Water changes

[mike007]

When you do your water changes what is your routine? Do you vacumn your sandbed, blow off your rocks and what else do you suggest?

 

[Connie]

On my 180g I do a 14 gallon water change weekly. I vacuum the sand every other water change. Monthly I vacuum the sump and overflow compartments. I keep a small mag float in the fuge for easier cleaning of the sides. I have a powerhead in the fuge to keep the detritus in suspension so the skimmer can remove it. I blow rocks off with a turkey baster each water change. I stir up a different section of the sand bed with every water change.

 

[Reefing Madness]

WC every 6 months. No vacuuming, flow in the tank is pretty good. Blow off the rocks with power head, clean out sump. But the sump is cleaned out more than I do a WC, when I see accumulation of detritus I clean it out.

 

[Trex]

Make up a 5 gallon bucket of salt water the night before.

Place old beach towel in front of tank

Remove excess algae from sump

Razor blade the display tank's glass -- back too.

Turkey baster the rocks.

Turn off pump/powerhead/skimmer

Gravel vac the shallow sandbed

Dump water in toilet

Put powerhead sponge covers, skimmer cup, acrylic pieces (( splash guards around sump )) into bucket, clean off and dry in spare bathroom

Reinstall the above.

Refill tank with an old Rio pump.

Turn on pump/powerheads/skimmer

Fold up old beach towel, place it back into to water change supply bucket

Ice back.