How to Make a Successful Water Change

[warforged]

Very nice info. But I don't think everyone is going to take every precaution here. If water changes were that complicated; there'd be very few people getting into the hobby and even fewer sticking around.

I understand the point of view you have. But i very much doubt this thread on water changing is going to deter or attract people to this hobby.

I recently switched to salt because I just got bored of freshwater. Simple as that.

I do think that there are 3 ways to change water.
1. The lazy way (risky)
2. Semi cautious (less risky)
3. Overkill super cautious (perfection..presented by the OP).

But if there are new readers or those who havn't gone salt yet.

This is how I change water: I premix the desired amount with "TAP WATER" that I use "Prime" in. I take out that exact amount and dump in my new water.

FIN

Nothing has ever died...and I have a reef tank ... with soft to hard corals (Lots of them)...lots of inverts.......*Except my Sea Hair...he decided to crawl over the anemone (dumbass).*


As you can see even going the lazy mans water change route it can be done without loss of fish or corals... but there is always that risk. 5 water changes later and things are doing just fine for my tank.

[wozza]

I understand the point of view you have. But i very much doubt this thread on water changing is going to deter or attract people to this hobby.

I recently switched to salt because I just got bored of freshwater. Simple as that.

I do think that there are 3 ways to change water.
1. The lazy way (risky)
2. Semi cautious (less risky)
3. Overkill super cautious (perfection..presented by the OP).

But if there are new readers or those who havn't gone salt yet.

This is how I change water: I premix the desired amount with "TAP WATER" that I use "Prime" in. I take out that exact amount and dump in my new water.

FIN

Nothing has ever died...and I have a reef tank ... with soft to hard corals (Lots of them)...lots of inverts.......*Except my Sea Hair...he decided to crawl over the anemone (dumbass).*


As you can see even going the lazy mans water change route it can be done without loss of fish or corals... but there is always that risk. 5 water changes later and things are doing just fine for my tank.

While you say you have had no loss that does not mean the fish, corals and inverts aren’t experiencing stress. And not just stress you can see, internal stressors, from the sudden shift of the concentration of ions in the water, and this could impact the longevity of the fish corals and inverts

Also you state five water changes later, now I don’t know your water change routine, but say your average time of a month, that would make it 5 months, in marine tanks that’s not a lot of time, and you may find some animals fish don’t live as long as you expected, especially the inverts.



james

[warforged]

While you say you have had no loss that does not mean the fish, corals and inverts aren’t experiencing stress. And not just stress you can see, internal stressors, from the sudden shift of the concentration of ions in the water, and this could impact the longevity of the fish corals and inverts

Also you state five water changes later, now I don’t know your water change routine, but say your average time of a month, that would make it 5 months, in marine tanks that’s not a lot of time, and you may find some animals fish don’t live as long as you expected, especially the inverts.



james

yep 1 time a month about a 20% change in each tank. Oh I am sure they go through some stress. I would be a fool to think they dont each time I do a water change.

too many variables to say if this will impact things negatively ...is there a risk ...yep.

I am just pointing out even a lazy change like mine can be done but there is a risk. To think there isn't is foolish.

I do think the OP is the best way if you really detailed into taking care of your tank.

And to think that this water change thread would deter someone from the hobby is untrue. It just shows how detailed and maticulous extreme care can be if you really really want to do it well with less risk of impact on the pets.

I am just trying to let the average joe know even a lazy bumm like me can maintain a saltwater tank without a wipe out ...but it doesn't mean it doesn't come with a risk either.

I may just go to the local store and buy water for $1.00 a gallon. Soon as im done with my excess of salt...... as you said...its less stress to my fish if I just did things better (not in so many words but i got your point)

[wozza]

yep 1 time a month about a 20% change in each tank. Oh I am sure they go through some stress. I would be a fool to think they dont each time I do a water change.

too many variables to say if this will impact things negatively ...is there a risk ...yep.

I am just pointing out even a lazy change like mine can be done but there is a risk. To think there isn't is foolish.

I do think the OP is the best way if you really detailed into taking care of your tank.

And to think that this water change thread would deter someone from the hobby is untrue. It just shows how detailed and maticulous extreme care can be if you really really want to do it well with less risk of impact on the pets.

I am just trying to let the average joe know even a lazy bumm like me can maintain a saltwater tank without a wipe out ...but it doesn't mean it doesn't come with a risk either.

I may just go to the local store and buy water for $1.00 a gallon. Soon as im done with my excess of salt...... as you said...its less stress to my fish if I just did things better (not in so many words but i got your point)

oh yeah, for sure, sorry if i came across like i was saying all your fish and gonna die cauze ur not doing this..

[leebca]

The suggestion to use tap water is very risky. What may work for one person in one area of the country/geographic may not in another. Tap water has a verey large range of contamination, including over the counter drugs, prescription drugs, pesticides, and fertilizers to name a few. Not only is there a risk of difference, but there is a real risk of changing water quality over time. That is, the tap water you used yesterday may be of different quality than the tap water a month from now.

No chemical treatment for the hobby for tap water can or does address all the above possibilities. Source water is a subject unto itself:
What is Water Quality
and most importantly, about tap water:
Chemistry and the Aquarium

[King Triton]

I havent seen anyone tell new hobbieist about how important the quality of water you are putting in makes.You cant expect to mix tap water and keep a healthy tank unless you are very lucky and live in a area with quality water I dont think that place excicts except ocean water. BUY A RO FILTER mix in the morning and change in the eveing you need to give time to dislove all the salt being mixed I Know alot of people have posted they mix and change right away.And you can do that but it puts unnessary stress on tank inhabitants.You wouldnt hang out in a closed garage wiyh a car running would you?Well ecentuly thats what you are doing to you tank if you mix and change right away.Take your time, be paitent dont make this into a stressful journey time will pay off.If you have a ro filter and a skimmer,live rock,and water flow YOU WILL BE A SUCESS !!!

[My2heartboys]

I do too, and mixing for a week or more....yikes I would never get any water changes done. I tend to mix for maybe a couple of minutes with a wooden spoon and then dump. Never had any problems this way. Please keep in mind that if the water is way too cold, then I usually either heat it up in the bucket or (more likely) put it in slower so that it has more of a chance to mix in with the tank water.

Anne

__________________________________________________ _________

That's nothin'. I mix and change right after I syphoned the old.

[leebca]

It’s interesting to note that some posters in this thread who don’t manage large water changes as recommended are the same ones who, in other threads, note that they are unable to keep the more sensitive of marine fishes and lifeforms for more than a year – and wonder why.

Understanding, appreciating, and then acting upon knowledge is one of the things that differentiates the ‘aquarist’ from the ‘hobbyist.’ See: Glossary of FOWLR Terms

[My2heartboys]

Lee, I still have a black spiny urchin that I was given when I first stared the tank almost (or maybe over) 3 years ago. While I maybe lazy in my methodolgy of doing water changes, I do use RODI water and I pretty much stick with one salt. Since I started the original tank, I have changed tanks once and moved a whole tank once. To top all of that off I have only changed salt brands once as well.

The cost of doing all of this the way I do it....well to me there is really no cost. I have no desire to do really demanding corals or fish/inverts since most of them can have a pretty high mortality rate in home aquariums anyway.

I do have a UV unit that protects and keeps my fish pretty healthy. How I do things may not work for everybody, but I will continue to share what works for me in hopes that it will help someone else find out what works for them.

Anne

[morrisj2]

Why not just wait a week or a few days. after you do your water change say on a sunday start your R/O up right away for me I have to wait 24 hours for my 20 gallons so on tuseday I mix my salt in than jnust leave it until the weekend comes and I than do my water change. Of course there is a powerhead and a heater in the bail at all times. Why not match you incoming water with what is already in your tank? To me its part of the hobby part not and not annoying. You should take pride in your water and tank in general. If good quailty water and matching to your display tank does not do it for you than take pride in keeping your fish healthy and alive for a long time.

for all you that make water up and just dump it into your take you really should keep that bad habit to yourself and leave it up to lee and others to inform on how to do things the right way.

You can do something 100 times it only takes one of thoses times to realize you should not of been doing it, that could be the 1st time or the 100th time.

Next time you randomly dump your water into the tank just after mixin gsalt that obviouly needs time to disovle maybe you should ask your fish how they feel.

[hightlow]

Thanks for the feedback. That is very useful.
Cheers and we look forward to your Forum Favourites selections!
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[Tinman]

Being new, I am curious about a few things.
1. Where/How do you store the water that is used for the changes?
2. What equipment do you need for this water?
3. Is bottled water more acceptable than other sources?
I have been doing the mix in the AM and the dump in that night, but temperature has always been low. I just pour it into the filter and let it mix slowly before getting pumped into the tank but I am seeing now that is one of the many things I have been doing wrong. I just want to make sure that I will be doing this right now or at least better than what I have been doing in the past.
Thanks!

[zhenya]

Being new, I am curious about a few things.
1. Where/How do you store the water that is used for the changes?
2. What equipment do you need for this water?
3. Is bottled water more acceptable than other sources?
I have been doing the mix in the AM and the dump in that night, but temperature has always been low. I just pour it into the filter and let it mix slowly before getting pumped into the tank but I am seeing now that is one of the many things I have been doing wrong. I just want to make sure that I will be doing this right now or at least better than what I have been doing in the past.
Thanks!

Hi Tinman,

1. Depending on the size of the water changes involved you can use various sizes of rubbermade containers. Just make sure that they are either clear (or dull white) or grey color. Some people use large grey garbage cans made by Rubbermade.
If you are making really small quantities then any container that is used for food storage will do.

2. You'll need a heater, small powerhead to keep water moving in the container.

3. Preferably you would want to use RO/DI water, if you do not have access to it then I would use distilled water, although that would be wuite expensive. Regular bottled water is not much better than regular tap water. Yes, it is filtered a bit but water good enough for human consumption is not really good for a marine aquarium.

And, you would want your newly mixed water to age at least three to four days before adding it to your aquarium. Freshly mixed synthetic salt mixes are quite toxic to the livestock. In case of emergency I would use small quantity but preferably you want your water aged so that all the ingridients in the salt mix have a chance to dissolve completely.

[leebca]

I moved the last post to its own thread: Changing Water Parameters since it now includes a discussion on changing water parameters of a system in operation.

If anyone would like to further discuss water changes, please begin a new thread.