No water changes

[Lance]

This is a method of a friend of mine, who has been in the hobby for years. I'm using it and it seems to work pretty well. I do it every 2 weeks.

- turn off all pumps, powerheads, skimmer, etc.
- using a diatom filter with an extension on the exhaust, blow detritus, etc
up into the water
- run the diatom filter for about 1 hour, until water is very clear
- perform a 20% water change
- test all parameters, as diatom filters take out some good stuff as well
- turn on pumps, etc.

Diatom Filters get the water nice and clear. Also has the benefit of filtering any parasites from the tank.

What do you think?

[Whatigot]

having no experience with diatom filters, this seems like a lot of work for what could essentially be accomplished with a good siphoning/waterchange?

[Lance]

Originally Posted by Whatigot

having no experience with diatom filters, this seems like a lot of work for what could essentially be accomplished with a good siphoning/waterchange?

No, They're not a lot of work. It is actually easier than siphoning by hand. Just set in on the floor, hang the exhaust and intake tubes into the tank and turn it on. I've used them for years on FW tanks and they work great. Many LFS use them to quickly clean the tanks. I figure if I'm doing a water change anyway, why not clean the water real well.

[super7]

At the pet stores I have worked at I have always just done watetr changes. Lance your way would work but it is doing the same thing as a good syphoning and a good syphoning is a lot quicker than using a diatom then a water change.
Super7

[Oscar]

I just got my tank up and running 1 week ago. I have LR LS and 2 hermits to knock back the hair algae.

Other than a slightly elevated phosphate level and a ph of 7.8 my other parameters are good. Should I already be starting water changes or wait a bit?

[Myka]

^ Keep your tanks lights off for the first month or so. I'd wait until the cycle is over (ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate <5ppm) before doing any waterchanges. At which time I like to do a 50% waterchange.

[Oscar]

Originally Posted by Myka

^ Keep your tanks lights off for the first month or so. I'd wait until the cycle is over (ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate <5ppm) before doing any waterchanges. At which time I like to do a 50% waterchange.

Could my cycle may be over already? Although the tank has only been set up since last Saturday I had well cured live rock in my rubbermaid tub for almost 2 weeks. I have been turning on the halide for about 2 hours each evening just so I could gaze at the rock and watch the hermits at work.

I will keep testing to see what happens.