large water change = large temp change

ryanpal · 09/17/2007, 08:05 AM

One of the things I read is that you want to stay away from large swings in temperature.

While doing a large water change yesterday I noticed the temperature did vary more than 2 degrees. I'm curious as to how I can avoid this. I dump the 5 gallon buckets directly into the sump. The heater can't warm up the water as fast as its pumped back into the system.

my only guess is that i could dump the water into the sump and wait for it to heat up, then run the pumps. does anybody do it like this? or what other method could i use?

thanks!

thecichlidpleco · 09/17/2007, 08:06 AM

Add water a little slower, like a gallon or less at a time for over an hour.

samstersam · 09/17/2007, 08:14 AM

Pre heat your new water before you dump it in.

I have an 18 gallon rubbermaid brute that is always filled with new change water. I have a submersible heater in there that heats the water to 80 degrees 24/7

ryanpal · 09/17/2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by samstersam
Pre heat your new water before you dump it in.

I have an 18 gallon rubbermaid brute that is always filled with new change water. I have a submersible heater in there that heats the water to 80 degrees 24/7

i use 5 gallon jugs that are always filled...i guess for my current situation i'll have to do what thecichlidpleco suggests

Tennsquire · 09/17/2007, 08:28 AM

I run a powerhead in my water-change water (which is mixed in the white Home Depot Homer buckets). It heats up the water pretty well on its own. In the winter, I add a small heater as well. Can you not drop a heater down into your 5 gallon jugs?

ryanpal · 09/17/2007, 09:05 AM

i guess i could but then i would need about 6-7 heaters to heat up all at once...or as suggested above...do each slowly until it can heat up.

InLimbo87 · 09/17/2007, 09:13 AM

Why not get a bigger water reservoir and a heater? I always make sure my temp is within 1 degree before doing a water change. Two degrees really shouldn't make much of an impact, though, IMO.

ryanpal · 09/17/2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by InLimbo87
Why not get a bigger water reservoir and a heater? I always make sure my temp is within 1 degree before doing a water change. Two degrees really shouldn't make much of an impact, though, IMO.

the jugs are stored in another room. i guess i could fill the 5 gallon jugs into a larger bin with a heater..then ciphen them back out into the dugs to dump into my system (which resides in another room)..but this seems like too much extra work.

InLimbo87 · 09/17/2007, 09:20 AM

Why not just get a brute on wheels for the other room then? You could keep it full 24/7 and have it all in one container. Then, when you're ready to do your water change, you just wheel the bucket out and its ready to go.

ryanpal · 09/17/2007, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by InLimbo87
Why not just get a brute on wheels for the other room then? You could keep it full 24/7 and have it all in one container. Then, when you're ready to do your water change, you just wheel the bucket out and its ready to go.

"brute on wheels"...does this have another name or something? never heard of this terminology...who knows maybe i live in a hole ;]

any links or someting i'd like to check it out.

HBtank · 09/17/2007, 09:25 AM

I have found little impact from <2 degree changes on my tank during water changes.

I used the same method as you for a long time.

I have since switched to a 30 gallon drum with temp matched water, but this is so I have the ability to do a full 30% change if needed for whatever reason. And in that case it could be more than a 2 degree change in the tank if I did not pay specific attention to temp in the change water...

I think in the long run it is good to set up a more stable system for changes (and it becomes easier on you too, sucks pouring 5g jugs, I know...) but I would not stress over <2 degree changes.

Johnsteph10 · 09/17/2007, 09:42 AM

Preheat your water.

When I would do large water changes on my 500g system, I would purposefully leave the new water cold as it would sink to the bottom and pump out the warmer water from the top.

It is very efficient.

cloak · 09/17/2007, 10:44 AM

I've gone from 85 to 80, even 80 to 75 when doing water changes without any problems.

InLimbo87 · 09/17/2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ryanpal
"brute on wheels"...does this have another name or something? never heard of this terminology...who knows maybe i live in a hole ;]

any links or someting i'd like to check it out.

Heh Sorry...

A "brute" is a 32g (? not exactly sure on size) trash can that a lot of people use to hold water in. They often come with wheels on the bottom...

