performing water changes for biocube

[j86miu]

I have a 14g biocube and plan on having FOWLR for the time being. Right now I have 1 damsel fish in there and 4 hermit crabs and 4 cerith snails. I have pretty much the stock equipment - original filter, I removed the biofilter for live rocks (14lbs) and live sand, and the original sponge filter at the end.

I plan on adding purigen and filter floss in place of the original filter very soon (not sure if this makes a differnece).

Should i do water changes only when it looks like I should, when test kit shows parameters changing, or just on a regular basis?

[sponger0]

Regular basis

[rovster]

I change the water in mine 4-5 times/month and everything has been great. Mine is heavily stocked though. I would say once a week would be optimal, and twice a month if you are lightly stocked and your filtration and feeding habits are within reason.

Oh, on a side note, if you wait until it "looks like you should", you are way too late and have really stressed your pets......JMHO

[steve888]

Doing water changes on a regular basis is perhaps the single most important thing you can do to maintain a healthy environment for your livestock (assuming you are using good quality water for the change).

I also have a 14G BioCube and I do 2-3 small changes per week. I've read that smaller, more frequent changes are better than single large changes (but I know that's debatable).

Since the 14G BioCube is so small, it's very quick and easy to do a small change several times a week. Also, with 10 lbs of LR in your display, you probably only have about 10-11 G's of water in there (due to the displacement) so that makes water changes all that more important as compared to a larger tank.

[thegrun]

[QUOTE=steve888;19618856]I've read that smaller, more frequent changes are better than single large changes (but I know that's debatable).

QUOTE]

I don't think I would call it debatable, unless there is a compelling reason to make a large water change (removing contaminates from the tank) smaller more frequent water changes are better for your livestock.

[carternewbee]

I have just started my first saltwater tank. Its made by clarity plus has anyone heard of them? It looks like a cube the whole back part of tank is wet dry system. has a skimmer in it but that just dont look right just a tube is about 3 inches round with a 1/2 inch hole half way down it and a collection cup at the top. Not shure how to use it or for that matter how to set it up.
any help plssssssssssssssssssssss

carternewbee

[steve888]

[QUOTE=steve888;19618856]I've read that smaller, more frequent changes are better than single large changes (but I know that's debatable).

QUOTE]

I don't think I would call it debatable, unless there is a compelling reason to make a large water change (removing contaminates from the tank) smaller more frequent water changes are better for your livestock.

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm reading a book called "The Nano Reef Handbook" by CR Brightwell and that's exactly what he recommends. :beachbum:

[dimitrge]

Get in the habit of doing them weekly. Its difficult at first but once you start doing them it gets easier and faster

[carternewbee]

I have a 29 gallon tank how much water should I change per water change? And will this help with cloudy water it wasnt that way till I did a 5 gallon water change. What am I doing wrong?

[sponger0]

I have a 29 gallon tank how much water should I change per water change?

10% water volume or 2.9 gallon. Or to make it an easy number, 3 gallons.

My biocube 29, I do 5 gallon water changes most of the time

[dimitrge]

I'd do 5 gallon changes. Should help with water clarity as well if there are no other issues.

[sponger0]

Itll help with removing nutrients from your system, but if your having water clarity problems, thats something also to look into

[carternewbee]

The tank seems to be getting worse should I do another water change last one was three days ago. 5 gallons

[sponger0]

Define worse......

[carternewbee]

cloudy seems to have more detris floating in it also
would a fluidized bed filter help?
The tank is made by clarity plus 29 gallon with wet dry system built into back part of tank. Would a sock filter be a good idea over the foam filter in center of filter before bio balls?

[carternewbee]

cloudy seems to have more detris floating in it also
would a fluidized bed filter help?
The tank is made by clarity plus 29 gallon flatback hex with wet dry system built into back part of tank. Would a sock filter be a good idea over the foam filter in center of filter before bio balls?

[sponger0]

Can you give a pic of the filtration area? Some filter floss maybe able to clear up the water

Are you using any type of carbon?

And also what are the water parameters

[carternewbee]

I have no carbon filter in the tank water conditions are good I run my salinity at 1.025 do you think that might be a bit low? heres a few pics

[carternewbee]

hope I got the upload of photos right let me know

[TjwBlake]

With the nano size tanks a regular water change is a must with how quick things can go south in small tanks. All it has taken for me is 10% weekly, running floss and chemipure and i have had no problems and clear water

[carternewbee]

I did do a 5 gallon water change thats when my tank went foggy I plan on doing another one today. I have forgotten to say I have 25 lb live rock and at least 4 inches of live sand on bottom. Tank is well established like I said it was fine untill I made water change.

[j86miu]

With the nano size tanks a regular water change is a must with how quick things can go south in small tanks. All it has taken for me is 10% weekly, running floss and chemipure and i have had no problems and clear water

chemipure... i keep hearing that name... how did you decide between that and purigen?

[Meslo]

when you do a water change are you mixing the water yourself ? if so you need to mix the salt in the RO/Di water and let it mix over night with some kind of pump in there to keep it circulating.

[TjwBlake]

chemipure... i keep hearing that name... how did you decide between that and purigen?

Chemi pure elite has the added Ferric Iron Oxide to help with phosphates and silicates. I believe that is something Purigen is missing

[j86miu]

Chemi pure elite has the added Ferric Iron Oxide to help with phosphates and silicates. I believe that is something Purigen is missing

and chemipure can replace the stock carbon filter right?

[TjwBlake]

i havent run carbon since i ran out of the sheet that came with the tank.. that was close to 10 months ago. So i would say that yes it replaces it.