Water Changes

[sumpfinfishe]

Well this is my number one piece of advice for new and old aquarist in this hobby.

It may seem like such a simple task in mind or on paper, but when it comes right down to it- a lot of people overlook this very important task.

I have met many wonderful people through this hobby, all of which except for one or two have some kind of desire to provide an ideal enviroment for there animals. So then why do some of these people consider water changes to be not such an important role. I have heard many excuses too-from: I can't afford it, I don't have time, I will do a larger one next month,
my dog ate the saltmix, and so on.......and so on......

I also hear aquarist ask why they have ich, algae, and other problems. I always ask this question first - when and how much are water changes done.

So this is why my number one piece of advice is water changes, our tanks cannot flush themselfs like natural enviroments do every second of the day. So we should then at least make an effort to clean this system at least on a monthly basis.

I know this sounds so basic and so simple, that's because it really is.
Remember, there always has to be a foundation to any structure-water quality is ours!

Finally I would like to mention what a friend of mine in this hobby has told people over the years: "only bad things happen fast in a reeftank, the good things take time!"

Happy Reefing Everyone
cheers, Rich

[Pro Fish Keeper]

How long do you let the salt water your making set? And is there an easyer way of get your salinity right on with our repedly check the salt in the bucket? Do you have any ratios eg. 1 cup every 5 gallons?

[Lofus]

I worked out that the TM salt I use is 1/2 cup per gallon.

I try to let the water sit for 2-3 days to let the pH settle down (but I have used it after 24 hours in emergencies) Not sure if this is ok or not but I was doing small water changes (5%) so I figure the impact was small.

[Aquattro]

I've mixed salt and used it right away. I think the "let it sit for a while" method is old school based on speculation. Craig Bingman states that using freshly mixed water is fine.

[Beverly]

Originally Posted by sumpfinfishe

So then why do some of these people consider water changes to be not such an important role. I have heard many excuses too-from: I can't afford it, I don't have time, I will do a larger one next month,
my dog ate the saltmix, and so on.......and so on......

HERE!! HERE!!!

Weekly 10-15% water changes are essential for all of our reefs - big and small. No my dog doesn't eat the salt mix, and no I won't do a larger one next month. Next freaking MONTH??!?

Weekly, weekly, weekly!

Remember to clean any foam or poly filters in the outgoing changewater each week. And break down and clean your filtration systems and skimmers weekly or bi-weekly too. You'd be surpised how much better your reef looks with frequent and regular maintenance.

Excellent topic!

Okay, I'm down off my soapbox now and I'd better go make us some supper

[psuedo]

I like to give my reef a water change every 5-7 days..only because of the 5 fish in there. I find the biggest pain in the ass with having a reef is continuosly doing top off water, especially when it gets warmer outside. If I don't keep up with this my tank tells me, as well as the corals and fish.

Wicked topic though!!!

[MitchM]

Nope. Sorry. I rarely do water changes.

They are not essential.

Mitch

[AJ_77]

Originally Posted by Carpentersreef

Nope. Sorry. I rarely do water changes.

They are not essential.

Mitch

Perhaps we can say, "they are not essential in a system such as mine." In my own smaller, low-tech system without sump, scrubber, surge, refugium, or towering skimmer, weekly 10% water changes are what I would have to call "necessary."

Oh, and I stir the new saltwater bucket for an hour or two with an MJ1200, and sometimes for a whole afternoon.

JMO, IME, YMMV.

[StirCrazy]

I think 10% once a month is a good schedual for a stable tank. if you are having problems I would recomend larger and more frequent, but I think large frequent changes can be a waist of salt, unless you are running with out a skimmer or other "good" filtration ie. frequent carbon change, poly filters ect..

Steve

[MitchM]

I agree, Alan.

Other than trying to keep stable overall conditions, there are few absolutes with reefkeeping.

Mitch