Water Changes
- Thread starter Gina
- Start date
islandcreation
New Member
:welcome Even though I learnt the hard way here is some tips. About water changes... Easy way is to get it from your local LFS. If you have room and $20 to spend you can just get a $10 DIY (look at DIY and find my topic),a cheap heaterand a buckett!
Here's what I messed up on! When the salt evaporates the salinitiy levels will rise, don't add pre-mixed saltwater! Just add r/o water to get it back to level. When you do water changes 10%-20% your preference pending tank size, thats when you use th pre-mixed saltwater with the same temp etc... For me, I was puzzled why my salinity always went throught the roof! Stupid mistake but I did it! Anyways, hope tht helps. Please correct me anyone if I'm wrong about salinity. :mrgreen:
Here's what I messed up on! When the salt evaporates the salinitiy levels will rise, don't add pre-mixed saltwater! Just add r/o water to get it back to level. When you do water changes 10%-20% your preference pending tank size, thats when you use th pre-mixed saltwater with the same temp etc... For me, I was puzzled why my salinity always went throught the roof! Stupid mistake but I did it! Anyways, hope tht helps. Please correct me anyone if I'm wrong about salinity. :mrgreen:
I mix mine in a tote bin with power heads
I mix the water for 24 hours then add salt and mix for an addtional 24 for a total of 48 hours ....then bottle it to prevent evap ......when I am ready to use it I use an air stone and airate anywhere from 2 -24 hours before use the temp is room temp but to match it you can use a cheap heater , as for the chem some folks need to add buffers to theirs I have been lucky and not need to if you are leary of adding buffers run the water in super super slow to give inhibatints time to acclimate to the new chemistry ..since I have no experience on buffers I will leave that for the folks who do use them on how to use them :mrgreen:
I mix the water for 24 hours then add salt and mix for an addtional 24 for a total of 48 hours ....then bottle it to prevent evap ......when I am ready to use it I use an air stone and airate anywhere from 2 -24 hours before use the temp is room temp but to match it you can use a cheap heater , as for the chem some folks need to add buffers to theirs I have been lucky and not need to if you are leary of adding buffers run the water in super super slow to give inhibatints time to acclimate to the new chemistry ..since I have no experience on buffers I will leave that for the folks who do use them on how to use them :mrgreen:
little urchin
New Member
i mix up the RO and salt then leave with powerheads mixing it for 24 hours....
then to bring it up to temp i use a pyrex jug and heat up some in the microwave (not very hot), and add it back in....scoop up another half-litre...heat that up to warm in the microwave, and repeat till it's up to temp...
as for the salinity i have a refractometer which tests reguardless of temp, so it's easy to match these before adding to the tank
then to bring it up to temp i use a pyrex jug and heat up some in the microwave (not very hot), and add it back in....scoop up another half-litre...heat that up to warm in the microwave, and repeat till it's up to temp...
as for the salinity i have a refractometer which tests reguardless of temp, so it's easy to match these before adding to the tank
Temp and pH are the two things you are trying to match. If you use the same saltmix every time then aerating the water well before use (Sadie gave a good suggestion for this) will get the pH level colse enough to a match. If you have to use buffers to maintain your pH then I would add buffer into the changewater at the amount appropriate for the amount of water mixed. Temp is easily adjusted with a small submersible heater, you only need to be within about a degree of the tank temp.
This is the first time I've ever been as grateful for my RO system. 
I wish I had had one years ago when I was running a 55 gallon tank. Everything seems a bit more simpler now and thanks to this forum, there is a wealth of info out there.
I do have another question however. In fact, probably a few hundred other questions.
Sadie, what is a "totebin"? My biggest problem is where to store the water. Since I live in AZ and it's mostly hot here, keeping it up to temp won't be difficult although I will get a heater for the filler water tank. Water comes out of the tap warm and I'll probably have to cool it if anything in the summer. And how long can I keep filler water? IOW can I make up a big batch that will last for a month or must I use it immediately?
I'm sorry if these questions have been answered elsewhere. I've looked but not found them so if you want, just point me in the right direction and thanks much. :
I wish I had had one years ago when I was running a 55 gallon tank. Everything seems a bit more simpler now and thanks to this forum, there is a wealth of info out there. I do have another question however. In fact, probably a few hundred other questions.
Sadie, what is a "totebin"? My biggest problem is where to store the water. Since I live in AZ and it's mostly hot here, keeping it up to temp won't be difficult although I will get a heater for the filler water tank. Water comes out of the tap warm and I'll probably have to cool it if anything in the summer. And how long can I keep filler water? IOW can I make up a big batch that will last for a month or must I use it immediately?
I'm sorry if these questions have been answered elsewhere. I've looked but not found them so if you want, just point me in the right direction and thanks much. :
the tote bins that I have are used for storing things in like stuffed animals clothes ect .....they are plastic so they hold the water quite well and have a lid that when not in use you can put the lid on to keep it clean ... here is a link to them you will say yes I have seen em :mrgreen:
http://www.rubbermaidcommercialproducts ... &do=detail
here is another example
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Pr ... ODID=62981
If you have a closet you can store your extra water in bottles aslong as you keep your lids on there will not be evap issues and the dark area keeps algea at bay (we have a basment where we keep ours at , we mix for a month to a month and a half in advance , so to answer your question you do NOT have to use it immideatly so long as it is capped to prevent any contamination to your water just reairate when ready for use , insted of drawing up your top off water right b efore use why not get a couple of 1 gallon or so jugs for water use pull up and let go to room air? you can keep water up to I would say 6 months if not longer look at the store bought water it has a 1 year exp date , shelf life stored in the right conditions dark area and seald bins it should last for a good period chances are you will use it before that that also goes for the salt water as well :mrgreen:
http://www.rubbermaidcommercialproducts ... &do=detail
here is another example
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Pr ... ODID=62981
If you have a closet you can store your extra water in bottles aslong as you keep your lids on there will not be evap issues and the dark area keeps algea at bay (we have a basment where we keep ours at , we mix for a month to a month and a half in advance , so to answer your question you do NOT have to use it immideatly so long as it is capped to prevent any contamination to your water just reairate when ready for use , insted of drawing up your top off water right b efore use why not get a couple of 1 gallon or so jugs for water use pull up and let go to room air? you can keep water up to I would say 6 months if not longer look at the store bought water it has a 1 year exp date , shelf life stored in the right conditions dark area and seald bins it should last for a good period chances are you will use it before that that also goes for the salt water as well :mrgreen:
Another water question. I've had my tank cycling now for 3 days. LOL I know it's just beginning but when should I expect to see a change of some sort? The water is very clear but nothing seems to be happening. I have LS and LR. Guess they are my pet rocks. I expected to see the start of algae or something but maybe I'm rushing things. I'll be buying a test kit later this week when I get out to the lfs. Thanks much for any answers.
I expected to see the start of algae or something but maybe I'm rushing things. I'll be buying a test kit later this week when I get out to the lfs. Thanks much for any answers.you may not see anything or the water may cloud up . The real tell tale is when your perameters star showing up.
Ammonia will spike
Ammonia will go to 0ppm
NitrItes will spike
NitrItes will go to 0ppm
NitrAtes will rise
NitrAtes will drop often not to zero but you want to keep them low , this is accomplished through H20 changes
Mine actually went to 0 till I added some things :mrgreen:
Ammonia will spike
Ammonia will go to 0ppm
NitrItes will spike
NitrItes will go to 0ppm
NitrAtes will rise
NitrAtes will drop often not to zero but you want to keep them low , this is accomplished through H20 changes
Mine actually went to 0 till I added some things :mrgreen: