easier water changes

[fishers]

Here's how I change the water in my 90-gn. FOWLR tank; it's very easy. I buy 5-gn. bottles of water, then set them in my utility room until they come up to room temp. (about 73-74 in that small, enclosed space). I use a funnel to add the salt to each bottle separetely, then stir it up with an old arrow (the fletchings create enough turbulence to mix it well if you do it repeatedly). I give it a day to stabilize, then siphon from the tank however much water I want to replace. Then pour 1/2 of each bottle into each of 2 5-gn. buckets. This makes them easier to handle than if one bucket had the whole 5 gallons. Then pour the buckets into the tank. I can do 20 gallons in about 15 minutes this way, excluding 15-20 minutes of mixing time the day before. Everyone says you have to heat the water first, but if you have 80% of the water (in the tank) at 78 degrees, and 20% (the new water) at 72 degrees, the net will be 76.8 or so, a very slight drop. I've done this ever since I've had the tank set-up, & although it may not work in a reef tank, it seems a lot easier for a FOWLR tank than some of the methods I've heard.

[Hohihahihahoho]

Glad it works for you that way!

For my case since I have a sump, I have to avoid lifting water buckets as my tank is quite high on its stand for my height ... need to stand on a chair.

Every three weeks I did 20% (51L) of water change, I used 15L and 30L water containers and a powerhead to do the job. Placed the 30L water container nearby the sump, the powerhead inside the 30L container would pump out the SW from the container into the last section of the sump where I placed the return pump. The return pump at the same moment would pump up the SW back into the main tank. While the SW in the 30L container worked its way up into the main tank, I used 15L container to top-off the 30L container. In the end, I only need to carry about 15L of SW at a time from a nearby room where I placed my 100L SW container. 100L container is for aging my SW at least 1 week.

Just one method that works for me!

I guess, you need to make sure the powerhead you use can compensate water flow of your return pump. Otherwise, your return pump will be running dry as it pumps all of the new SW quickly into the main tank. I was lucky that I found one unused powerhead in the house that worked for me.

The fish inside my tank would only see me at the top part of the tank when I siphoned out old 20% SW. All actions of adding the new 20% SW were done below the main tank. My fish could see a new SW came in through the return pvc pipe without big splashes to scare them and add more to their depression during water change. :)

[reeferdude]

Here's how I do mine. I purchased 2 5-gallon gas cans (plastic) and take them to the LFS for them to fill with saltwater (.86 per gal). Then I take out 5-10 gallons and replace it with the new water. Takes about 5-10 minutes.

[fishers]

Yeah, I do have to stand on a chair, but it's easier than it sounds when the 5-gn. bucket is only 1/2 full. Using larger containers & pumps might be easier, but since my tank's in the living room, I try not to drip ANY water (keeps me on my wife's good side!).

[Sandworm]

Small submersible powerheads are the easiest.. Pump in, pump out and its done.. Parts needed.. One small powerhead (say 90gph - 140gph) flexable tubing that fits the end of said powerhead whatever length you need it within reason, and possibly a small extension cord.. 2 tanks in living room and 1 tank in diningroom here.. New 4th tank in the process of going up within the next month or so.

[mybubbles]

hehehe
but nothing beats having a separate tank with only 1 or 2 liverock, filter, heater and air pump, pumping into the main tank hehehe

Keep your fish happy!!!
=]

[Peter H]

Small submersible powerheads work great but I found that they don't have much 'head'. i.e. they can pump large volumes of water but have great difficulty in pumping it more than a foot or so high. I keep a container alongside my tank with the powerhead running 24hrs a day. The intent is to circulate the saltwater. Once every 2 weeks I clean the tank, drop the powerhead pipe into my tank and let it refill. The refill is hardly noticeable by the fish; I just need to find a cleaning technique that less stressful to them!

[SaltyMist]

I second the pumping it up to the tank to refill. I use a medium sized powerhead to pump the water from my 5 gallon bucket on the floor up to my tanks lip, much easier to do than trying to lift a open lid 5 gallon container when it's full of water.

