Corals don't like my water changes???

Radicaljbr · 02/27/2011, 09:52 AM

Is there some reason why corals would not like a water change?? Everytime I do a water change, some of my corals will not come out for weeks. My frog Spawn is always fine, but my leathers, toad stool, the one SPS I have and even my fuge algea all look very poor for a few weeks.

I only use Reef Chrystals and I fill a 50 gallon trash can with RO/DI water and put a PH in for around 24 hours. I heat the water to 78 to match the tank and make sure the salinity equals the tank. RO/DI I keep down to around 0-2 TDS.

Any ideas?

Finland · 02/27/2011, 10:17 AM

My guess would be a drastic change in water chemistry, most likely alk. How does your tank water alk compare to your water change alk?

shrimphead · 02/27/2011, 10:21 AM

how big a water change are we talking? whats this ph thing you put in, is there any need to? could be a ph shock if you over do it. also the trash can might be leaching something into the water if it's made from the wrong plastic then if your running carbon or something similar it might take it out but takes 3 weeks to do so?

Radicaljbr · 02/27/2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrimphead

how big a water change are we talking? whats this ph thing you put in, is there any need to? could be a ph shock if you over do it. also the trash can might be leaching something into the water if it's made from the wrong plastic then if your running carbon or something similar it might take it out but takes 3 weeks to do so?

PH is Power Head to move the water while heating and diluting the salt. Sorry, it is a 30 gallon rubber made trash can and the tank is 110.

ludiNano · 02/27/2011, 12:20 PM

Do you only do WC every few weeks?

I would recomend doing weekly WC. And compare tank PH/alk to WC PH/alk if there's a big difference you need to maintain a balance between changes.

Radicaljbr · 02/27/2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludiNano

Do you only do WC every few weeks?

I would recomend doing weekly WC. And compare tank PH/alk to WC PH/alk if there's a big difference you need to maintain a balance between changes.

Because of the problems I have after a water change, I only do them about every 4 to 6 weeks.

Palting · 02/27/2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludiNano

Do you only do WC every few weeks?

I would recomend doing weekly WC. And compare tank PH/alk to WC PH/alk if there's a big difference you need to maintain a balance between changes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radicaljbr

Because of the problems I have after a water change, I only do them about every 4 to 6 weeks.

In my opinion, there's the problem. Since you only do your water changes every 4-6 weeks, there are large swings in your parameters whenever you do a water change, shocking your coral. I do a 10% weekly change, doesn't bother my coral at all. I would suggest a 10-15 gal water change for your 110 gal tank once a week rather then the 30 gal every 4-6 weeks. Either that, or you dose in between the 4-6 week water changes so the parameters (alk, pH, Ca, mag, etc) don't swing so much.

SushiGirl · 02/27/2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

In my opinion, there's the problem. Since you only do your water changes every 4-6 weeks, there are large swings in your parameters whenever you do a water change, shocking your coral. I do a 10% weekly change, doesn't bother my coral at all. I would suggest a 10-15 gal water change for your 110 gal tank once a week rather then the 30 gal every 4-6 weeks. Either that, or you dose in between the 4-6 week water changes so the parameters (alk, pH, Ca, mag, etc) don't swing so much.

I'd have to agree.

Pallobi · 02/27/2011, 01:32 PM

I also agree with the 2 previous posters... my tank alk is usually bout 8 to 9 and my freshly mixed saltwater is around 14... not good to do larger changes, so i do 10g's a week myself

Radicaljbr · 02/27/2011, 03:05 PM

Interesting!!! So it is my lazzyness that is causing this problem?? LOL And then since I notice the problem, I am compounding it by not doing them often. This makes total sence!! Can't believe I did not think about the shock from parameters from the new mix.

I will lay off the large changes and start a system for smaller changes.

Thanks all!!

Mad_Reefer · 02/27/2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

In my opinion, there's the problem. Since you only do your water changes every 4-6 weeks, there are large swings in your parameters whenever you do a water change, shocking your coral. I do a 10% weekly change, doesn't bother my coral at all. I would suggest a 10-15 gal water change for your 110 gal tank once a week rather then the 30 gal every 4-6 weeks. Either that, or you dose in between the 4-6 week water changes so the parameters (alk, pH, Ca, mag, etc) don't swing so much.

I don't do water changes very often and I don't have this problem. I don't even have this problem when I use tap water for water changes. But, I don't know what would be causing this problem, given the information provided.

02/27/2011, 09:52 AM	#1
Radicaljbr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hudson, Ohio Posts: 1,293	Corals don't like my water changes??? Is there some reason why corals would not like a water change?? Everytime I do a water change, some of my corals will not come out for weeks. My frog Spawn is always fine, but my leathers, toad stool, the one SPS I have and even my fuge algea all look very poor for a few weeks. I only use Reef Chrystals and I fill a 50 gallon trash can with RO/DI water and put a PH in for around 24 hours. I heat the water to 78 to match the tank and make sure the salinity equals the tank. RO/DI I keep down to around 0-2 TDS. Any ideas?

02/27/2011, 01:32 PM	#9
Pallobi CTARS, BRS & OSRAS Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 7,001	I also agree with the 2 previous posters... my tank alk is usually bout 8 to 9 and my freshly mixed saltwater is around 14... not good to do larger changes, so i do 10g's a week myself __________________ Zoas & Palys

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02/27/2011, 10:17 AM	#2
Finland Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 617	My guess would be a drastic change in water chemistry, most likely alk. How does your tank water alk compare to your water change alk?

02/27/2011, 10:21 AM	#3
shrimphead Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 552	how big a water change are we talking? whats this ph thing you put in, is there any need to? could be a ph shock if you over do it. also the trash can might be leaching something into the water if it's made from the wrong plastic then if your running carbon or something similar it might take it out but takes 3 weeks to do so?

02/27/2011, 12:20 PM	#5
ludiNano I'm becoming...Brundlefly Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bettendorf, Iowas Posts: 1,804	Do you only do WC every few weeks? I would recomend doing weekly WC. And compare tank PH/alk to WC PH/alk if there's a big difference you need to maintain a balance between changes.

02/27/2011, 03:05 PM	#10
Radicaljbr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hudson, Ohio Posts: 1,293	Interesting!!! So it is my lazzyness that is causing this problem?? LOL And then since I notice the problem, I am compounding it by not doing them often. This makes total sence!! Can't believe I did not think about the shock from parameters from the new mix. I will lay off the large changes and start a system for smaller changes. Thanks all!!