AZDesertRat · 09/17/2007, 12:43 PM

Thats what I do. I have a Brute trashcan on wheels and if the water is hotter I run a fan blowing on it and a large pump to ripple the surface to cool it down. If its cooler I add a heater or two and a pump to get it up to the required temperature.

ryanpal · 09/17/2007, 01:09 PM

i guess something like thsi could work right? its a 50gal one

..then just ciphen out

InLimbo87 · 09/17/2007, 01:16 PM

I would get one with wheels on the bottom... that one you'll have to tip to pull it and that could cause some serious disaster when full with water

InLimbo87 · 09/17/2007, 01:18 PM

Like this...

ryanpal · 09/17/2007, 02:09 PM

ahh that makes sense... they come with tops i imagine right? wouldnt' want to keep it open like that

09/17/2007, 08:05 AM	#1
ryanpal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 756	large water change = large temp change One of the things I read is that you want to stay away from large swings in temperature. While doing a large water change yesterday I noticed the temperature did vary more than 2 degrees. I'm curious as to how I can avoid this. I dump the 5 gallon buckets directly into the sump. The heater can't warm up the water as fast as its pumped back into the system. my only guess is that i could dump the water into the sump and wait for it to heat up, then run the pumps. does anybody do it like this? or what other method could i use? thanks!

09/17/2007, 08:06 AM	#2
thecichlidpleco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,227	Add water a little slower, like a gallon or less at a time for over an hour. __________________ knowledge is power, power leads to abuse, study hard, be evil Owning a tank is like being with that girlfriend who could care less about you, but you couldn't stand being without her. Current Tank Info: 125 Reef, (3) 250w aquamedic oceanlights ETSS 600 skimmer, mag12 return, (2) Tunze 6055's with 7095 controller, 100 gallon sump

09/17/2007, 08:28 AM	#5
Tennsquire Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,399	I run a powerhead in my water-change water (which is mixed in the white Home Depot Homer buckets). It heats up the water pretty well on its own. In the winter, I add a small heater as well. Can you not drop a heater down into your 5 gallon jugs? __________________ Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile.... Current Tank Info: 75 reef (2x 250 ReefOptix IIIs, AB 10k bulbs w/ 330 watt VHO, EuroReef RC135 skimmer, multicontrolled Tunze 6095's X2); 40 sps prop tank (Outer Orbit Pro 150, Euroreef CS6-1+ skimmer); 20 softie prop tank

09/17/2007, 09:13 AM	#7
InLimbo87 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 3,197	Why not get a bigger water reservoir and a heater? I always make sure my temp is within 1 degree before doing a water change. Two degrees really shouldn't make much of an impact, though, IMO. __________________ We are forever responsible for that which we tame... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

09/17/2007, 09:20 AM	#9
InLimbo87 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 3,197	Why not just get a brute on wheels for the other room then? You could keep it full 24/7 and have it all in one container. Then, when you're ready to do your water change, you just wheel the bucket out and its ready to go. __________________ We are forever responsible for that which we tame... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

09/17/2007, 08:14 AM	#3
samstersam Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 389	Pre heat your new water before you dump it in. I have an 18 gallon rubbermaid brute that is always filled with new change water. I have a submersible heater in there that heats the water to 80 degrees 24/7

09/17/2007, 09:05 AM	#6
ryanpal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 756	i guess i could but then i would need about 6-7 heaters to heat up all at once...or as suggested above...do each slowly until it can heat up.

09/17/2007, 09:25 AM	#11
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	I have found little impact from <2 degree changes on my tank during water changes. I used the same method as you for a long time. I have since switched to a 30 gallon drum with temp matched water, but this is so I have the ability to do a full 30% change if needed for whatever reason. And in that case it could be more than a 2 degree change in the tank if I did not pay specific attention to temp in the change water... I think in the long run it is good to set up a more stable system for changes (and it becomes easier on you too, sucks pouring 5g jugs, I know...) but I would not stress over <2 degree changes. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA

09/17/2007, 09:42 AM	#12
Johnsteph10 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The South Posts: 2,537	Preheat your water. When I would do large water changes on my 500g system, I would purposefully leave the new water cold as it would sink to the bottom and pump out the warmer water from the top. It is very efficient. __________________ John Current Tank Info: None

09/17/2007, 10:44 AM	#13
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I've gone from 85 to 80, even 80 to 75 when doing water changes without any problems.

09/17/2007, 12:43 PM	#15
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Thats what I do. I have a Brute trashcan on wheels and if the water is hotter I run a fan blowing on it and a large pump to ripple the surface to cool it down. If its cooler I add a heater or two and a pump to get it up to the required temperature.

09/17/2007, 01:09 PM	#16
ryanpal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 756	i guess something like thsi could work right? its a 50gal one ..then just ciphen out

09/17/2007, 01:16 PM	#17
InLimbo87 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 3,197	I would get one with wheels on the bottom... that one you'll have to tip to pull it and that could cause some serious disaster when full with water __________________ We are forever responsible for that which we tame... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

09/17/2007, 01:18 PM	#18
InLimbo87 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Central FL Posts: 3,197	Like this... __________________ We are forever responsible for that which we tame... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

09/17/2007, 02:09 PM	#19
ryanpal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 756	ahh that makes sense... they come with tops i imagine right? wouldnt' want to keep it open like that