Better more affective water vhanges??

I would like to know a better way of doing water changes. Now I use two five gallon buckets which I mix with a powerhead for 24 hours. I slowly add salt until I reach my correct salinity during the 24 hours. I then remove the water into another 5 gallon bucket twice, tehn pour in new water.

I would like to know an easier way. (no sump) I would like to know how to get the salinty correctly right from the beginning, able to do my 10 gallon bi-weekly water changes in one container, also I would like to know how to equal the correct PH, understand why airating the new water is important, etc etc.

 

I do 5g water changes every week. All I do is:

- make 5g of RO/DI water
- pour in a 5g bucket
- add 2.5 cups of IO salt (1/2 cup per g)
- add 250w heater & maxi-jet 1200
- let mix overnight
- test salinity and temp
- do the WC

Never had an issue, been doing it this way for about 8 months. My salinity always measures out nicely & I've never messed with the PH.

I would add the salt all at once initially, not over a period of time.

 

Don't add the salt all at once; adding slowly lets it dissolve more completely, and you get less trace residues on the bottom. Ever seen the "fingernails" at the bottom of your mix container? It's calcium and alkalinity precipitated, which is more likely to happen when you mix too quickly. Ever seen the brown goop on the lid of the container? More trace precipitates.

You should also let the water be room temperature, mix it, then turn on the heater once it's already mixed. This helps with the calcium precipitation as well.

The water needs to be aerated with a powerhead or air stone in order to get it as close to tank conditions as possible. A tank's water should be saturated with oxygen, and so should your water change.

The pH shouldn't need to be changed, as long as it's not more than about .5 away from the tank level (for your 10gal change on a 46gal tank). The pH won't move more than ~.1 with a change that's within .5 of the water in the tank.

The water should sit mixing for at least 24 hours after you add the last of the salt, otherwise the measurement of salinity isn't too reliable because of local variances.

To do your mixing in one container: buy a bigger container. lol.

 

My LFS sells pre mixed saltwater for .69/gal... Thats how I get mine..

 

First, are you doing 10gal water changes 2x a week? That is excessive IMO, especially for your sized tank. As far as water changes go, I get 5 gallons of RO/DI water, had heater and power head, add salt, let it sit over night then do the water change. People say you need to airate and have a air stone or something like that, but I don't think it's necessary. I have a small powerhead, maybe 50 gal/hr something like, it's a tetra one and use that. It's just enough to stir the water up enough to dissolve the salt and that's it. I don't agitate it or mix it up more. I've been doing this going on 3 years now and never had any problems.

 

I would think adding the salt over a long period would be a pita. Also for the absent minded would be easy to forget how much you had put in already. Never had issues with adding it all initially and then mixing with the heater and PH.

 

The best way is have two containers one for RO water the other for mixed water, I use plastic trash cans. use a maxijet with a hose (maybe 1/2 inch, don't quote me on that) to pump water between them. It only takes me two additions to get the appropiate salinity(I had practice). now use that maxijet with hose to pump water out your tank down the nearest drain. now use the maxijet with hose to pump water from the mixed saltwater container to the tank.

 

I use this same measure(suggested from IO) but it always comes out low. I ususally have to add another cup or so.

(Once every 2 weeks)


I think I am in range with what everyone is doing with the exception of the salt mix. once I get the exact amount for my changes I will just use a measered container to add salt,

 

I only change 5 gal. once a month for my 55 gal. just to "freshen" the tank. I used to do like most of you, what with the heater, power head etc. I no longer do that. I simply get my 5 gal. bucket, add room temp. RO/DI water, add salt...stir...check with my refractometer, get SG to .025 and add to the tank. That is simple to me! The latest "Instant Ocean" salt dissolves completely and makes things easy.

 

How long do you wait after adding salt?


hmmmm. anyone else agree with this method?