Water Changes

[scubasteve]

heres something to really throw everybody into whack.... on my 90 gal im currently 14 weeks (thats not a type-o) with zero wc just fill 5 gal ato with tap and capful of prime every 2-3 days for evap sps zoos and gorgs all very bright colour and growing well and i refuse to carbon dose.

I thank this ability to my skimmer, fuge and algae scrubber only thing in reactor is 1.5 cups of carbon and 1 week ago i added 1/2 a cup of phosban as phos was the only thing creeping up

I think i just added a new concept for the experienced reefers out there

 

[Jewel]

That's the terrific thing about our tanks, We can do what we want to, If you feel that that's ok, then great. Good for you. Me on the other hand wouldn't do this I'm not gonna criticize you. That's fine what works for one may not work for the other.I'm not against not doing water changes but I would never use Tap water. Heck I don't even drink the stuff.

 

[BigReefer]

Jewel you make sense ... Beer is better anyways lol

 

[Jewel]

As long as don't have to include a sip of Prime

 

[BigReefer]

no no i dont put prime in my beer ....

 

[Kman]

It really depends on what you have in the tank. In my last reef it was not sps dominant. It was mostly lps, mushrooms, gorgonians and soft corals. I would go months without doing a water change. I would even take water from the tap and put some prime in it. Then dump it into my tank for my evaporated water. I had no algae and the corals thrived. I didn't even run a skimmer on it for 8 years. I did run carbon and had a very productive refugium. A lot of the corals I had in it used dissolved organics as a prime way of feeding and used it as a food source. This greatly contributed into helping my nutrient levels stay low.

I would never do things that way for water changes in my sps dominated reef now. But it can work if set up properly and you keep the right type of corals. You can use corals alone as a way of nutrient export. But you do have to run Carbon because you will get a build up of anti growth hormone and chemicals from various corals and algae.

 

[BigReefer]

ok i have a question now ... this Prime chemical you guys are using is it by seahem ??? and would u recommond putting some in the water tank that tops up them sump??? I am just wondering if this is something I should be adding to the top up water ... even though i use ro/di water??

 

[Jewel]

Geez I first thought No but would it help? Maybe, can't see it hurting. I've never used Tap water, even when setting up my 120 and not having an RO unit, I bought 10 5 GL Jugs and went back and forth to the water place. Then back at forth for the Sump and top off water. I have a 12 GL that i'm setting up at the moment and although will be much easier to look after, Water wise anyway. Not having a Sump or a Skimmer will mean 2 GL Water Changes weekly and RO Top off, I will have a Scrubber in compartment 2 But that will only enhance the system. As they say, To each, Their own

 

[Jewel]

I wouldn't bother with the Prime, If you are using RO/DI then that's sufficient. Are you using a Phosphate inhibitor such as GFO?

 

[EricTMah]

I wouldn't bother with the Prime, If you are using RO/DI then that's sufficient. Are you using a Phosphate inhibitor such as GFO?

I have to disagree with you here Jim.
Will a perfectly running rodi system take chlorimines out? Yes.

But 9 times out of 10. People don't change the Carbon cartridge out often enough nor do they use the right one for chlorimines.

So I always use and always recommended that people still use prime or other water conditioner even with rodi water.

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[scubasteve]

oh by no means my way is not for the beginner... it just goes to show what is possible when you have good understanding of your system and how everything functions TOGETHER relying on any 1 way fix will always lead to disaster. took alot of learning and by the way my reef is sps dominant with zoos and gorgs lol (mostly acros, millies,montis)

 

[Kman]

I have to disagree with you here Jim.
Will a perfectly running rodi system take chlorimines out? Yes.

But 9 times out of 10. People don't change the Carbon cartridge out often enough nor do they use the right one for chlorimines.

So I always use and always recommended that people still use prime or other water conditioner even with rodi water.

Sony Xperia Z3

I agree with Eric. Your RODI doesn't take out everything. Especially if you have bad source water. It is also rare for people to change the filters on time because it is hard to tell when it is actually exhausted.

I always use prime.

 

[Jewel]

Why use a RO/DI system if you're not changing your cartriges on time, Not every community uses Chlorimines , Lets do a Poll and see who uses Prime on their system. And it's ok to disagree, Probably a good idea to keep the Prime on hand for the occasion of doing a quick Top off with Tap water, not that I agree with it but just in case.

 

[EricTMah]

I'll always use prime.
Let me.follow up by asking. How many of you test for chlorine and chlorimines in their tap or even rodi water?

Sony Xperia Z3

 

[Jewel]

Don't standard RO units state that they remove Chlorine and I know you can buy units that state that they remove Chlorimines,

 

[Jewel]

You would assume that Tap water would have Chlorine in it hense the use for Prime, You would also Assume that your RO/DI unit would remove it if your filters were current.

 

[BigReefer]

where do you guys add prime to ??? into the top off water./??? with the ato i have to feed my sump??

 

[heath]

I add mine to the return chamber of my sump..

 

[100gallon]

I use prime. I have a 6 stage Rodi and change out all filters and resins at 1 to 2 ppm tds on my online tds. Where I live it's liquid rock and chlorine coming out of the tap. Walkerton water scandal really cranked up the bleach smelling and tasting water in these parts

Sent via Samsung Galaxy S4 on Tapatalk

 

[BigReefer]

is everyone else at 000 ??? I never been i am close like 2 is it still safe? ... idk