Who of you are doing auto water change

IvanW

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As the title asks,who of you are doing continuous water changes,are you noticing anything different or advantages by doing this over a large change lets say once a month. I have been doing AWC's for about 2 months now and I am not really convinced that it is having any great effect. I am changing out 5 gallons per day on a 600 gallon system using Fritz salt, which I started using 2 months ago.
Over the past 3 weeks or so I have a film of brownish algae on my sand bed and rocks. I am doing nothing different other than the water changes. All my parameters are stable and have been for a long time.I doubt that this has anything to do with the AWC,just decided to put it out there at the same time as it is the only thing that has changed.
Corals and fish are doing well.
 

BoomCorals

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The advantage is stable parameters. The algae you are getting isn't being caused by how you change your water. I do constant AWC using apex DOS and I do it because it keeps my system stable, no swings from doing larger changes at once. Plus it's way less work!
 

Scott.h

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Personally I would still do a small water change weekly. Logically if you space water changes out more you get more garbage. For instance 10 gallons every two weeks vs 5 gallons a week is more effective. Breaking it down by the day is even less effective. Technically you are replacing some water you just added. It's ok if you are just trying to replace trace elements. Sometimes bigger water changes is less drastic on the coral, but it sounds like you need more aggressive nutrient reduction.
 

bif24701

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I built this mixing station for a singular purpose. So I can change 100 gallons on my 300 gallon system as often as needed/possible. I get three of these with two boxes of IO salt and plan to do all three with in a month. I have been doing 50-55 gallon changes evey week or two for the last year but as soon as I started changing 100 gallons at a time my system is booming. I also feel that it reduces costs. Not having to buy and change expensive GFO and ROX carbon. I'm no longer worried for micro elements. Everything is better. Also changing water is so easy now and salt is cheap.

a8c097975850e75d486e47cc53571914.jpg


I invested some time and money to do this right. I placed a Cepex valve at the end of my hose so that I have 100% control of the flow.

0e251d544c1ab6f710944cc24b1ce3f6.jpg


Iwaki 40RLT has the pressure to empty both Brutes through my extra long 3/4" hose in <5min. I can reach my son's bio cube in the living room and my wife's Discus tank in her office.

0c0f57f9ef8a93d965f571a32542988e.jpg


The BRS float valve automatically shuts off the water when full.

711ac5260da23b5c33430fb70cf75366.jpg


Just add 2.5 bags of salt, turn on pump and mix for a few hours. How easy is that!

a7a0c393f2ab74de0d136704649d4578.jpg


Lots of unions so I can take it all apart, no cutting. Valves allow me to isolate one Brute for keeping either salt or fresh water for my top off.
2e72625df9f32af4b4a23d7c62cd1d22.jpg


Cepex valves are so good.
7cfc9c56f21c893682dc7b91f90f8ac4.jpg



Auto daily water changes have the advantage of stability.

However larger water changes are better for removal of waste and byproducts while also replenishing elements. This is the route I've chosen for now, and with this set up I can make it happen in <10min.
 

Dr. Reef

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I have been using genesis awc system for last 5 to 7 years or maybe more. I do 3 gal daily on a 300g system. All parameters are in perfect range and I don't see wild swings.
 
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emvanburen

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Have been doing awc daily for the last month - first time in 20 yrs of reefing. Absolutely love the simplicity of it. Read an article that says 30% water change will take down 30% of nitrates etc - but the same volume split daily will still take out 26% percent. I'm happy to lose the 4% for no buckets!
 

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I built this mixing station for a singular purpose. So I can change 100 gallons on my 300 gallon system as often as needed/possible. I get three of these with two boxes of IO salt and plan to do all three with in a month. I have been doing 50-55 gallon changes evey week or two for the last year but as soon as I started changing 100 gallons at a time my system is booming. I also feel that it reduces costs. Not having to buy and change expensive GFO and ROX carbon. I'm no longer worried for micro elements. Everything is better. Also changing water is so easy now and salt is cheap.

a8c097975850e75d486e47cc53571914.jpg


I invested some time and money to do this right. I placed a Cepex valve at the end of my hose so that I have 100% control of the flow.

