Water change from sump or display tank?

rgonzalez · 03/09/2010, 02:13 PM

Since I can't use the search engine, I figured I'd post:

When you do a water change, do you change your water from the sump or from the display tank?

For those of you who drain the sump, do you worry about losing your copepods to the change?

teesquare · 03/09/2010, 02:20 PM

I alternate. It helps to reduce detrital builup in both places.
T

silberspieler · 03/09/2010, 02:22 PM

I change the water from the sump because it is easier to me

jhawkor · 03/09/2010, 02:33 PM

I have trouble getting a siphon started in the sump because it's basically level with my bucket.

Toddrtrex · 03/09/2010, 02:43 PM

I do it from the DT, but then again I have a shallow sandbed in each of my tanks, and "gravel vac" them.

olliefb · 03/09/2010, 02:54 PM

i have a bare bottom dt and i suck up all the detritus thats collected at the bottom of the dt and then do water change..I guess it all depends on how your system is set up. whatever is the easiest for you, then go that way

KafudaFish · 03/09/2010, 02:55 PM

Both but usually the DT.

quader94 · 03/09/2010, 03:06 PM

I do both, I drain the sump then i get all the detritus out of the display

rgonzalez · 03/09/2010, 03:33 PM

Do any of you have copepods?

Toddrtrex · 03/09/2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgonzalez

Do any of you have copepods?

Just a few

EllieSuz · 03/09/2010, 03:45 PM

Jhawkor, it's a good idea to purchase a small pump such as a Maxi Jet 400 or 600 to remove water from your sump and pump new water back in. When I do a water change, my fish don't even know about it. I leave the powerheads in the Display on and only turn off the return. Also, I take water from the intake portion of the sump which precedes the refugium. That way the pods in the Chaeto are undisturbed. Once a month I siphon the sand in the display, rotating the area cleaned each time.

Eel-byte · 03/09/2010, 04:38 PM

I pull from the sump first then display. I use a maxi-jet 900 to move water from the sump to the bucket and vise versa when filling the sump.

silverfly · 03/09/2010, 04:46 PM

Bit of both and my tank is full of pods.

lordofthereef · 03/09/2010, 04:58 PM

I create the siphon in the DT as it will create a greater siphon (the whole gravity thing helps me out). While I am at it I will siphon some detritus, though there generally isn't much. I pump my new water into the sump. This gives it more time to mix with the water already in the system before hitting the display.

bayoupr · 03/09/2010, 05:05 PM

I use a maxi jet and change from my sump. This way I can keep my sump clean from any build up. After I get my system back up and running I then use the same pump and put into my DT with a short hose and blow on my rock for any build up which then goes into my sump for the next cleaning. this has worked well for me.

SaltyBohonk · 03/09/2010, 05:12 PM

From the sump. I just turn off the return pump drop in pump with hose attacthed and run it to the tub in the bathroom. Drain the sump and shop vac the gunk and what ever water is left,fill with new saltwater and turn on the return pump. Takes aabout ten minutes and done.

dwd5813 · 03/09/2010, 07:03 PM

i don't have a sump, but it makes sense to me to change water from there. you'll need a pump in most cases due to the location of most sumps being close to the floor but you'll disturb less in the DT and i'm sure it would be easier to refill to the right volume. if more of a waterchange needs to be done i guess you could take the extra from the display and then refill into the display until the sump hits running volume.

notto2006 · 03/09/2010, 07:52 PM

I have a spicket on my return so i just turn off the flow to the tank and and turn on the spicket and send it straight to a bucket.

