water change...

[csv_scorpion]

do i REALLY have to wait 24 hours (after i mix the salt with water... and temp is correct) before adding it to the tank?? some LFS are saying to wait atleast 24 hours, and some LFS are saying you don't have to wait that long.

the water that i'm using is from the supermarket here in Vancouver, BC called Safeway. it's RO water with ultraviolet light thingamajiggy, so i'm guessing that it doesn't contain any chlorine. should i still let it sit for atleast 24 hours (with an air tube)?

 

[ZigZagZombie]

No you don't have to. I use the same water. I put it in the tank right after I mix it. Been doing it for a year, with water changes every week......No Problems....

 

[csv_scorpion]

thanks for clearing that up for me.

damn... and all this time i've been letting it sit for 2 days before. what a waste of time

 

[lawndoctor]

Taking more than one day to prepare and do a water change is not necessarily a waste of time. It depends on the relative size of the water change, the type of water being used, and the sensitivity of the livestock. I do large water changes with RO/DI on a tank with an anemone, serpents, and shrimp. So I ensure that the new water matches the tank water as closely as possible before I make the change. It takes me at least a couple of days to get the water aerated and the temp, ph, and salinity all correct. Personally, I think that going slowly is always a good idea when you change something in your tank, particularly with water changes and livestock additions. Most of the problems I have had in the past were the result of my impatience in moving too quickly on making changes to the tank. HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I don't do "water changes". However .....the few times I do......I mix it and use it within a few hours. I make sure that the water is the same as the tank. I just heat a few cups of the mixed water in the Microwave and add till it is at the same temp....then use.

 

[Fishgod]

I usually mix up 2gal at a time for my 12gal tank, do water changes every 3 weeks or so. I always let the water sit in a dark place for about a day or two, and add trace elements and CYCLE bacteria right before I add to the main tank. The reason that I let it sit though is because I use filtered (PUR) tap water, with chlorine/chloramine neutralizers added, and they say the neutralizers need some time to work... have been up and running 8 months with no water problems at all...

 

[Tanger]

What's a water change??????

 

[shalegac]

It is the process in which you take in fresh water and urinate the unwanted chemical waste. :wink:

 

[Osama]

I bring my new water salinity & temp to be same as the main 180g tank. then I add the freshh water at a slow rate into the sump so it diffuses further when it gets into the main tank. No problem in 3 years. Oxygen level does drop in the main tank. Main tank has high oxygenation from the skimmer I believe.

 

[Anonymous]

It is the process in which you take in fresh water and urinate the unwanted chemical waste. :wink:

LOL......someone after my heart. :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

I get temp close and salinty exact. I mix salt and wait for the new water to turn clear. That's all!

Louey

 

[Joe DeSantis]

That is exactly what I do. Once it is clear I use it. Of course I match the temp and salinity as close to tank conditions as possible. I maintain FO and Reef aquariums and have been adding saltwater using this method for years w/ no problems.

 

[Terry McGee]

It's nice to have some mixed up in case of an emergency, that way a water change can be done in minutes in case of contamination or something gone wrong where you aren't quite sure whats going on, it's saved many a tank from crashing. Best reguards Terry

 

[danmhippo]

If your tank is big, you will want to have water premixed and ready when you need it. I always have trashcan full of water (approx 30 Gal) mixed and heated. I leave the trashcan in the garage and let it be for a couple of days to 2 weeks. The powerhead in the trashcan comes on for an hour everyday. This is great when you need them in emergency.

Actually, I believe the reason you want to have salt mixed a day ahead is that you want to make sure the chemical ingredients in the salt mix are dissolved thoroughly. Some brands of salt mix doesn't completely dissolve 24 hours past even. Prolonged mixing will also help getting the carbonate hardness up.