0e251d544c1ab6f710944cc24b1ce3f6.jpg


Iwaki 40RLT has the pressure to empty both Brutes through my extra long 3/4" hose in <5min. I can reach my son's bio cube in the living room and my wife's Discus tank in her office.

0c0f57f9ef8a93d965f571a32542988e.jpg


The BRS float valve automatically shuts off the water when full.

711ac5260da23b5c33430fb70cf75366.jpg


Just add 2.5 bags of salt, turn on pump and mix for a few hours. How easy is that!

a7a0c393f2ab74de0d136704649d4578.jpg


Lots of unions so I can take it all apart, no cutting. Valves allow me to isolate one Brute for keeping either salt or fresh water for my top off.
2e72625df9f32af4b4a23d7c62cd1d22.jpg


Cepex valves are so good.
7cfc9c56f21c893682dc7b91f90f8ac4.jpg



Auto daily water changes have the advantage of stability.

However larger water changes are better for removal of waste and byproducts while also replenishing elements. This is the route I've chosen for now, and with this set up I can make it happen in <10min.

Awesome setup! :cool:

Personally, I prefer manual water changes. It allows me to vacuum my rockwork and a portion of my sand while removing old water.
 

XocyrusX

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As the title asks,who of you are doing continuous water changes,are you noticing anything different or advantages by doing this over a large change lets say once a month. I have been doing AWC's for about 2 months now and I am not really convinced that it is having any great effect. I am changing out 5 gallons per day on a 600 gallon system using Fritz salt, which I started using 2 months ago.
Over the past 3 weeks or so I have a film of brownish algae on my sand bed and rocks. I am doing nothing different other than the water changes. All my parameters are stable and have been for a long time.I doubt that this has anything to do with the AWC,just decided to put it out there at the same time as it is the only thing that has changed.
Corals and fish are doing well.

I also started AWC recently and have found my corals and fish are responding very well. It's only a gallon a day. I think the benefit to my system that others are stating is stability. I was my own worse enemy. To large of water changes and messing with everything. I use a DOS in my garage with a line 50' outside my house through the wall. Drain to my yard and done. Plus the mrs loves it.... no pipes hoses through the kitchen etc. actually I do t even think she knows.... hahaha
 

Sabellafella

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As the title asks,who of you are doing continuous water changes,are you noticing anything different or advantages by doing this over a large change lets say once a month. I have been doing AWC's for about 2 months now and I am not really convinced that it is having any great effect. I am changing out 5 gallons per day on a 600 gallon system using Fritz salt, which I started using 2 months ago.
Over the past 3 weeks or so I have a film of brownish algae on my sand bed and rocks. I am doing nothing different other than the water changes. All my parameters are stable and have been for a long time.I doubt that this has anything to do with the AWC,just decided to put it out there at the same time as it is the only thing that has changed.
Corals and fish are doing well.
Ive tryed both continuous and weekly water changes both automated with the apex. Im not sure if you consider it "AUTOMATIC" but all i do is pour in salt that i already packaged in advanced. And every sunday ill turn everything off in my sump untill my maxijet runs dry (that pumps water to drain) , and then ill turn on my water change tank pump till i feel its sufficient to start the tank up. Usually around 18 gallons for me weekly on a 120.
I didnt like the continuous way of water changes, not really sure why i dont but i rather just do it once aweek instead of daily
 

bif24701

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Awesome setup! :cool:

Personally, I prefer manual water changes. It allows me to vacuum my rockwork and a portion of my sand while removing old water.

Thanks! I was so happy after I finished it I did two water changes that week. Lol.

Yea I like to suck out my fuge, sumps, and overflow from time to time.
 

