water change technique

GlobalEvan · 11/15/2006, 12:55 PM

when you siphon water out for water changes, do you stirr around in the sand bed to get dirt out? try and suck dirt off the rocks? or just let it all sit?

Dubbin1 · 11/15/2006, 12:58 PM

I don't touch the sand at all. If I see a mess on the rocks I will sometimes siphon it off. For the most part I just keep the hose at the top and just siphon water out.

fsn77 · 11/15/2006, 12:59 PM

If you have a deep sand bed, then you don't want to agitate it any more than necessary.
Many people use a turkey baster to stir up the detritus that's settled on the rock, then suck it out with the siphon. Sucking the detritus off the rock is ok.

a2fire2i · 11/15/2006, 01:07 PM

i just go over the sand bed, but never stir it up. I also use the turkey baster method for the rocks..

Randall_James · 11/15/2006, 01:08 PM

I have a tube that hooks to a powerhead and I blow off my liverock at water changes

cgjw2000 · 11/15/2006, 01:09 PM

Yep, just blow off stuff from rock and then take water out... CC has to be siphoned!

tanker · 11/15/2006, 01:25 PM

I just siphon water from anywhere. After putting in new water I run a HOT magnum with the micron filter overnight.

MimicTang · 11/15/2006, 01:46 PM

use turkey baster to blast any rock then stick the siphon on it.

sarduci · 11/15/2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by cgjw2000
CC has to be siphoned!

Only if you overfeed and there is old food sitting on the bottom, but that goes for anything.

Myrphie · 11/15/2006, 03:12 PM

Actually the coarse grains of CC allow detritus to more easily work its way down in there. You can be very careful and have no excessive food in the tank and a CC substrate WILL get dirty.

11/15/2006, 12:55 PM	#1
GlobalEvan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 105	water change technique when you siphon water out for water changes, do you stirr around in the sand bed to get dirt out? try and suck dirt off the rocks? or just let it all sit? __________________ EvAN Current Tank Info: 40 breeder, with 20 sump, 15k MH

11/15/2006, 01:07 PM	#4
a2fire2i Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 1,964	i just go over the sand bed, but never stir it up. I also use the turkey baster method for the rocks.. __________________ Corey Current Tank Info: 120 Mostly SPS Reef

11/15/2006, 01:08 PM	#5
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	I have a tube that hooks to a powerhead and I blow off my liverock at water changes __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

11/15/2006, 12:58 PM	#2
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	I don't touch the sand at all. If I see a mess on the rocks I will sometimes siphon it off. For the most part I just keep the hose at the top and just siphon water out.

11/15/2006, 12:59 PM	#3
fsn77 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: SC Posts: 777	If you have a deep sand bed, then you don't want to agitate it any more than necessary. Many people use a turkey baster to stir up the detritus that's settled on the rock, then suck it out with the siphon. Sucking the detritus off the rock is ok.

11/15/2006, 01:09 PM	#6
cgjw2000 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 60	Yep, just blow off stuff from rock and then take water out... CC has to be siphoned!

11/15/2006, 01:25 PM	#7
tanker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: sf bay area Posts: 3,522	I just siphon water from anywhere. After putting in new water I run a HOT magnum with the micron filter overnight.

11/15/2006, 01:46 PM	#8
MimicTang Moved On Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hartford CT Posts: 1,517	use turkey baster to blast any rock then stick the siphon on it.

11/15/2006, 03:12 PM	#10
Myrphie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: El Paso, Tx Posts: 177	Actually the coarse grains of CC allow detritus to more easily work its way down in there. You can be very careful and have no excessive food in the tank and a CC substrate WILL get dirty.