Best approach for water changes?

[akaps]

Hello all! I would like to know the best approach for water changes, specifically regarding smaller tanks with no coral.
My tank is a 13.5 gallon, so with rocks and sand it holds maybe 10 gallons.
I have had some issues with having drastic changes in salinity even when changing the exact same amount of water the exact same day every week. My usual change is 4 gallons once a week. I replace it all back with salt water bcuz there is not usually much evaporation. I add RO if needed for high salinity, it’s never been higher than 1.028. Sometimes the salinity stays perfect, sometimes it dips quite a bit. The lowest it’s been is 1.020, I try to keep it at 1.025.
I vacuum the sand and rocks every time I do a water change and even sometimes in between if needed.
So the question is….
Should I continue 4 gallons once a week?
Should I switch to much smeller changes multiple times a week? Once I saw someone did 2 cups every day.
For a smaller tank, is it easier to maintain water levels with more frequent, smaller water changes?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

40% a week is huge. Why so much?

I’d keep the water level and salinity stable during the week between changes.

 

[IceNein]

If you do not have an auto top off, I would mark the return chamber of your AIO with something, like maybe electrical tape or something that denotes "full" water level.

Then, before you do a water change, pour RO water into your tank until the level rises to that "full" level. This means that your salinity in the tank should be almost exactly what it was when you were done with your water change the week before.

Then I would drain water, and replace with 1.026 specific gravity (35ppt) water.

If you follow this procedure your salinity should not vary week to week, certainly it should not bounce between 1.020 and 1.028.

 

[akaps]

40% a week is huge. Why so much?

I’d keep the water level and salinity stable during the week between changes.

Algae and snail poop builds up a lot

 

[akaps]

If you do not have an auto top off, I would mark the return chamber of your AIO with something, like maybe electrical tape or something that denotes "full" water level.

Then, before you do a water change, pour RO water into your tank until the level rises to that "full" level. This means that your salinity in the tank should be almost exactly what it was when you were done with your water change the week before.

Then I would drain water, and replace with 1.026 specific gravity (35ppt) water.

If you follow this procedure your salinity should not vary week to week, certainly it should not bounce between 1.020 and 1.028.

Sorry if I caused confusion. The 1.020 to 1.028 was not within one week. Those were two completely separate instances

 

[akaps]

If you do not have an auto top off, I would mark the return chamber of your AIO with something, like maybe electrical tape or something that denotes "full" water level.

Then, before you do a water change, pour RO water into your tank until the level rises to that "full" level. This means that your salinity in the tank should be almost exactly what it was when you were done with your water change the week before.

Then I would drain water, and replace with 1.026 specific gravity (35ppt) water.

If you follow this procedure your salinity should not vary week to week, certainly it should not bounce between 1.020 and 1.028.

Wdym replace it with 1.026 water? Not sure I understand this part

 

[IceNein]

Wdym replace it with 1.026 water? Not sure I understand this part

Your tank should be at 1.026 salinity or 35ppt. You should strive to keep the tank at that salinity and therefore when ever you replace the water, it should be at 1.026 according to your refractometer.

If for some reason my tank water was not at 1.026, say it was at 1.020, I would probably add water that was slightly more salty, say 1.028, when I did my water change to bring the salinity back to 1.026.

I cannot recommend that you get an ATO enough. In my 15 gallon, I lose about a gallon a week in evaporation. If I did not have an ATO, the salinity in my tank would be fluctuating, and reef tanks love stability.

 

[Science/G]

Good advice already given above!

 

[akaps]

Your tank should be at 1.026 salinity or 35ppt. You should strive to keep the tank at that salinity and therefore when ever you replace the water, it should be at 1.026 according to your refractometer.

If for some reason my tank water was not at 1.026, say it was at 1.020, I would probably add water that was slightly more salty, say 1.028, when I did my water change to bring the salinity back to 1.026.

I cannot recommend that you get an ATO enough. In my 15 gallon, I lose about a gallon a week in evaporation. If I did not have an ATO, the salinity in my tank would be fluctuating, and reef tanks love stability.

Got it, that makes more sense.
I will look into an ATO, just haven’t seen or heard of one that fits my tank. It’s the 13.5 Fluval Evo

 

[Uncle99]

You don’t need to run salinity so high for fish only.
Some say 1.020 to 1023 is fine.
As long as the increase is slow, no problem.
ATO better.

 

[akaps]

You don’t need to run salinity so high for fish only.
Some say 1.020 to 1023 is fine.
As long as the increase is slow, no problem.
ATO better.

I have inverts as well, so i try to keep everyone happy

 

[SonOfaGoat]

I use a cheap ato for my nano it works great. My 25g evaporates almost 5g a week.
https://a.co/d/iN4ekVn

 

[akaps]

I use a cheap ato for my nano it works great. My 25g evaporates almost 5g a week.
https://a.co/d/iN4ekVn

It’s so crazy the difference in evaporation. Mine gets almost none. I think it’s cuz I have a plastic top on it with only one small opening that I close when not feeding

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It’s so crazy the difference in evaporation. Mine gets almost none. I think it’s cuz I have a plastic top on it with only one small opening that I close when not feeding

How do you aerate it?

 

[SonOfaGoat]

It’s so crazy the difference in evaporation. Mine gets almost none. I think it’s cuz I have a plastic top on it with only one small opening that I close when not feeding

Mines an open top.

 

[akaps]

How do you aerate it?

It’s not an air tight seal. Just a lid that it’s on top. I also have flow pumps and occasionally an air stone

 

[akaps]

Mines an open top.

Yall are brave. I could never do an open top. Scared of jumpers and my other pets getting into it

 

[SonOfaGoat]

Yall are brave. I could never do an open top. Scared of jumpers and my other pets getting into it

Yeah, I actually plan on making a mesh lid. I lost my male clown a week ago to a jump and I didn't see him until it was too late.

 

[Crimsonphoenix]

Hello all! I would like to know the best approach for water changes, specifically regarding smaller tanks with no coral.
My tank is a 13.5 gallon, so with rocks and sand it holds maybe 10 gallons.
I have had some issues with having drastic changes in salinity even when changing the exact same amount of water the exact same day every week. My usual change is 4 gallons once a week. I replace it all back with salt water bcuz there is not usually much evaporation. I add RO if needed for high salinity, it’s never been higher than 1.028. Sometimes the salinity stays perfect, sometimes it dips quite a bit. The lowest it’s been is 1.020, I try to keep it at 1.025.
I vacuum the sand and rocks every time I do a water change and even sometimes in between if needed.
So the question is….
Should I continue 4 gallons once a week?
Should I switch to much smeller changes multiple times a week? Once I saw someone did 2 cups every day.
For a smaller tank, is it easier to maintain water levels with more frequent, smaller water changes?

Make sure the air temperature is not different and throws your accuracy off.

 

[akaps]

Yeah, I actually plan on making a mesh lid. I lost my male clown a week ago to a jump and I didn't see him until it was too late.

Aw that is sad I’m sorry for ur loss :(