Continuous water changes

[Pescador]

Is anyone doing this on their systems?
I like the idea of mixing 50g and have it change slowly over the course of a month.
From RHF article here
Water changes in reef aquaria

These changes are slightly less efficient than single batch water changes of the same total volume. A continuous water change of 30% exactly matches one batch 26% water change. As with very small batch water changes, these have the advantage of neither stressing the organisms (assuming the change is done reasonably slowly), nor altering the water level in the aquarium.

The price for a Litermeter and remote pump or Reefiller seems like the biggest drawback unless there are some cheaper options.

[slakker]

I was thinking something similar but instead of having the system pump water out to be dumped into the drain, just put the 50G as part of the whole system... Have the water trickle through the 50 G at a slow rate then dump the whole 50 G every month or 2 to be replaced with fresh. Then the overall system volume is the DT+sump+ the 50G and you're basically doing 50G water changes every month... maybe?

[Alberta-newb]

Don't have such a system on my display but I do have my quarantine tank running on continuous water change. I T-ed off my display's return pipe and continously drip into the QT at the rate of about 1 gal/day. The QT has a corner overflow that goes right down the drain. Only thing I am concerned with is salinity creeping up but hasn't been a problem so far. I also have to top up my sump every couple of days, at a gal/day it works out to about 25% per month on my display . Nice thing is after 4 weeks of quarantine, my new fish won't have any shocks going into the display as it's the same water.

[scuglass]

You could also skimm wet and top off with salt... Might take a while to get the correct SG due to evaporation replacement too...

[Marlin65]

Originally Posted by Alberta-newb

Don't have such a system on my display but I do have my quarantine tank running on continuous water change. I T-ed off my display's return pipe and continously drip into the QT at the rate of about 1 gal/day. The QT has a corner overflow that goes right down the drain. Only thing I am concerned with is salinity creeping up but hasn't been a problem so far. I also have to top up my sump every couple of days, at a gal/day it works out to about 25% per month on my display . Nice thing is after 4 weeks of quarantine, my new fish won't have any shocks going into the display as it's the same water.

Cool I like that.

[Red Coral Aquariums]

Originally Posted by Alberta-newb

Don't have such a system on my display but I do have my quarantine tank running on continuous water change. I T-ed off my display's return pipe and continously drip into the QT at the rate of about 1 gal/day. The QT has a corner overflow that goes right down the drain. Only thing I am concerned with is salinity creeping up but hasn't been a problem so far. I also have to top up my sump every couple of days, at a gal/day it works out to about 25% per month on my display . Nice thing is after 4 weeks of quarantine, my new fish won't have any shocks going into the display as it's the same water.

Well thought out.Plan on same procedure at the store.
Kevin

[michika]

Alberta-newb,

Have any photos to share of this set up?

[rockworm]

I am setting up the daily change using the Profilux Controller and their dosing pumps. Profilux makes a stand-alone dosing pump that would work. You do not need an additional pump with this one. Unfortunately, dosing pumps are not cheap. These dosers are available in 1 pump to 4 pump combinations and priced accordingly.

Originally Posted by Pescador

Is anyone doing this on their systems?
I like the idea of mixing 50g and have it change slowly over the course of a month.
From RHF article here
Water changes in reef aquaria

The price for a Litermeter and remote pump or Reefiller seems like the biggest drawback unless there are some cheaper options.

[mark]

Great idea for the QT.

My biggest problem with a QT has been the keeping the parameters in check with a small, non-established tank.

I would just need to balance my fresh water ATO, so not to drop salinity against, SW top off.

[Alberta-newb]

Originally Posted by Red Coral Aquariums

Well thought out.Plan on same procedure at the store.
Kevin

Kevin, all the credit goes to you. I came up with this setup after several discussions with you on the best approach. Thanks!