max water change

threephase37 · 12/26/2009, 10:23 AM

I bought a used 47 show tank with some crappy undersized equipment 6 months ago. I kept it patched together and managed to get the water para back into check, also used this time to learn a little more thanks to you guys teaching us noobs.
I had a mex turbo die and sent the nitrates thru the roof as I didn't catch him in time. I am selling all my fish tonight as I want to replace/build some equipment and continue to invest in my new found addiction without worring about the fish. What is the max water change I can do if I have LR and sand only in the tank? Would it also be smart to get down in the sand bed at this time or not because of the bacteria is needed because of the max water change.

carib sea arag alive sand 3-4 " deep bed / larger dia. grains on top with the finer grains settled to the bottom. larger grains being 1/8" dia.and flat.
If anybody has any suggestions at this time like change the sand bed or take it all the way down and drill for bulk heads please let me know now, I don't plan on taking it down like this again.
Thanks to all of you for the help and taking the time for us noobs!!!!!!!!!!!

spleify · 12/26/2009, 10:35 AM

I'm sure you will get different opinions on this, but I personally would drain the tank. Pull out all the LR and put in a bucket with new salt water. Pull all the sand out, and keep enough to add about a 1" sand bed(this is a personal prefference) I like shallow sand beds.

Drill the tank and add/build an overflow of some sort. Add a sump/refugium.

Make up new salt water, add rock and sand back in and let the tank cycle like normal.

HTH

Good luck

fatdaddy · 12/26/2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threephase37

carib sea arag alive sand 3-4 " deep bed / larger dia. grains on top with the finer grains settled to the bottom. larger grains being 1/8" dia.and flat.

With a 47g, you're losing a lot of space by going with a DSB. Also, I'm not sure what 3-4" will buy you. I'd consider a remote DSB.

If you're going to blow $$ on upgrades, why not just sell this system and buy a larger one? Sounds like you got burned on this one (we all do on the first), but there must be something decent out on craigs list or ebay if you're patient. Just something to consider as equipment is expensive.

threephase37 · 12/26/2009, 10:42 AM

thanks spleify, any reason the rock and sand can't be stored in the same tub. I will use a power head for circulation and light for the coraline and bristle worms, should I use a heater as well

spleify · 12/26/2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threephase37

thanks spleify, any reason the rock and sand can't be stored in the same tub. I will use a power head for circulation and light for the coraline and bristle worms, should I use a heater as well

Sure you can store them together, no prob. Yes a heater will be necessary. If it ends up taking longer to do what you want, then think about doing a water change on the LR/LS tub just to keep things in check.

fatdaddy · 12/26/2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threephase37

should I use a heater as well

definitely.

The problem with sand and LR is that you remove the LR first and then the sand, so you need two containers. However, after the sand is out you can move the LR into the same container. You could keep the LR wet with some newspapers or something while you do this.

btw, I'd expect a nitrate spike unless you wash the sand.

threephase37 · 12/26/2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatdaddy

With a 47g, you're losing a lot of space by going with a DSB. Also, I'm not sure what 3-4" will buy you. I'd consider a remote DSB.

If you're going to blow $$ on upgrades, why not just sell this system and buy a larger one? Sounds like you got burned on this one (we all do on the first), but there must be something decent out on craigs list or ebay if you're patient. Just something to consider as equipment is expensive.

I didn't know if I would be able to learn the hobby so I only paid 125.00 for the tank, sand, stand, hood, fish, ect. to learn on. Now that I'm hooked I have to !!!!!!!!!! I want a bigger tank and thought about making the 47 a sump for the larger. I have to be patient !!

threephase37 · 12/26/2009, 11:04 AM

If I want to keep the 47 up to house the sand and rock till I find a new tank and set it up, what's the max water change I can do on the 47 since the nitrates are through the roof. This gives me the option to build a sump for the bigger tank and use the 47 for a qurantine tank. Just trying to think/weight all my options and make a educated choice.

AzCondor · 12/26/2009, 11:14 AM

spleify's advice sounds pretty good, i would go to a 1 inch sandbed as well. Good luck with the new tank!

gtaylor67 · 12/26/2009, 12:58 PM

I would think you could do a huge water change if no fish or verts. Maybe a 30 gallon if salt mix is up to temp and SG is good... There is nothing else in tank right..

lordofthereef · 12/26/2009, 01:06 PM

You can do a 100% water change no problem.

threephase37 · 12/26/2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtaylor67

I would think you could do a huge water change if no fish or verts. Maybe a 30 gallon if salt mix is up to temp and SG is good... There is nothing else in tank right..

