1st water change

[dachsienutt]

Need advice for my first water change. I have a 112g show tank, 40# live rock, sand, 30g sump has ro/di unit attached for auto top-off, heater, uv sterilizer and protein skimmer are all below in sump. What materials do I need and how do you do it? I've got the guy who set it up that is supposed to do 1st one and show me how, but those who I talked to a few days ago know the issues I have had with my 'expert' and the fact that I was encouraged to add fish and anemones the 1st day. I would like to be informed by as many as possible. I've tried researching it, but not having much luck understanding. Pics of equipt would be helpful........

[ScruffyRubicon]

When I do my water changes in the 125g, I have the water mixing a day before.

The day of the change:

Carry new SW to the tank room
Bring the same number of empty buckets to siphon into
Shut off pumps
Siphon old water out
Pour new water in
Clean skimmer
Clean any filter pads I may have in the sump
Clean out any detrius that is in the sump.
Re-assemble skimmer and replace any pads
Turn on pumps

Every few months I remove the pumps and clean with vinegar/water solution

[know-it-all]

glad to see we didn't "scare" you off the other night

you need a couple 5 gal buckets, a source for "clean" water,
a salt mix, some mixing pumps (small power heads), and a hydrometer/refractometer

I'd start with about 4 buckets
fill the buckets with about 4 gal of RO/DI water
add salt
add 1 pump per bucket, the bigger the pump, the faster the salt will mix
(you can stir by hand if needed)
check with hydrometer/refractometer when all salt is disolved
add more water/salt as needed to match the salinity in the main tank

then follow Sruffy's list and you should be fine

[salt-rookie]

Don't CARRY water, use pumps and hoses to move the water.

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

Don't CARRY water, use pumps and hoses to move the water.

I'm still working that out because of where the tank is in relation to the RO unit. The tank is on a slab and the water is in the basement. They are not far apart but difficult to route.

[dachsienutt]

No scaring me off....I'm too stubborn and determined to make this work!!! I'm sure I will be posting ALOT!!!!

I was told to get a 20-30g NEW trash can on wheels for mixing saltwater, put water, salt, powerhead, and heater in it the dya before............Do you add water to sump? Or directly to tank??

[YLChik]

Originally Posted by dachsienutt

No scaring me off....I'm too stubborn and determined to make this work!!! I'm sure I will be posting ALOT!!!!

I was told to get a 20-30g NEW trash can on wheels for mixing saltwater, put water, salt, powerhead, and heater in it the dya before............Do you add water to sump? Or directly to tank??

Do not I repeat DO NOT get a trash can on wheels - get one with a flat bottom! I had one wiht wheels mixed up 40 gallons of saltwater in my living room and it spilled all 40 gallons in my carpeted living room floor

get the flat bottom
Better safe than sorry! - others may be smarter than I and can tell you how to avoid this, but I would stick with a flat botttom, saltwater is heavy!

I am glad you are determined to make this work, so was I and that never say die attitude will come in handy!

and the water misinx plan sounds like a good one sans wheels. and yes you would add your new water to the sump.

[dachsienutt]

what kind of siphon? do you just siphon the rocks? the sand?? I'm afraid the sand will be siphoned out........

[salt-rookie]

AMY...THAT is TOO FUNNY! The living room is NOT a pool for the kids! I'd stick to a flat bottom too!

The 1/4" tubing is VERY easy to hide running it to the sump.....I do a 30 gallon water change EVERY Sunday...I NEVER carry a bucket nor spend over 5 minutes doing the water change! Tenacity is a GREAT thing!

[dachsienutt]

I have an old 'Radio flyer' wagon that my kids have outgrown, I thought ablout using a square rubbermaid container that fits in the wagon and just ROLL it around.............Is that too corny??

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

AMY...THAT is TOO FUNNY! The living room is NOT a pool for the kids! I'd stick to a flat bottom too!

The 1/4" tubing is VERY easy to hide running it to the sump.....I do a 30 gallon water change EVERY Sunday...I NEVER carry a bucket nor spend over 5 minutes doing the water change! Tenacity is a GREAT thing!

How do you have your pumps set up to get the water to your sump? What is the distance?

[salt-rookie]

Scruffy...I'm in Jefferson City...Come visit! I'll send you home with a LOAD of FRAGS!

[YLChik]

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

AMY...THAT is TOO FUNNY! The living room is NOT a pool for the kids! I'd stick to a flat bottom too!

The 1/4" tubing is VERY easy to hide running it to the sump.....I do a 30 gallon water change EVERY Sunday...I NEVER carry a bucket nor spend over 5 minutes doing the water change! Tenacity is a GREAT thing!

YOu, my friend, have a strange sense of humor !
I will try to remember not to fill the living room up again for the kiddies enjoyment

I do carry buckets, for now - rodi in the basement tank upstairs. I carry the rodi to the now flat bottomed trashcan - still in the living room, and mix up what i need ( but a rubber maid and wagon would work too
and pump the water out of the trash can and into my tank.

No sump yet - it'll go in the basement when we get to that point, but i LOVE the idea of a remote sump.

[frankandmaura]

Originally Posted by dachsienutt

I have an old 'Radio flyer' wagon that my kids have outgrown, I thought ablout using a square rubbermaid container that fits in the wagon and just ROLL it around.............Is that too corny??

Nothing is too corny, it is whatver works for you...I carry friggin 5 gallon buckets when I do it...

[ScruffyRubicon]

Originally Posted by salt-rookie

Scruffy...I'm in Jefferson City...Come visit! I'll send you home with a LOAD of FRAGS!

I may have to do that. I gotta come up with something other than carrying buckets.