Aerating salt water for water changes

K

Kay

When you're making up saltwater for water changes (I do mine in a clean trash can) and you put in a power head to aerate the water, do you put on the tube that blows bubbles into the water or just let the power head pump water? I know it's a dumb question, but I've wondered this every time I do a water change, and that little tube falls off and I'm down in the trash can trying to find it, which is full of water, if you can picture that. Do I really need that little tube on the power head to aerate the water? It's a maxi jet 1200 and I'm aerating 20 gallons of water. :oops: I'm still learning.

Kay
 
@janakaybravo wrote:
When you're making up saltwater for water changes (I do mine in a clean trash can) and you put in a power head to aerate the water said:
Since I am impatient (I know...bad in this hobby). I place two PHs in my 15g bucket to mix the salt faster so I can measure the salinity and get it to the target salinity quicker. Once that is done I leave them in there overnight to aerate the water.... without the tubes. I just make sure that the PHs are pointed up rippling the surface of the water.

Hope it helps.
Click to expand...
 
I mix my water in a 30gal container with a 600 gph pump with the venturi connected for maximum aeration. I tend to leave this running for a minimum of 2 days before using the water.
 
I mix up my new saltwater the day I do water changes and leave it mixing for two weeks, someimes more. The pump is plugged into a timer and it mixes the water for few hours twice a day. The hose that is attached to the pump that I use to pump the water into my tank hangs over a bungie cord that stretches across the container. This allow the water to fall down through the surface whever it is mixing. I do think it is a good idea to break the water surface when you are mixng saltwater. This really helps gas exhange and gets more O2 into the water.
 
Thanks Rick. I guess the little tube is not needed as long as the surface is rippling. That's a good idea about hanging it in the middle. Power head going bungee jumping. Almost as funny as the corals trying to commit suicide hanging in Ryan's tank.

Kay
 
What about pre-mixed RO-DI saltwater bought from a LFS? I keep this stored in the five gallon water containers with a sealed lids, for future Bi weekly water changes. Does this water also need to be aireated, and if so is an airstone enough water movement, or do I need powerheads in these containers? Also I keep the jugs out on the terrace in the heat. Would this be a bad thing?

Thanks
SD
 
SD - Personally I'd keep some motion in there, stagnant water is never a good thing...

When I'm gonna have water on hand for a while, I always have a Maxijet in there, either a 900 or a 1200, with a Venturi airline hooked to it to keep both motion and aeration.

If it's a small amount of water (5-10 gallons) I'd think a GOOD air pump/air stone would be sufficient, but I'd feel better with a powerhead with a venturi, especially for any amount of water larger than that...
 
A Venturi is an air inlet at a 90 degree (usually) angle to the flow of water, sucking air into the flow of the water...

(The venturi action is that as the substance is flowing along the main path, it will suck in what ever substance is presented at the intersecting angle)

In other words, an easy way to get air mixed with water.
 
....|
=><=

The = signs are the inlet and outlet pipes

The >< is a point where the size of the pipe is reduced - the venturi - (named after Giovanni Battista Venturi an Italian physicist who "discovered" the effect).

The | is another pipe connected to the venturi.

As the water at a given pressure and speed enters the >< it must go faster to get the same amount of material through the smaller opening.

God's rules say the product of speed x pressure must always be constant so if speed of flow increases, the pressure must decrease.

The decreased pressure (a vacuum) sucks stuff in (air in this case) from the | pipe and combines it with the water exiting the outlet pipe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top