Water changing question.....

[aquemeni5110]

Hello everyone. I have a 6 gallon nano that receives a 1 gallon water change each week. I'm planning to start up a 3 gallon within the next month or so. My question is, can I use the water from my 6 gallon and use it for 3 gallon? I plan to do half a gallon water changes every week as well.



Also I was wondering, If I had a bigger tank, say a 30 gallon, can I use the changed water for the 6 and 3 gallon tanks? Just trying to save money in the process.

 

[idog]

Do you mean to recycle your water?

Why do you suppose you are doing the water changes in the first place? :neutral:

 

[mikeguerrero]

I think he does....

 

[reefman23]

You can initially use a gallon or so of the old water from your 6 gallon to start the 3 gallon, but I wouldnt suggest anything more than that especially if you are reffering to "recycle" your old water everytime.

Jesse

 

[EDGRAY]

Brian why are we trying to recycle the water .... fishies need fresh air too in this case fresh saltwater, keep with the water change and well you dont do a big water chance so is easy dont complain.... look at me for example in my 12g NC (infact like a 8g or so) i change 6g of water every saturday or sunday and i have to add PH buffer to match the PH of my tank and try to get the same temp. and all those things so thats what i called a hard water change and do you hear me complaining no.... cause fishies need freshness too :mrgreen: .

just my opinion and water is not that expensive really

EDDY

 

[aquemeni5110]

LOL!! I just thought it might be a possibility because I read somewhere of a bigger tank (like a 100g) using it's recylced water for nano tank water changes.

Eddy - That's a pretty big water change you do every week. Is that really neccessary? Is it okay for your corals to be out of the water each time you water change? I mean because the water level will drop pretty low.

Jesse - Thanks for the advise.

 

[EDGRAY]

Brian: as i have said and i think other said in nature there is always Low levels of water on reefs were reefs spend 30min-1hour in the open with no water so they are used to it, and well i dont know if necessary but since i do that well doing this for 5 months, the results are not high nitrates whatsoever and no bad algaes of anykind and sand super clean and well corals will open minutes or seconds later of water change ill see some day if i make someone take pics of my tank during water changes and with a clock next to take and you'll see that corals dont get stress whatsoever they open imediatelly and well always make sure that PH & Temp is the closest as can be of the tank water.... so i feel good during big water changes so i dont have to worry with all the things i used to be worry all the time... bad algea growth & high nitrates. and well i do that to bouth my tanks 2.5g & 12g NC and no ill effects at all ... by the way corals spend like 2 minutes tops without water (even less time out of water than when people frag corals ) but well at same time i dont recommend to anyone cause i dont know if other will be as carefull as me really... believe me i spend hours on my tank making things to be perfect and i dont miss not even one week of water change... (in other words i take good care of my tank as i do to my body :razz: :lol: )

ohh about the big water change discusion ill link you a big explanation that we gave with jesse in one thread of here...

http://nanotank.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2614

Eddie and I discussed the topic of 100% water changes today during our meeting. I was introduced to the idea by several articles by some of the articles from the experts at RC.com as well as marinedepot.com/forums (which is where many of the "experts" from RC.com moved to) and it seems like a beneficial method for nano's....if done properly, that is. If you are not using premixed water, that is, you are mixing it yourself, you must verify that the specific gravity, temperature, and pH are properly adjusted to match the water from the tank. You should also aerate the water properly for several days before hand.

Take into account that many of the ideas of Anthony Calfo can be somewhat controversial...for example, this quote from a post on RC.com...

"I do not use or recommend clean up crews by and large. With enough water flow, solids are kept in suspension for filter feeders or filter aspects to process them before they degrade into nuisance algae food. Furthermore... many shrimps and most crabs kill far more good things than bad in the live rock and sand. Algae grazing gastropods in small numbers are OK. For this I like cerith/Ceithium sp. Stomatellids are excellent too... as well as those tiny Strombids from IPSF.com (note most other Strombus sp/conchs starve to death and/or get to large for most home aquaria).

There are many other fine snails and scavengers, but few really should be needed in most home aquariums if you have aggressive enough nutrient export.

For this small tank... I don't need to depend on a skimmer in large part for nutrient export... but rather have strong water flow, and large weekly water changes."

And indeed... the common recommendation of selling/buying "clean up" creatures is a short-sighted address of symptoms (detritus, algae, etc) and not the problem (poor water flow, accumulating solids, weak nutrient export, etc).

If more folks would look beyond the marketing and hype, they might see and agree. Their tanks would be better, they's kill/starve less creatures, and everybody would be happier."

--Anthony Calfo

Indeed, there is alot of truth in this, but how many of us use cleanup crews? I do!

Well, here is the rest of the article on Anthony Calfo's 11 gallon ViaAqua nano tank in which he incorporates the "100% water change" method. It is worth reading through the four pages.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showt ... genumber=1



Jesse

 

[idog]

Remember, water changes in nano's serve two purposes.

1. Nutrient export
2. Trace element replenishment

Used water is full of nutrients, and low on trace elements. That's why we toss it. Some people use waste water to cycle a tank, but that is it. Never use it when livestock is present.

 

[aquemeni5110]

Remember, water changes in nano's serve two purposes.

1. Nutrient export
2. Trace element replenishment

Used water is full of nutrients, and low on trace elements. That's why we toss it. Some people use waste water to cycle a tank, but that is it. Never use it when livestock is present.

Good input idog. Plain and simple. Thanks for your help! :gcool

 

[aquemeni5110]

Thanks Eddy, that clarifies alot. I really admire your dedication and commitment as well as everyone else on this site.