No, just LR and sand. I need time to think what I want to do and to weigh all my options. I just need to keep the LR and sand going till I either take it all the way down and drill for bulk heads or bring it back up for a quratine tank going bare bottom. I don't want to spend major money on this tank as it's a 47 and would rather put my money in a 125 or bigger in time. I do want to get the Nitrates out of that tank though, not good for anything. Kinda thinking drilling for bulk heads so I can learn how to build a sump so the next one will be easier.

fatdaddy · 12/26/2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by threephase37

Kinda thinking drilling for bulk heads so I can learn how to build a sump so the next one will be easier.

be(a)ware of tempered glass....

garzaci · 12/26/2009, 06:27 PM

You should be able to do 100% water change. In an emergrncy I've done 50% with fish and corals w/out any negative results.

bertoni · 12/26/2009, 06:51 PM

I wouldn't do a 100% water change. A series of 10-15% changes would do as well or better, and wouldn't expose the live rock to air, possibly inducing a lot of die-off. It's likely to take some time to get the tank back into shape, and I wouldn't try to rush it.

12/26/2009, 10:23 AM	#1
threephase37 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Knoxville Tn Posts: 50	max water change I bought a used 47 show tank with some crappy undersized equipment 6 months ago. I kept it patched together and managed to get the water para back into check, also used this time to learn a little more thanks to you guys teaching us noobs. I had a mex turbo die and sent the nitrates thru the roof as I didn't catch him in time. I am selling all my fish tonight as I want to replace/build some equipment and continue to invest in my new found addiction without worring about the fish. What is the max water change I can do if I have LR and sand only in the tank? Would it also be smart to get down in the sand bed at this time or not because of the bacteria is needed because of the max water change. carib sea arag alive sand 3-4 " deep bed / larger dia. grains on top with the finer grains settled to the bottom. larger grains being 1/8" dia.and flat. If anybody has any suggestions at this time like change the sand bed or take it all the way down and drill for bulk heads please let me know now, I don't plan on taking it down like this again. Thanks to all of you for the help and taking the time for us noobs!!!!!!!!!!!

12/26/2009, 10:35 AM	#2
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	I'm sure you will get different opinions on this, but I personally would drain the tank. Pull out all the LR and put in a bucket with new salt water. Pull all the sand out, and keep enough to add about a 1" sand bed(this is a personal prefference) I like shallow sand beds. Drill the tank and add/build an overflow of some sort. Add a sump/refugium. Make up new salt water, add rock and sand back in and let the tank cycle like normal. HTH Good luck __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

12/26/2009, 11:14 AM	#9
AzCondor Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 72	spleify's advice sounds pretty good, i would go to a 1 inch sandbed as well. Good luck with the new tank! __________________ Vegetarian-A bad hunter. Someone who survives by consuming not food, but the stuff that food eats. The vegetarian was forced to subsist on slower prey, such as the broccoli and carrot.

12/26/2009, 01:06 PM	#11
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	You can do a 100% water change no problem. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

12/26/2009, 06:27 PM	#14
garzaci Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Richlands, NC Posts: 241	You should be able to do 100% water change. In an emergrncy I've done 50% with fish and corals w/out any negative results. __________________ Carlos No tank at all. Sold everything when I got stationed in Okinawa. Planning for when I return though. Current Tank Info: 20 gal reef tank

12/26/2009, 10:42 AM	#4
threephase37 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Knoxville Tn Posts: 50	thanks spleify, any reason the rock and sand can't be stored in the same tub. I will use a power head for circulation and light for the coraline and bristle worms, should I use a heater as well

12/26/2009, 11:04 AM	#8
threephase37 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Knoxville Tn Posts: 50	If I want to keep the 47 up to house the sand and rock till I find a new tank and set it up, what's the max water change I can do on the 47 since the nitrates are through the roof. This gives me the option to build a sump for the bigger tank and use the 47 for a qurantine tank. Just trying to think/weight all my options and make a educated choice.

12/26/2009, 12:58 PM	#10
gtaylor67 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 151	I would think you could do a huge water change if no fish or verts. Maybe a 30 gallon if salt mix is up to temp and SG is good... There is nothing else in tank right..

12/26/2009, 06:51 PM	#15
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I wouldn't do a 100% water change. A series of 10-15% changes would do as well or better, and wouldn't expose the live rock to air, possibly inducing a lot of die-off. It's likely to take some time to get the tank back into shape, and I wouldn't try to rush it. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni