my question is for those that have W/D filters on large tanks 150g n up... how do you do waterchanges and at what percent? how do you replace the water without destroying your BB colonies?
waterchange Q/A
- Thread starter calicichlid
- Start date
now when you say refill the tank you mean to the exact level you started (after you unplugged the pump)the WC? and if so when you plug the pump back, you allow the tank to return to the orginal level before you unplugged the pump. hate to sound like a 3yo but im new to this and dont want to mess up my progress.
I do the same. I unplug my pump. I have hole drilled in my return line so as not to create an overflow. I then remove water from the tank, about 33%. I then refill the tank to the level that the overflow starts to drain water. Then start the pump back up. The excess water in the sump will fill the tank the rest of the way.
I use a drip system.
Before I had that, I would turn the pumps off, let the sump fill as much as it could, do a "normal" water change, and then when refilling let the water get to the bottom of the overflow and plug it back in. I would keep the hose in the tank to make sure the water level in the sump is correct, then add some if needed.
Before I had that, I would turn the pumps off, let the sump fill as much as it could, do a "normal" water change, and then when refilling let the water get to the bottom of the overflow and plug it back in. I would keep the hose in the tank to make sure the water level in the sump is correct, then add some if needed.
OK it worked out for me i did about 35% waterchange and all was ok. now for another question:
Lets say that for some reason or another that the bb Colonies did not get enough water/wetness and died (part or all) could you just restart the system or do you have to clean the media etc, then restart the system?
Lets say that for some reason or another that the bb Colonies did not get enough water/wetness and died (part or all) could you just restart the system or do you have to clean the media etc, then restart the system?
No way you will lose bacteria during a water change, plus your sump should be close to full. Even if you emptied your sump and filled it back up it wouldn't kill off all the good stuff.
Here's a question, do you vacuum your gravel every water change? My tank seems to cloud up whenever I change/vacuum? It clears up overnight, but it is still annoying.
Here's a question, do you vacuum your gravel every water change? My tank seems to cloud up whenever I change/vacuum? It clears up overnight, but it is still annoying.
If for some unfortunate reason the filter was left oof or drained for few hours (3-8), gently rinse the filter material in used tank water (since you need to do a W/C to remove ammonia so as not to overwhelm the fliter and stave off a mini-cycling of the filter), the living bacteria are attached to the media and will stay put.
Dr Joe
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Dr Joe
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