Changing your Saltwater Aquarium Water

The changing your saltwater aquariums water is one of the most important aspects of your care and maintainence.

When waste products accumulates in your saltwater aquarium, the quality of water changes too. Problems will occur and the only way to solve it is to physically changing the water.

This will remove the wastes from within the water and bring back the valuable trace elements your saltwater need for your fish to survive.

How much and how often is correct?

There is no set in stone rules to how often and how much, so heres some recommendations and information that can help you run your own system and routine that works best for you and your saltwater aquarium.

Performing 20-30% of water volume per month is the common maintenance recommendation. But normally 15-20% water change is enough. It is better to perform 10-15% of water volume twice a month rather than 20-30% at one time.

Changing the water more frequently with smaller amounts is more effective. Changing the water can also prevent potential poisoning or over exposure to medication, additives and other chemicals you put on your saltwater aquarium. It also helps in stability of pH balance.

Siphoning Water

The best maintanence method while chnaging your water is too vacuuming the gravel at the same time. Use a gravel cleaner as you siphon aquarium water using the correct method, this will help to remove wastes and uneaten food from the bottom of the tank.

Proper siphon equipment is designed to remove water and debris without stressing your fish and no aggressive water being drawn from the aquarium. The gravel in your saltwater aquarium is suctioned up and then tumbled back down. Debris and waste materials are loosened during this process and are siphoned away keeping your tank looking physically clean. Siphon process maintenance may not be possible in tanks with sand substrate. The surface gravel should be stirred during every partial water change for these reasons:

• If you have an undergravel filter, stirring breaks up impacted areas in the filter bed where water flow cannot really pass through.
• Stirring puts detritus into suspension where it can be siphoned out with the old water.

Adding Water into your Saltwater Aquarium

The water replacement for your saltwater aquarium must be dechlorinated and mixed before you refill the saltwater in your aquarium. Or you can get a premixed and conditioned saltwater from your local aquarium store. Check the temperature of the water before pouring into the aquarium. Aim to match the actual temperature of the aquarium or slightly higher.

Pour the water sowly into the auarium as not to stress or scare the fish, once you have completed the pur, add a quality water dechlorinator/conditioner to the aquarium.

Using water conditioner called water conditioning after each and every water change can help remove chlorine and chloramines that are present in most municipal water. Water out of your tap is usually loaded with chlorine, chloramines, heavy metals, phosphates and other ions. Many of these compounds will harm you fish, so they need to be removed from the water.

Another time we need water is when evaporation has occurred. Depending on the amount of aeration and circulation that you have. When water evaporates salt is left behind and this will increase the salinity and specific gravity of the water. The solution is simple add freshwater, it must be conditioned water and not premixed saltwater. But if the evaporaton is little then botttled water will be fine, use distilled water as it has no mineralsadditives and toxic compounds

Complete guide to saltwater aquarium maintenance and care

Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide