New sump, attempt #2

Does anyone have any good ideas as to how I can fill my sump so that it has the same parameters as the DT water. My current idea is to do about 5 gallon water changes, remove 2.5 gallons from my DT, add that to the sump, add the new water to the DT and then add the remainder to the sump. Hopefully this will make the two sets of water the same so what happened before doesn't happen again. I also will close the ball valve on the return a little to add the water slower then before. Any comments or better ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

Sounds like a good plan with the partial water changes to fill the sump- I just did mine with all new water and it worked well. I think your main problem was the dust from the tubing, etc., which combined with the new water stressed the tank.

 

I think thats more trouble than its worth. When I used to do WCs, I just carried the jug on my shoulders and just poured the water in the DT. Hitting every piece of LR a that I could to "clean" it and remove the debris. Never had a problem doing it that way, in fact, I did it that way for over 15 yrs with no issues. What happened to you was from something else. I also use the same method to add top off water. Luna

 

well, I think one of my problems before was that I didn't let the new salt water sit long enough, I made it and used it about an hour afterwards. I also used a different salt brand, which I didn't mention before, I went from reef crystals to coral life. Coral life has a much higher Ca and Alk. levels, that could have done something too. I would rather be overly cautious now then have that happen again.
So Luna, do you think it wouldn't matter then if I just made new salt water and used that in my sump?

 

Just make sure the salinity is the same and the temp is pretty close and go for it. I usually pump about 40g out of the sump and then feed the new water right in the sump then kick the pumps back on.

 

I used brand new water in my sump when I brought it online. Just match the salinity and temp and you should be good to go. Make sure you get the salinity to what you want after the water is the correct temp. The specific gravity will change with temp.

Just today I did a water change with Coralife in my tank that has been getting Reef Crystals for the past 5 months. I don't think it was changing salt brands.

When I do a water change I pour it right in also. Probably poor 5 gallons within about a minute straight from the bucket. I try not to stir the sand up too much. I change about 15 gallons at a time in my 72 gal w/sump.

 

I highly doubt that was your problem. In rush water changes(no time, limited time, etc.) i can and have made saltwater in about 15 minutes, and added it directly to the tank, never once had i seen a coral close, in fact they would open up a bit, maybe to take in a fresh breath of air, so to speak. I would imagine your best bet was the new salt... did you clean the new sump at all? maybe some contaminants could have found there way into your DT.

 

I've cleaned the sump several times now, hopefully it works out this time, thanks for the input.

 

I dont see why not. I dont know why ppl tend to think that they have to treat their tanks like a "bubble baby". Fish and corals are alot stronger than one might think. If most of you guys would see the things that I do, I think you just might fall back. When I hand feed my fish(Tangs) I pet them, touch them. When I do WCs I just pour the water in, I dont check for temp or salt and I pour it all over the Lr and corals. I do the same thing with the RODI top off. Sometime I pour it the sump and sometimes in the DT. I dont dissolve the frozen cubes in RO water, I just hold it in my hands and let the fish eat it. Luna

 

Amen!

I'll have to try petting my tang. Maybe scratch his belly.

I'm with the others, I think there is something that was in the sump or plumbing that was the problem.