Scott.h

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I built this mixing station for a singular purpose. So I can change 100 gallons on my 300 gallon system as often as needed/possible. I get three of these with two boxes of IO salt and plan to do all three with in a month. I have been doing 50-55 gallon changes evey week or two for the last year but as soon as I started changing 100 gallons at a time my system is booming. I also feel that it reduces costs. Not having to buy and change expensive GFO and ROX carbon. I'm no longer worried for micro elements. Everything is better. Also changing water is so easy now and salt is cheap.

a8c097975850e75d486e47cc53571914.jpg


I invested some time and money to do this right. I placed a Cepex valve at the end of my hose so that I have 100% control of the flow.

0e251d544c1ab6f710944cc24b1ce3f6.jpg


Iwaki 40RLT has the pressure to empty both Brutes through my extra long 3/4" hose in <5min. I can reach my son's bio cube in the living room and my wife's Discus tank in her office.

0c0f57f9ef8a93d965f571a32542988e.jpg


The BRS float valve automatically shuts off the water when full.

711ac5260da23b5c33430fb70cf75366.jpg


Just add 2.5 bags of salt, turn on pump and mix for a few hours. How easy is that!

a7a0c393f2ab74de0d136704649d4578.jpg


Lots of unions so I can take it all apart, no cutting. Valves allow me to isolate one Brute for keeping either salt or fresh water for my top off.
2e72625df9f32af4b4a23d7c62cd1d22.jpg


Cepex valves are so good.
7cfc9c56f21c893682dc7b91f90f8ac4.jpg



Auto daily water changes have the advantage of stability.

However larger water changes are better for removal of waste and byproducts while also replenishing elements. This is the route I've chosen for now, and with this set up I can make it happen in <10min.
Holy crap that's a lot of salt and ro. My wife thinks I'm ridiculous now.. she'd kill me.
 

bgoldb

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Does the water get stale sitting in the bucket for an extended period of time while doing AWC with smaller amounts spread over the course of a week or longer? Does the Alkalinity and pH drop while sitting in the new saltwater container?
 

BoomCorals

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Does the water get stale sitting in the bucket for an extended period of time while doing AWC with smaller amounts spread over the course of a week or longer? Does the Alkalinity and pH drop while sitting in the new saltwater container?
Might depend on your salt but mine doesn't get stale. Alk stays stable. PH doesn't matter since it is such small amounts constantly.
 

bif24701

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Does the water get stale sitting in the bucket for an extended period of time while doing AWC with smaller amounts spread over the course of a week or longer? Does the Alkalinity and pH drop while sitting in the new saltwater container?

Some salts are ok and others definitely not. Use the directions to find out if it's ok. The salt will say something like use within 4 hours of mixing.
 

Dr. Reef

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You can store saltwater for a month or so with no problems as long as the salt mix does not contain organics or vitamins. Both with break down but won't cause any harm unless hydrogen sulphide gas is produced in large quantities, which you will be able to smell as a rotten egg smell.
If the storage container has any heaters or pumps working all the time, heat from such will cause alk to decrease over time.

So there are 2 things here. Regular salts with no organics can be stored without mixing/stirring for long-term while salts with organics/vitamins need to be used sooner and kept stirring.
 
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IvanW

IvanW

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I am not unhappy doing daily water changes,certainly makes my life easier,also gave me a good reason to add 2 new storage containers into the system.Do any of you remix the salt water once you have initially made it up and checked parameters? I am changing out 5 gallons per day on a 600 gallon system so I don't think it sits long enough to deteriorate.
 

Urbanknight

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Love my DOS auto water changes. @IvanW, In my salt water storage tank, I have a small pump controlled by my Apex. It comes on for 10 minutes every other hour and circulates the water to keep it from going stagnate.
 

Daniel@R2R

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I'm not yet, but it's in da plans. :D
 

Radman73

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Before we moved I used a DOS for AWC on my 60 cube. Was a life saver. I ended up needing a cervical fusion so lifting buckets was a non-starter for 4-6 months. It helped keep the tank extremely stable.

Also, just because you have a AWC setup doesn't mean you should skip the monthly sand bed and/or sump cleaning. It just means that can be a small an short maintenance. Looking forward to getting my 220 up and running on AWC. I have a sink in the garage this time that I can pump the old water to making it even simpler!
 
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