Do I need another heater for water changes? Options

[DustnF]

This may be a dumb question, but I am still learning so please bare with me. I am about to do my first water change on my BioCube 14 and wanted to know if I needed to be concerned with temp drop of my tank if I pull the heater out to warm up the new water that is going in? In other words, do I need to buy another heater just for this purpose, or can I just pull mine for the amount of time needed to warm up the new stuff?

[Vesian]

This may be a dumb question, but I am still learning so please bare with me. I am about to do my first water change on my BioCube 14 and wanted to know if I needed to be concerned with temp drop of my tank if I pull the heater out to warm up the new water that is going in? In other words, do I need to buy another heater just for this purpose, or can I just pull mine for the amount of time needed to warm up the new stuff?

I would highly recommend it, yes. Water usually has an ambient temperature of about 65-70 degrees in my experience (at least where I live, at least) and putting any amount of that into your system is going to cause a drastic temperature swing, especially if you're doing a large water change. It all comes down to how much stress you want to subject your lifestock to, and whether you want to risk harming them by rapid temperature swings, or go out and buy a 15-20 dollar backup heater.

[QueenOfTheReef]

I don't know how you prepare your salt water, but I prepare mine in a five gallon bucket and I'm able to heat it up pretty easily in my bathtub. I just make the water and put a lid on the bucket, and put the bucket in the bathtub. Then I fill the tub up with hot water and let the bucket sit there for a half hour or so. The water heats right up.

[dsn112]

I don't know how you prepare your salt water, but I prepare mine in a five gallon bucket and I'm able to heat it up pretty easily in my bathtub. I just make the water and put a lid on the bucket, and put the bucket in the bathtub. Then I fill the tub up with hot water and let the bucket sit there for a half hour or so. The water heats right up.

Sorry Queen, but how cheap are you? Buy a 50w heater and don't waste all that energy to heat the water and then the water itself. Your def wasting resources over a $30 one time heater purchase.

To the op, yes, should heat the water to as close to the temp of the tank as possible. Heating the water also helps with your mixing too. The salt I use suggests heating to 80 degrees for the best mix.

This post has been edited by dsn112: Jan 9 2010, 01:52 PM

[reefer916]

Sorry Queen, but how cheap are you? Buy a 50w heater and don't waste all that energy to heat the water and then the water itself. Your def wasting resources over a $30 one time heater purchase.

To the op, yes, should heat the water to as close to the temp of the tank as possible. Heating the water also helps with your mixing too. The salt I use suggests heating to 80 degrees for the best mix.

I would buy a heater and use a powerhead to mix the water a few days before you do your water change. Temp also impacts the SG of the water and you'll notice huge swings, if you start putting cold mixed water into your tank. After it heats up you'll notice your SG increase. Try to keep the temp of the new water within a few degrees of your tanks temp. It'll prevent shocking any of your corals and fish.

Both of my tanks have two heaters in them, just in case one fails. I also have a 30 gallon Brute container with two powerheads and a heater constantly mixed with Reef Crystals and RO water with the correct SG. It's always nice to have some water around, just in case you or another reefer has an emergency.

[MikeTR]

No need to mix for a few days.. maybe an hour at best. +1 on the heater.

[DoubleD]

I bought a Maxijet 1200 to upgrade the BC14 stock pump, but it generated too much heat. So I downgraded to the MJ 900 which was perfect.

I mix my water in a 5G bucket with the MJ1200, it takes about 24 hours to go from 58 degrees (R/O from the store) to 78 degrees. No heater required. Plus the salt is mixed better when you gradually warm the water.

Plus having an extra pump around for utility purposes is nice too.

[ReefEscape]

/\ +1 - MJ1200 makes a perfect 5gal, mixer, heater, areator you just have to plan 24 hours in advance.