[GenWhoop]

I have had my 150gal for one year now. I am changing 25 gal a week religously. My fish are doing great. I have ALOT of fish in my tank. Too many to name. Mostly tangs, wrasses and Angels and plenty of coral Mostly soft and about 180lbs of live rock.Lighting is MH 2x250 and 2x96PC 06 Actinic. 1/5 hp JBJ chiller.
I do not have a sump and all of my components are hang on.

The way I do a water change is simple. Usually on Mondays, I will fill five 5 gal containers with 2 1/2 cups of Coralife salt each (I have lotsa free teeshirts) and then in my lunch hour that same day stop by the water store and fill them up with H20. I already have five empty 5 gal jugs waiting by the tank.
I work 10 min from my house :lol: . The water store is on the way home. Very convenient, lol.
I turn off all power heads, filters, skimmer, filters, etc. and proceed to drain exactly 25 gal of tank water. By then, the new water has already dissolved and I proceed to replace with the new salt mix. I turn everything back on and grab a sandwich and go back to wk. Total trip to the house and back averages about an hour and a half.
I found that because of the fish load in my tank, this is necessary. When I am too lazy or dont have the time to do this every week, my Nitrate levels begin to climb. This weekly water change keeps my Nitrate levels at about 40ppm.

FYI
I recently added a Blue Hippo to my thank and within three days he broke out in ICK. BAD! Like he was dipped in sugar. I was doing a 25 gal water change every Monday and Friday for about two weeks and added two cleaner shrimp. The shrimp set up a cleaning station and were cleaning the ICK off of the hippo for a week. The addition of these shrimp and the water changes, I feel saved his life. the Hippo is now doing great and eating like a hippo (hehe lol).

Hope this is useful. It may not be the right way, but it works for me.

The General

[SugarShiki]

I have a 20gal. long; 30Lx12x12

I've yet to see what the exact ratios are to mix new SW. Can someone give me a brief scrip for ratios of salt:RO/DI water??

I would appreciate it. I am using Tropic Marin salt, and RO/DI water purchased from my LFS. I have been staying regular on top-offs so far, and have had no problems.

I also would like to know the best way for a newbie reefer :mrgreen: to siphon the grungy junk from the sandbed while I'm siphoning the old SW out. I used to do it all the time when I used to have a freshwater tank when I was a kid; but not sure if the same method can be used in a reef tank...

Appreciate it!! Also, why does the SW have to sit overnight??

Thanks!

Shiki

[clownfishman]

When you guys take your water jugs to the store to get water, what kind of water do you get? RO? distilled? and how much is it per gallon?

[Fuchs350]

hi. everyone heres how i do mine i have a 125 gal reef tank
i do 30 gal every other week. i have a 1/2 bulk head
fitting in the right bottom rear of my tank & 1/2 bulkhead
in the right top of the tank. i use 1/2 pvc pipe for the system
when i do the water change i open the ball valve on the
bottom fitting drain 30 gal. out side the house via pipes
through the wall. i have two tanks out side behind the house
i have a 60 gal. tank that i make my r/o d/i water in & keep it
full all the time. i have a 35 gal. tank next to the 60 gal.
i pump the water from the 60 gal. to the 35 gal. via pump
& pipes i mix the salt water 24 hours before in the 35 gal.
when the reef tank is drained i pump the new salt water in the
reef tank via pipes & top bulk head fitting through the walls every thing is done by
pumps & ball valves it is a very nice system . i use float valves
in my sump to topoff the evaporated water using a pump in
the 60 gal. r/o tank when the water level drops the float
valve turns on a switch & send power to the pump & fill the sump
when the float reaches the full level turns off the pump
i do have another safety switch so it does not over fill the
sump & flood the house. i do have pictures of the system
i will post soon. this system makes it so easy & nice it did take
a little time to make but it is worth it the whole system cost
me about $200.00 to make sorry for the long post :mrgreen: