Daily Water Changes

[hummer]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Unless its completely sterile it will develop a bacterial biofilm in it on the containers surface and those bacteria may produce unwanted bioproducts (ie. your RODI water isn't as pure as it once was).

What if you fill up one of those garbage bins with RO water only? Would that be sterile enough sitting for a week or so? Then he can add salt in a seperate mixing container a day before he wants to do a water change.

[christyf5]

I would imagine it wouldn't be a problem letting the water sit for a week, lots of people do it. I wouldn't let the water sit stagnant though. I'm not sure what the bacterial growth rate is for a week. I usually make up water the day before I need it. I have found that if I let water sit in the container for too long (especially repeatedly, say make up water let it sit, then refill the containter immediately) I can wipe out a goodly amount of brown stuff off of the side of the container after I empty it.

[erikages]

I mix 25 gallon batches of salt H20 whenever I do a water change. I use rodi water, then throw a maxijet in the bottom of the "garbage can" (which is actually a white, food-safe container with handles and lid from a wine making store).

I've leave the water stirring for a day or two before putting it in the tank in two batches (one day after the other).

I wouldn't leave 'fresh' salt water to sit for more than a week -- at the most. Speaking just personally, what's the point of ro/di water if we let it degrade before using it?

Erik

NB: for my water topoff water (also rodi in a 5gallon foodsafe bucket) I leave an air bubbler in the base of it to provide some water circulation. This water lasts about a week as well.

[Drock169]

The only thing I think I have to add, is that if I leave water sitting around for awhile I also like to add an airstone in addition to the pump