Water changes in a biocube 14

[ALW]

I would like to change 50% of the water in my biocube (water capacity about 9.5 gallons) Shouls I do a 5 gallon change or two 2.5 gallon changes. Five gallons will leave some of my corals exposed until the new water is added. Nitrates are reading about 10ppm as per my API test kit. Everything in the tank is thriving and growing. I have been changing 2.3 gallons every Saturday since the tank was new. Any ideas?

[DVaDeR77]

I have a 14 BC and I've always done a homer bucket from home depot which I think is 5 gallons every week since running. Never any problems as long as u drain and fill right away a little exposure shouldn't hurt at least it hasn't for me. Hope this helps.

[ALW]

Thanks. It does help-I am pretty quick getting the water back in.

[Egginis]

I would like to change 50% of the water in my biocube (water capacity about 9.5 gallons) Shouls I do a 5 gallon change or two 2.5 gallon changes. Five gallons will leave some of my corals exposed until the new water is added. Nitrates are reading about 10ppm as per my API test kit. Everything in the tank is thriving and growing. I have been changing 2.3 gallons every Saturday since the tank was new. Any ideas?

 

I'm not sure what corals you have in your aquarium, but certain corals should never be exposed to air. If you own sponges or gorgonians I would not expose them to air. Like DvaDeR77 noted, a little exposure to everything else should not hurt. I always try never to expose the corals and do 2.5 gallon water changes each day. Keeps the system stable and nothing exposed.

[ALW]

A torch, scoly, 2 hammers and some zoas would be exposed. Probably 5 minutes at tops. Question...you change 2 1/2 gallons of water a day? I know it doesn't hurt but seems a little excessive?

[Tamberav]

I have never had any problems exposing corals to air. My gorgs get exposed all the time, no problems. Sponges are probably a different case though, I would assume air could get trapped in them. I would change 5 gallons.

[Pancetta]

Interesting thread. I have a Biocube 14 that I started in mid March.

Been doing a weekly 3 gallon water changes. Lately I been doing 3g twice a week to combat excessive algae.

[Hart24601]

I expose everything to air in my 14 biocube. Have a few gorgs in there too. Heck, I have done 99% WC before where the fish are flopping! Never had any problems.

[jservedio]

For refence with my 2g pico, I pull my entire rockwork out at least a few times a year to peroxide off any stubborn algae and to clean the sand and areas under the rockwork thoroughly. Every single coral is exposed to the air for at least 30-45 minutes and I have never lost anything in the pico. Don't worry about exposing coral to the air for short periods of time with the exception of sponges and some gorgonians (to be safe, I wouldn't expose any gorg to the air).