Waterchanges

+1

Every tank is different, but there's no reason to do WCs every week unless you are overstocked or have poor or poorly maintained filtration.

10% monthly here, when I have to clean the front glass.

You can find bottled distilled or purified water in lots of places. Just make sure it has not been remineralized for drinking. It will say on the label.

 

It depends on exactly what impurities it contains and their levels. The salt mixes we use have the necessary minerals to make SW with purified water. At the very least, tap water has dissolved minerals that will upset the balance of your SW chemistry. Then there are heavy metals that can cause health issues or early demise. Municipal water systems add chlorine and other chemicals to kill harmful bacteria. Those chemicals are deadly to both fresh and SW inhabitants. Private wells can contain a myriad of other impurities such as farming or industrial chemicals, depending on your location.

The effects can range from uncontrollable algae to poor overall health of the entire system to early death of some inhabitants.

 

Yes! I have a new tank and bi-monthly 10% is perfect for me. My tank stays at under 5 trates.

 

When did you start your tank? Im still awaiting the growth of coralline algae I would be itnerested to see a build thread if you made one

 

Salt shows as a disolved solid. So, TDS (total disolved solids) is useless for measuring purity of saltwater.

 

Mr. Bill,

I was just rying to see what my nice, clear DT water actually tested out as, when all my params are in sync.

I expected it to be about that, after all, it is Salt Water!

I'm just making the point of some people almost get NAZI about their water sources. Many of the LFS's have had their WC water they sell tested at about my my tap water is.

 

GrimGuy,

I was merely curious as to what my rather pristine DT water tested at on my TDS meter. I expected it to be about that TDS. Purity? What did you think I was thinking?

I use my own TDS for my WC's and my top offs from my own RO/DI system. RO goes to my sink top tap and my water/ice on my freeezer. RO/DI goes to my DT.
Interestingly, even my RO only tests at 0 TDS.

 

"*** I just tested my DT water with my tds meter- it settled at 496!!

Ya know, we/I use this 0 TDS water, add the salt to get my SG right, and put it in a DT that is 496 tds?"

I was responding to this question you posted.


I thought you were deducing that since the water in your tank registers a Tds that putting 0 Tds water in doesn't matter. I was just making sure that you knew why your dt registered so high.

Speaking of Tds... I need to check my filters!