Water Changes

[johnnroe]

I normally do my water changes filling up 5 gallon buckets and dumping them out and then pouring the new salt water into the tank. Having recently gone from a 90 to a 150, my way is even less practical. I purchased the python but cannot figure out how you would use it with saltwater. Does anyone use it and if so how so? I'm trying to simplify my water changes so any input would be appreaciated.

John

 

[zed102]

I have found that using a small pump works very well. I pump the old water out and down the drain, and then I pump the new water in from my mixing container.

 

[Saltpro]

@johnnroe wrote:

The python is used primarily for freshwater tanks, for vuccuming and changing out water. Get a pump like was mentioned previously. That will minimize the time involved and makes it alot easier.

 

[johnnroe]

If you pump the old water out and down the drain, that's like using the python .. What I'm confused about is if you do that how do you know how much water you are pumping out ?

 

[ReefNut2010]

Once you do it a few times(once or twice), you'll know how much to take out.Like most have said, get a cheap pump and it gets very simple. I bought one on ebay for 18 bucks (genx 2400) and it works like a champ!

 

[johnnroe]

I have one, I'll give it a try... Thanks for the responses....

 

[zed102]

I have a mark on the sunp that lets me know how much to pump out.

 

[Saltpro]

how often do you do water changes? I do mine weekly so its not as much water as once a month. I think it keeps your tank more stable. My tank is only 75 plus sump around 25 gallons and i change out 5 gallons a week. Rarely i will change 10 gallons one week out of the month. I realize others have alot larger tanks and it would be more water to change. I think if i waited to do it once a month i would get lazy and my tank might suffer to my putting it off. So thats why i do it weekly Either way its fast and easy with a pump...approx 5 minutes total time

 

[fordracing19]

I use a hose and siphon from the tank into a brute trash can. I change 40gal at a time.

 

[Rick]

@Saltpro wrote:

Honestly 5 gallons out of approximately 100 gallons once a week is not really helping the system. That is about 5% of the system, if you had a nitrate or phosphate issue you would not even see a correction in the parameters. doing water changes is not about keeping the water stable. It is correcting any bad water issues, getting out toxins, nitrates, phosphates, heavy metals, or any other buildups and replacing it with clean water and the elements found in the salt mix. It would be far better off for the system if you changed 25 gallons once a month. I change out 50 gallons in a 220 gallon tank.

 

[Saltpro]

@Rick wrote:

Honestly 5 gallons out of approximately 100 gallons once a week is not really helping the system. That is about 5% of the system, if you had a nitrate or phosphate issue you would not even see a correction in the parameters. doing water changes is not about keeping the water stable. It is correcting any bad water issues, getting out toxins, nitrates, phosphates, heavy metals, or any other buildups and replacing it with clean water and the elements found in the salt mix. It would be far better off for the system if you changed 25 gallons once a month. I change out 50 gallons in a 220 gallon tank."]

"doing water changes is not about keeping the water stable." That just doesn't make sense. I think changing 25 gallons at one time is to drastic for a tank my size. I have around half my tank full of rock. Over time with a good weekly water change plan it will become pure and clean enough. It Will get me to the same result as you just takes longer using alot less salt and water. Has worked for me without issues.

 

[Rick]

For anyone wanting to calculate how much of a percentage of a water change you need to do to correct a problem with certain parameters try out this calculator.
http://frugalreef.com/wiki/Water_Change_Calculator

 

[Guest]

I follow the rule "dilution is the solution" which frank of franks tanks advises me on. Small weekly water changes will actually lower and phoshates faster than a big water change.

I also turkey baste my and suck up the water or vacuum the sump out of detritus when I do the water change

 

[Saltpro]

here is another calculator for estimating water changes. Please remember its just an estimator....your mileage may vary. All tanks are different. Use your own good judgement

 

[bimmerzs]

I think RHF agrees with Rick on this one, and I agree with RHF. [smilie=lol.gif] http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

Cheers,

 

[Guest]

Here is a recent article by Scott Fellman on doing weekly water changes. Twice a week in my opinion is a little much

http://reefbuilders.com/2010/02/13/times-equals-success/#more-13594

 

[Wes]

IMO, and we all know there are a million of them on this subject...but IMO both schools of thought have merit. If you have a problem then large water changes is the best way to get it taken care of or if you are not maintaining your major parameters in some way then again, large water changes are best. if however, your system is quite stable and running smoothly then a simple small weekly water change regimine is going to work well. the problem i see though and the reason i only go the large route is quite simple, im lazy. this becomes the problem with weekly changes, while it will work to maintain things it gets to be a hassle and you tend to skip them but if i know its only once a month i have to beat this horse then im more apt to do them religiously.

 

[ReefNut2010]

Bi-weekly for me seems to work well, but then again ...I just started. So, to be honest that might change down the road as I'm a bit lazy when it comes to certain tedious things. I could see monthly water changes as an option if my system is stable enough.