using SPS tank water for softie tank changes

renisel · 03/01/2008, 10:50 PM

I currently have a 75 SPS-dominated tank in which softies aren't doing all that well. I've been told by a number of people that many soft corals prefer slightly dirtier water, and that some people use the water taken out of their SPS tanks as fresh water for softie tanks (i.e., when you do your water changes, you take water out of the softie tank, dump it, replace it with water from the SPS tank, then put freshly-mixed water into the SPS tank). Does anybody do this, and does it seem to help?

PiXieCath · 03/02/2008, 07:55 AM

Humm...IMO, that was not a good idea...trace element and other think in the water have been partially removed by the sps...water change are not only to removed pollution in the water, they also restore elements in the tank. Softies are easier to maintain that sps, but they also need other trace element.

Davidb6 · 03/02/2008, 08:41 AM

I have heard of people re-using water but I don't think you should use SPS for soft coral water.

Many of these corals compete in nature with "slime". If the SPS tank has slime in the water and you add it to the soft corals there will be a problem.

audio101 · 03/02/2008, 11:17 AM

Never do that, it makes zero sense.

03/01/2008, 10:50 PM	#1
renisel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 866	using SPS tank water for softie tank changes I currently have a 75 SPS-dominated tank in which softies aren't doing all that well. I've been told by a number of people that many soft corals prefer slightly dirtier water, and that some people use the water taken out of their SPS tanks as fresh water for softie tanks (i.e., when you do your water changes, you take water out of the softie tank, dump it, replace it with water from the SPS tank, then put freshly-mixed water into the SPS tank). Does anybody do this, and does it seem to help?

03/02/2008, 07:55 AM	#2
PiXieCath Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Québec, Canada Posts: 387	Humm...IMO, that was not a good idea...trace element and other think in the water have been partially removed by the sps...water change are not only to removed pollution in the water, they also restore elements in the tank. Softies are easier to maintain that sps, but they also need other trace element. __________________ Cath Current Tank Info: 60gal 24x24x24, Marinetech acrylic sump, Profilux Plus II, Profilux Simu-L stick, skimmer Deltec APF800, Media reactor Deltec FR509, Giesemann Spectra 4x24watt T5HO+250watt mogul, JNS Calcium reactor, Tunze 6055

03/02/2008, 08:41 AM	#3
Davidb6 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Savanah Ga Posts: 770	I have heard of people re-using water but I don't think you should use SPS for soft coral water. Many of these corals compete in nature with "slime". If the SPS tank has slime in the water and you add it to the soft corals there will be a problem.

03/02/2008, 11:17 AM	#4
audio101 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Napa, CA Posts: 1,091	Never do that, it makes zero sense.