03/09/2010, 02:13 PM	#1
rgonzalez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 892	Water change from sump or display tank? Since I can't use the search engine, I figured I'd post: When you do a water change, do you change your water from the sump or from the display tank? For those of you who drain the sump, do you worry about losing your copepods to the change? __________________ DSA 105 Current Tank Info: 105 DSA

03/09/2010, 02:20 PM	#2
teesquare Coral Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: western NC Posts: 1,663	I alternate. It helps to reduce detrital builup in both places. T __________________ No....really honey, it was a gift! Current Tank Info: 700 gallon combined reef/frag systems - 650gal Cichlid system

03/09/2010, 02:33 PM	#4
jhawkor Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 939	I have trouble getting a siphon started in the sump because it's basically level with my bucket. __________________ -Landon-

03/09/2010, 02:43 PM	#5
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I do it from the DT, but then again I have a shallow sandbed in each of my tanks, and "gravel vac" them. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

03/09/2010, 03:33 PM	#9
rgonzalez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Scottsdale Posts: 892	Do any of you have copepods? __________________ DSA 105 Current Tank Info: 105 DSA

03/09/2010, 02:22 PM	#3
silberspieler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New York Posts: 58	I change the water from the sump because it is easier to me

03/09/2010, 02:54 PM	#6
olliefb Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 65	i have a bare bottom dt and i suck up all the detritus thats collected at the bottom of the dt and then do water change..I guess it all depends on how your system is set up. whatever is the easiest for you, then go that way

03/09/2010, 02:55 PM	#7
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	Both but usually the DT.

03/09/2010, 03:06 PM	#8
quader94 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 144	I do both, I drain the sump then i get all the detritus out of the display

03/09/2010, 03:45 PM	#11
EllieSuz Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 3,858	Jhawkor, it's a good idea to purchase a small pump such as a Maxi Jet 400 or 600 to remove water from your sump and pump new water back in. When I do a water change, my fish don't even know about it. I leave the powerheads in the Display on and only turn off the return. Also, I take water from the intake portion of the sump which precedes the refugium. That way the pods in the Chaeto are undisturbed. Once a month I siphon the sand in the display, rotating the area cleaned each time. __________________ "You can't learn this hobby one question at a time." (Mr. Tuskfish) Eileen Current Tank Info: I'm out of the hobby, but used to have a60 gal. reef, refugium in sump, Internal Mag 9 return, SC 302 skimmer, two Maxi-Jet 1200's modded, four bulb T5 Lighting, Reefkeeper Lite Controller with three PC4's, Little Fishes GFO reactor.

03/09/2010, 04:38 PM	#12
Eel-byte Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Duluth, Mn Posts: 1,508	I pull from the sump first then display. I use a maxi-jet 900 to move water from the sump to the bucket and vise versa when filling the sump.

03/09/2010, 04:46 PM	#13
silverfly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: england Posts: 579	Bit of both and my tank is full of pods. __________________ Take care, Richie Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

03/09/2010, 04:58 PM	#14
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	I create the siphon in the DT as it will create a greater siphon (the whole gravity thing helps me out). While I am at it I will siphon some detritus, though there generally isn't much. I pump my new water into the sump. This gives it more time to mix with the water already in the system before hitting the display. __________________ "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!

03/09/2010, 05:05 PM	#15
bayoupr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,308	I use a maxi jet and change from my sump. This way I can keep my sump clean from any build up. After I get my system back up and running I then use the same pump and put into my DT with a short hose and blow on my rock for any build up which then goes into my sump for the next cleaning. this has worked well for me.

03/09/2010, 05:12 PM	#16
SaltyBohonk Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 25	From the sump. I just turn off the return pump drop in pump with hose attacthed and run it to the tub in the bathroom. Drain the sump and shop vac the gunk and what ever water is left,fill with new saltwater and turn on the return pump. Takes aabout ten minutes and done.

03/09/2010, 07:03 PM	#17
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	i don't have a sump, but it makes sense to me to change water from there. you'll need a pump in most cases due to the location of most sumps being close to the floor but you'll disturb less in the DT and i'm sure it would be easier to refill to the right volume. if more of a waterchange needs to be done i guess you could take the extra from the display and then refill into the display until the sump hits running volume. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

03/09/2010, 07:52 PM	#18
notto2006 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 11	I have a spicket on my return so i just turn off the flow to the tank and and turn on the spicket and send it straight to a bucket.