Water change question

alaska clowns · 08/09/2009, 06:42 PM

I'm still working on grasping the concept..... is the most you should change your water 20 percent at a time so as not to stress corals, etc.? Is that a hard and fast number? I have a 26 gallon, I think I have 15 pounds of rock (wish I had kept accurate track!) and maybe a little over 10 pounds of sand. SO I'm figuring I might have a little under 20 gallons of water. Would a 5 gallon water change be too much stress for my tank? Thank you for your help!

BradMugs · 08/09/2009, 06:45 PM

When you make a water change get your NEW water parameters as close to your old water as you can and make the change - doesn't matter if you are doing a 5% or 50% you should always get them the same.

alaska clowns · 08/09/2009, 06:54 PM

So if my temp and salinity are the same, it doesn't matter how much water I change out?

NirvanaFan · 08/09/2009, 07:28 PM

salinity should be spot on, and pH should be close.

Temperature isn't as much of an issue, just get it to within 3 or 4 degrees.

DetectiveTofu · 08/09/2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alaska clowns
So if my temp and salinity are the same, it doesn't matter how much water I change out?

I wouldn't say it does not matter how much water you change, but be reasonable and use your good judgement.

It is always better to do smaller water changes with higher frequency, than it is to perform larger water changes.
I do 10% every week on every tank, regardless of what I am keeping. Because I am changing only $10 at a time, I do not heat my freshly mixed saltwater. Just make sure the water is not ice cold. Mine is at room temperature, and no problems.

BradMugs · 08/09/2009, 09:24 PM

Under emergencies you can go nuts on the water change - I like 10% per week rather than less often more water. Less of a chance of messing things up if there is something wrong with your new water.

Flipper62 · 08/09/2009, 09:27 PM

Its not a good idea to do a 50% water change at one time.

You can do a 20% every 2 weeks, or 10% every week. In a nano tank ( 26 gal ) You can even do the math & change a quart every few days.

BUT I would never do a 50% water change at one time

Flipper62 · 08/09/2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DetectiveTofu

Just make sure the water is not ice cold. Mine is at room temperature, and no problems.

Its best to get the salinity the same on the new water as the tank. As far as the temp, its better to get it close to the tank temp. A deg or two off is not a big deal. However just make sure the salt has mixed good.

I always mix my salt with a pump a day before my water change. I let it mix for a day first to make sure its mixed good & to let it get aerated good

DetectiveTofu · 08/09/2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Flipper62
As far as the temp, its better to get it close to the tank temp. A deg or two off is not a big deal.

Agreed, the closer to tank temperature the better, though within two degrees of tank temperature I don't feel is entirely necessary. But if room temperature for you is ice cold, I certainly recommend heating the water

Room temperature for me is at 65-70 at all times. When I do a 10% water change on any of tanks, the temperature in my tank drops a couple degrees temporarily; maybe 3-4 degrees at most. Many people like to think the reefs out in the oceans are constantly at 78F. Reality is, the temperature drops into the low 70's, and goes up into the mid 80's on a regular basis. Hell the SPS are out baking in the sun for hours at a time! A two degree change in your tank isn't going to harm anything.

mullinsd2 · 08/09/2009, 09:50 PM

I let my salt mix for like two hours, but I make sure the sg and temp are similar before water changes.

Flipper62 · 08/09/2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DetectiveTofu
Many people like to think the reefs out in the oceans are constantly at 78F.
Reality is, the temperature drops into the low 70's, and goes up into the mid 80's on a regular basis. A two degree change in your tank isn't going to harm anything.

This is true. However you need to remember one thing. The fish & corals have been there for some time & are used to the temp swings.

Our tanks are way smaller then the ocean, AND almost all the fish & corals that we keep are Tank Raised. They are not used to big temp swings.

DetectiveTofu · 08/09/2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Flipper62
This is true. However you need to remember one thing. The fish & corals have been there for some time & are used to the temp swings.

Our tanks are way smaller then the ocean, AND almost all the fish & corals that we keep are Tank Raised. They are not used to big temp swings.

