water change question

dlsmith21 · 03/18/2008, 01:05 PM

A friend of mine and I were discussing water changes and he told me he mixes his water and lets it sit with a powerhead 6 hours to overnight. He said that the powerhead doesn't generate enough heat to warm the water ( he doesn't have a spare heater ) so he takes some out of the bucket and heats it on the stove. He then puts it back into the bucket and he has mixed water at the right temp. With my big tank, I have to run 2 heaters with the powerhead to get close to the temp after 24 hours. This method sure would be easier if it is safe to do. Is this feasible?

kau_cinta_ku · 03/18/2008, 01:07 PM

it would work but the evapoation from heating the water will through your sg off. I would stick to the heaters.

an411 · 03/18/2008, 01:11 PM

I agree and the cost of running the stove every time to heat the water up can pay for a heater.

seapug · 03/18/2008, 01:12 PM

Mixing hot and cold water isn't a good idea. I'm not sure what you are talking about with heaters and your tank. It's much easier just to mix and store saltwater in a brute trashcan or similar container. I have a powerhead and a cheap submersible heater sitting in it that take care of the job. The powerhead mixes and pumps water into the bucket I use for the water change. Very simple and no heater water on the stove or adding extra heaters to your tank during a water change.

dlsmith21 · 03/18/2008, 02:06 PM

I do changes by letting my powerhead and heaters do the work for me. I also use a brute as my 210g needs something a tad bigger than a 5g bucket. I was just referring to someone I know who does this. It's his tank but I was curious if he was doing any harm in the way he approaches changes. I will pass on this info to him. Thanks !

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/18/2008, 02:18 PM

Heating seawater too hot will drive the precipitation of calcium carbonate. It is far less soluble at 80 deg C than room temp, and that is why heaters often get coated with calcium carbonate.

rbursek · 03/18/2008, 02:23 PM

Thanks Randy, I would have thought that warmer water would keep things from precipitated less then cold, but I barely made it thru HS Chem. I guess different chems react differently to temp.

03/18/2008, 01:05 PM	#1
dlsmith21 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: virginia Posts: 265	water change question A friend of mine and I were discussing water changes and he told me he mixes his water and lets it sit with a powerhead 6 hours to overnight. He said that the powerhead doesn't generate enough heat to warm the water ( he doesn't have a spare heater ) so he takes some out of the bucket and heats it on the stove. He then puts it back into the bucket and he has mixed water at the right temp. With my big tank, I have to run 2 heaters with the powerhead to get close to the temp after 24 hours. This method sure would be easier if it is safe to do. Is this feasible? __________________ Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm....Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 75g reef...210g FOWLR room divider ....55g FW

03/18/2008, 01:12 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Mixing hot and cold water isn't a good idea. I'm not sure what you are talking about with heaters and your tank. It's much easier just to mix and store saltwater in a brute trashcan or similar container. I have a powerhead and a cheap submersible heater sitting in it that take care of the job. The powerhead mixes and pumps water into the bucket I use for the water change. Very simple and no heater water on the stove or adding extra heaters to your tank during a water change. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

03/18/2008, 02:06 PM	#5
dlsmith21 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: virginia Posts: 265	I do changes by letting my powerhead and heaters do the work for me. I also use a brute as my 210g needs something a tad bigger than a 5g bucket. I was just referring to someone I know who does this. It's his tank but I was curious if he was doing any harm in the way he approaches changes. I will pass on this info to him. Thanks ! __________________ Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm....Winston Churchill Current Tank Info: 75g reef...210g FOWLR room divider ....55g FW

03/18/2008, 02:18 PM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Heating seawater too hot will drive the precipitation of calcium carbonate. It is far less soluble at 80 deg C than room temp, and that is why heaters often get coated with calcium carbonate. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/18/2008, 01:07 PM	#2
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	it would work but the evapoation from heating the water will through your sg off. I would stick to the heaters.

03/18/2008, 01:11 PM	#3
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	I agree and the cost of running the stove every time to heat the water up can pay for a heater.

03/18/2008, 02:23 PM	#7
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	Thanks Randy, I would have thought that warmer water would keep things from precipitated less then cold, but I barely made it thru HS Chem. I guess different chems react differently to temp.