With freshwater or even full saltwater it's pretty easy since Freshwater you just hook up a python and change the water and with saltwater you usually can get the water premixed from the LFS. But the problem I'm having with brackish is I have to make the water the exact same salinity when I'm doing a water change. A big problem I have is water temperature. It seems like he water coming out of my faucets here in Arizona is about 92 degrees which is way too hot. So unless I have a huge amount of pre-mixed water that has cooled to room temperature I have to mix ice and cold water to achieve the proper temp. It's kind of tough to keep 55 gallons of pre-mixed water around for weekly water changes. So do any of you have some good suggestions on how to do quick and easy water changes?
Brackish people how do you do your water changes?
- Thread starter FalconKeeper
- Start date
Brackish water changes aren't exactly quick. It's basically the same as with freshwater, but you have to add some of the salt mix, get it dissolved, and test the water to see what the SG is. You keep doing that until you're at the right SG, and then you add the water. If you go a little over the preferred SG, it's usually OK. Brackish fish are used to change. But if you want the SG lower, you just add some fresh dechlorinated water.
As for the water being too hot, just get it out of the faucet, dechlorinate it, and let it cool until it's ready. Then add the salt and stuff.
As for the water being too hot, just get it out of the faucet, dechlorinate it, and let it cool until it's ready. Then add the salt and stuff.
Here's what I did..... I just got a fitting that was the same thread as the showerhead. Run my hose through the shower. Adjust warm/cold for proper temp. Treat it just like a FW water change except the salt is shaken up in a 20 oz bottle with hot water and poured in the stream of water coming from the hose. 2 tsp/ gallon with the salt. SG in my tank is too low to measure with most of the hydrometers I've looked at.... And it's been that way for over 5 years. I find it hard to believe that if you turn just the cold faucet all the way on that the water coming out is 92. If it is then hey I learned something new but I would have to see it to believe it.
I premix SW in a 30gal trashcan for my reef tank. I have a line on my buckets that I fill up to with premixed sw and top off with freshwater, then pump into the tank. Once I make some more space, I want to have a separate trashcan for BW so I can pump directly into the tank.
i just add the freshwater and the ammount of salt i think may be appropriate i dont measure cus brackish fish r used to fluctuating sg levels
I always go 2 tsp/ gallon. 125 gallon tank......50% W.C. = 120tsp...... Convert that into cups. Pour into a 2 liter with hot water to disolve. Next step is very important.....SHAKE DON'T STIR!!! LOL Then use airline to siphon out of 2 liter into stream of new F.W.
Thanks for the good suggesions 
And as for my hot tap water it does come out around 90 degrees during the summer. We have on average about 105 degree temps outside during summer and it heats the pipes up in the houses. Since I have a big house it takes abou 20 gallons of water before it even starts to cool off and then i'ts still about 85 degrees or so. Just another part I hate about living in the desert 
And as for my hot tap water it does come out around 90 degrees during the summer. We have on average about 105 degree temps outside during summer and it heats the pipes up in the houses. Since I have a big house it takes abou 20 gallons of water before it even starts to cool off and then i'ts still about 85 degrees or so. Just another part I hate about living in the desert