Agreed

, however temperature swings are generally not an issue, so long as you avoid extremes, IMO. In my last reef tank, at night my temperature varied between 72-80F on a regular basis. Captive propagated, or wild they all did great. However if you have super sensitive pieces, you need to be more careful.

alaska clowns · 08/10/2009, 12:46 AM

What should I do if I've gotten behind on water changes, like I was changing out 4 to 6 gallons every week or two, but now it's been maybe three weeks since my last WC, do I just resume as normal, or change more than usual?

loosecannon · 08/10/2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BradMugs
When you make a water change get your NEW water parameters as close to your old water as you can and make the change - doesn't matter if you are doing a 5% or 50% you should always get them the same.

+1 But as far as water change go`s , smaller more often is best.

loosecannon · 08/10/2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NirvanaFan
salinity should be spot on, and pH should be close.

Temperature isn't as much of an issue, just get it to within 3 or 4 degrees.

If Temp. is not and issue how can you git salinity spot on ?

NirvanaFan · 08/10/2009, 10:31 AM

Some refractometers are temperature adjusting.

Water change % depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Sometimes large water changes ( over 30%) are the best way to do things. Say you have a fish only tank and are looking to get nitrates down. Large water changes will get them lower. Or, if you dosed copper in QT, large water changes will get the copper concentration lower quicker.

08/09/2009, 06:42 PM	#1
alaska clowns Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Not so far north Posts: 564	Water change question I'm still working on grasping the concept..... is the most you should change your water 20 percent at a time so as not to stress corals, etc.? Is that a hard and fast number? I have a 26 gallon, I think I have 15 pounds of rock (wish I had kept accurate track!) and maybe a little over 10 pounds of sand. SO I'm figuring I might have a little under 20 gallons of water. Would a 5 gallon water change be too much stress for my tank? Thank you for your help!

08/09/2009, 09:27 PM	#7
Flipper62 Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Naperville, Il. Business Owner, President & CEO Posts: 3,045	Its not a good idea to do a 50% water change at one time. You can do a 20% every 2 weeks, or 10% every week. In a nano tank ( 26 gal ) You can even do the math & change a quart every few days. BUT I would never do a 50% water change at one time __________________ If todays automobile had followed the same development as the computer, A Rolls Royce would cost $100.00. It would get a million miles per gallon, but it would explode once a year killing everyone inside." Current Tanks... 90 gal Reef... My awesome Office BioCube....( 180 was on hold ..no time ) ... The 180 gal has been sold...Yay..yay..yay. Hobby Experience: 19 years Reef...22 years FW

08/09/2009, 06:45 PM	#2
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	When you make a water change get your NEW water parameters as close to your old water as you can and make the change - doesn't matter if you are doing a 5% or 50% you should always get them the same.

08/09/2009, 06:54 PM	#3
alaska clowns Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Not so far north Posts: 564	So if my temp and salinity are the same, it doesn't matter how much water I change out?

08/09/2009, 07:28 PM	#4
NirvanaFan Reef Ninja Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,280	salinity should be spot on, and pH should be close. Temperature isn't as much of an issue, just get it to within 3 or 4 degrees.

08/09/2009, 09:24 PM	#6
BradMugs Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aurora, CO, USA Posts: 440	Under emergencies you can go nuts on the water change - I like 10% per week rather than less often more water. Less of a chance of messing things up if there is something wrong with your new water.

08/09/2009, 09:50 PM	#10
mullinsd2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 753	I let my salt mix for like two hours, but I make sure the sg and temp are similar before water changes.

08/10/2009, 12:46 AM	#13
alaska clowns Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Not so far north Posts: 564	What should I do if I've gotten behind on water changes, like I was changing out 4 to 6 gallons every week or two, but now it's been maybe three weeks since my last WC, do I just resume as normal, or change more than usual?

08/10/2009, 10:31 AM	#16
NirvanaFan Reef Ninja Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,280	Some refractometers are temperature adjusting. Water change % depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Sometimes large water changes ( over 30%) are the best way to do things. Say you have a fish only tank and are looking to get nitrates down. Large water changes will get them lower. Or, if you dosed copper in QT, large water changes will get the copper concentration lower quicker.