I've syphon 5 gallons out which is how much I do for my water changes.

5. I separate bio filter bio ball bio rings carbon bags etc. Clean as needed replace what is needed etc.

6 . With warm water I scrub the power head and heater. As well as cleaning out the tubes for the canister filter.

7. I put it all back together and I add the 5 gallons of saltwater and put everything back and then I turn the canister filter back on I dually get all this done within an hour.

So basically that's it I want to know how long I should wait till I start checking my parameters and stuff what else should I be doing and what should I be doing first thanks in advance

 

[SammyWoodywoo]

What's up guys so basically what I'm asking is what kind of advise can I get as far as doing water changes . What kind of steps do you guys take when your doing water changes

These are the steps that I take and I'm fully open minded in changing some of them if you guys have a better way if doing things. Please let me know if there is anything you think I'm doing wrong I will try and post as much as I can.

1. I top off with r/o water then taking out the hood and then the heater and power head.

2. I turn off the canister filter(have no room for sump )

3 I start scraping the glass top to bottom to get any dried salt, waste etc.

4. Once this is done I open up the canister filter and have separate bowls filled with tank water once I've syphon 5 gallons out which is how much I do for my water changes.

5. I separate bio filter bio ball bio rings carbon bags etc. Clean as needed replace what is needed etc.

6 . With warm water I scrub the power head and heater. As well as cleaning out the tubes for the canister filter.

7. I put it all back together and I add the 5 gallons of saltwater and put everything back and then I turn the canister filter back on I dually get all this done within an hour.

So basically that's it I want to know how long I should wait till I start checking my parameters and stuff what else should I be doing and what should I be doing first thanks in advance

It's recommended that you change at least 10% weekly or 25% every two weeks/monthly. you should never do a heavy water change might shock marine fish. BeFor filling your tank up clean the tank top to bottom .clean your filtration system. Pick up the waste particles off your sandbed with the siphoner. Ur salinity should be around 1.021-1.025
When will you add water to your tank add salt water
R/o should b used at top off

 

[brianguz760]

It's recommended that you change at least 10% weekly or 25% every two weeks/monthly. you should never do a heavy water change might shock marine fish. BeFor filling your tank up clean the tank top to bottom .clean your filtration system. Pick up the waste particles off your sandbed with the siphoner. Finish

5 gallons is a big water change ? I have a 55 gallon tank

 

[jdpeters]

you sound very diligent and I applaude you. canister filters are a total pita to maintain. I probably wouldn't change anything from what you are doing but suggest you just maintain your schedule

 

[SammyWoodywoo]

5 gallons is a big water change ? I have a 55 gallon tank

Ill do two 5 gallons one of my tanks is a 55gal do that twice a month i also got 104gal custom made and a 29gal q.t

 

[brianguz760]

Ill do two 5 gallons one of my tanks is a 55gal do that twice a month i also got 104gal custom made and a 29gal q.t

So 10 gallon altogether in one month ? So 5 gallons every 2 weeks?. Or 10 gallons every 2 weeks ?

 

[SammyWoodywoo]

So 10 gallon altogether in one month ? So 5 gallons every 2 weeks?. Or 10 gallons every 2 weeks ?

Either or is fine but remember water changes are key to have success in ur tank. 10 gallon is better but depends if ur willing to do more work which is worth it

 

[Sabellafella]

Everything looks good to me bud, after a waterchange ill test my tank atleast 4-5 hours later (if i do) also the wc is up to your schedual, 5 gallons once a week sounds good or 10g every other week. Personally i shut my heater return and skimmer,empty half my sump and refill

 

[brianguz760]

you sound very diligent and I applaude you. canister filters are a total pita to maintain. I probably wouldn't change anything from what you are doing but suggest you just maintain your schedule

Thanks I appreciate that and yes they are. It's been about 2 months since I've done a water change I just topped off I know I'm terrible but I'm getting focused again

 

[brianguz760]

Everything looks good to me bud, after a waterchange ill test my tank atleast 4-5 hours later (if i do) also the wc is up to your schedual, 5 gallons once a week sounds good or 10g every other week. Personally i shut my heater return and skimmer,empty half my sump and refill

Thanks. So I'm on the right track no adds I should do or anything like that?

 

[brianguz760]

Thanks for the responses everyone!

 

[badstorm48]

I've always been told to do 10% water change weekly. I have a 40 breeder and do 10 gallons every week

 

[Live Water]

I have a calcium reactor and run biopellets and gfo, I rarely do water changes on my own tank and when I do it don't vacuum the sand.

 

[Live Water]

I have a calcium reactor and run biopellets and gfo, I rarely do water changes on my own tank and when I do it don't vacuum the sand. It seems like it caused more problems than it helped, I know that's not the case for most

 

[brianguz760]

I have a calcium reactor and run biopellets and gfo, I rarely do water changes on my own tank and when I do it don't vacuum the sand.

What's bio pellets ? & what's a calcium refractor. I have a hydrometer. . But they told me I should get a refractometer

 

[Breadman03]

What's bio pellets ? & what's a calcium refractor. I have a hydrometer. . But they told me I should get a refractometer

A few things I'll be brief on because I'm on my phone.

Living things use nitrate, phosphate, and an organic carbon source to grow. Don't confuse organic carbon with activated carbon as they are different things. Our tanks tend to run out of carbon before the other two, and algae can thrive in such a situation. Adding organic carbon can allow bacteria to consume the available nitrate and phosphate, then be removed from the system by the skimmer. Bio pellets are a form of organic carbon.

Stony corals and clams use notable amounts of calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium to build their skeletons. We need to replenish these in order to maintain a suitable environment. Water changes may do this for a while, though it will create spikes in the system and produce less than optimal results. Dosing liquids (kalk or two part) are alternatives, as is a calcium reactor. The calcium reactor uses CO2 to literally dissolve old coral skeletons, releasing those necessary elements to be utilized for new growth in your tank.

As far as refractometers go, they are more precise than hydro meters, though either will be acceptable so long as they are calibrated and used consistently.

Before considering dosing anything, I have three pieces of advice:

Dose only what you have tested for.

Don't react to strange results. If your levels drop by 50%, get a second opinion to confirm and make small adjustments to get back on track.

Only put as much of something over your tank as you're willing to put in your tank. Spills happen, so plan so that any spills are harmless.

 

[Live Water]

Bread man couldn't have said it better

 

[brianguz760]

How can I add bio pellets if I don't have a sump?

 

[Live Water]

A small hang on the back biopellet reactor, or you can run longer tubing and put it underneath in the cabinet, honestly you can get a bpa free container for very cheap and use it as a sump, it will make your tank look much cleaner.

 

[brianguz760]

A small hang on the back biopellet reactor, or you can run longer tubing and put it underneath in the cabinet, honestly you can get a bpa free container for very cheap and use it as a sump, it will make your tank look much cleaner.

And still run the canister filter if I get the bpa free container ? . What biopellet reactor do you recommend