how do i do water change

[davesy]

if i do a 20% water change some of my stone coral will be exposed without water. will it be ok. a few small blue sponge hitchhiker will be exposed to air also. how do you experts do it? my sump is not functional upto i think 1 month from now?

[Jeremy1973]

well, instead of removing all 20% at once, do smaller 5% changes. Thus keeping everything wet. In some cases, I don't know about the sponges, but many corals are exposed to air out in the ocean when low tide hits. And they survive, so I don't think a few minutes of air exposure would hurt. But, I don't have any stoney corals, so I honestly don't know for certain. So, my only thought would be the smaller water changes... do 4-5%, instead of 1-20%. If this is a lame idea..no one shoot me! heh heh heh

[GaryG]

Sponges MAY NOT ever be exposed to air. Even a few air bubbles can cause a slow death.

I would move the sponges to the bottom of the tank. They don't like bright light any way.

[Hommeworks]

I've read that the newwater should be a few degrees cooler than the display water. This breaks up the thermoclines and moves the water from the bottom of the display upwards. Helps with pH and oxygen parameters.

Most definitely in agreement with sponges. They should never touch air.

[davesy]

sponge are attach to a rock approximately 10x4x4 although it can be put down thats what will i do im gonna put it down and then put it again to its place after the water change.
thanks