Water Change Question

[agranoff]

I have a new Nuvo 16 that I just finished cycling recently. I have 2 clowns and some small coral in it.

I plan to do about a 10% water change on a weekly basis starting this weekend.

Two questions -

1. Do I need to heat the saltwater before introducing it into the tank? Or is room temp ok? I am concerned about shocking the fish.

2. Based on the 10% water change, assuming I dont overfeed - any thoughts on not using a protein skimmer? I have the IM desktop skimmer but I don't like it. A lot of microbubbles - it started to get better during break-in period but its still an issue so I decided to remove it for now.

Thanks!

[patsfan1130]

It's very important the make up water match the tank's SG and temp

You certainly can be successful without a skimmer but you have to be very diligent with your husbandry. That said, having a skimmer is better than not.

[tatoofr]

Yes heat the water, give that skimmer a break in period. U should use it.

[Maxxumless]

Originally Posted by agranoff

2. Based on the 10% water change, assuming I dont overfeed - any thoughts on not using a protein skimmer? I have the IM desktop skimmer but I don't like it. A lot of microbubbles - it started to get better during break-in period but its still an issue so I decided to remove it for now.

Don't have a skimmer on my 8g Nuvo - just do 10-20% water changes every week or so (blowing off rocks with turkey baster just before the change) - and everything is fine. I also use the blue/white pads to catch detritus before it enters the back chamber. It gets dirty pretty fast so I change mine out every 2-3 days. I also use SeaChem Matrix and I attribute it with keeping my biological filtration running smoothly (I only use about 5lbs of LR).

If you haven't already, purchase an inTank media tray for your tank (think Innovative now sells one too which is ****y - they should include it).

[Reef Frog]

If your 2 gallons of new water is being circulated with a pump as you should, chances are that alone will heat the water near tank levels & you may be able to skip a second neater. If there isn't a big difference between the tank & the mixing bucket, it won't affect the tank's temperature enough to matter.

[fishgate]

I have never once heated the water and I don't think it is necessary as long as the water is close to room temp. I make up my water the night before so it is room temp the next day when I use it. Adding 10% of new water that is a few degrees colder then my tank temp (70 vs 79) has never resulted in even 1 degree of overall water temp change. My SG is close but not exact. I mix up 2 cups of salt in 4 gallons usually x 3 (4 gallons fits well in a 5 gallon bucket). This has never measurably changed my SG.

[Maxxumless]

Originally Posted by fishgate

I have never once heated the water and I don't think it is necessary as long as the water is close to room temp. I make up my water the night before so it is room temp the next day when I use it. Adding 10% of new water that is a few degrees colder then my tank temp (70 vs 79) has never resulted in even 1 degree of overall water temp change. My SG is close but not exact. I mix up 2 cups of salt in 4 gallons usually x 3 (4 gallons fits well in a 5 gallon bucket). This has never measurably changed my SG.

Are you talking about changing out 4 gallons on your 125g + 40g sump not changing temps?

A 16g tank will shift in temperature with a 20% water change that is nine degrees different.

[thegrun]

Heat the water. The skimmer is nice to have, but I kept a 16 gallon reef tank for a few years without a skimmer.

[agranoff]

Thanks for the replies. I have an extra heater so I will heat the water before changing. The skimmer I am still debating - I probably will read it eventually and use some filter floss in the return chamber to catch some of the micro bubbles.

[igot2gats]

For a tank that size, just keeping up with the water changes should be plenty enough.

A skimmer can never hurt a tank*, but you don't necessarily need it.

*Obviously, there's more to it than that, but I hope you understand what I'm sayin...

[Derrick12]

New water should be same temp as tank so heating it depends on tank temp
If tank trump is 80 then prob should heat new water

[fishgate]

Originally Posted by Maxxumless

Are you talking about changing out 4 gallons on your 125g + 40g sump not changing temps?

A 16g tank will shift in temperature with a 20% water change that is nine degrees different.

No I typically do 3 x 4+ gallons weekly (around 12 gallons) for my 150 gallon volume = ~8%. I never have and never will heat the new water it isn't necessary.