Simple water change question

[PathOfDeception]

Alright so I have had my nano 20L reef for well over a month now and am still loving it(a lot more even!).

Yesterday was my planned weekly water change day and I've noticed that my hammer and zoanthid. (Only corals until they settle in for a while) got really upset with the water change.

After about 2-3 hours everything was open again and thriving.

 

Now I understand I need to ensure that:

 

- Salinity of the new water needs to match the tank

- RO/DI water that has been dechlorinated

- Temp to be as close as possible to the tank

 

I think my problem is how fast I added the water and how I added it. I have a 2.5 gallon jug with a "tap" on it. Tap is like a water dispenser that some people have.

It was making a lot of bubbles while I was refilling and I refilled all at once.

 

What are your tricks on water change day? What do you use to put the water back in?

 

Also how fast?

 

Thanks guys!

 

 

[Polarcollision]

I tend to push the limits of established advice just to see what's actually important vs what does harm. So... your mileage may vary:

 

I've never, ever, in 2 years matched water temperature. A temporary drop of 5-8 degrees doesn't seem to matter.

 

Salinity matching is a must! It's a great idea to pick up a reliable refractometer if you don't already have one.

 

I've always just dumped the water in, stirring up sand a bit, using the hardiest corals or the circulation pump as a water break. A bunch of bubbles for a little bit don't seem to hurt the fish's gills.

 

Possible red flags - Did you mean that you add dechlorinator to RO/DI water? If so, it's not needed.

[PathOfDeception]

I do have a very good refractometer. And my RO unit only does RO water (DI is on it's way) but the TDS is low. I do add dechlorinator to my RO water. I thought I had to :S

[CJJon]

I tend to push the limits of established advice just to see what's actually important vs what does harm. So... your mileage may vary:

 

I've never, ever, in 2 years matched water temperature. A temporary drop of 5-8 degrees doesn't seem to matter.

 

Salinity matching is a must! It's a great idea to pick up a reliable refractometer if you don't already have one.

 

I've always just dumped the water in, stirring up sand a bit, using the hardiest corals or the circulation pump as a water break. A bunch of bubbles for a little bit don't seem to hurt the fish's gills.

 

Possible red flags - Did you mean that you add dechlorinator to RO/DI water? If so, it's not needed.

 

Went snorkeling in Hawaii and there were cold spots all over. Like 10 or more degrees easy. Locals said it was freshwater welling up from the hills. I dunno about that, but it was cold in places very similar to a spring fed lake.

After about 2-3 hours everything was open again and thriving.

 

 

Ummm, what is the issue again? They do that from time to time and especially after water changes. Probably eating some of the yummies you stirred up doing the water change. As long as they open back up and don't have any prblems (brown goo, bare spots, dissolving flesh) you are fine.

[PathOfDeception]

I am just so new to corals that I am very very over protective of them as I want to be succesful

I do see brownish string coming out of the middle of the hammer sometimes but for that based on my research is that it's pooping lol

[SchnauzerFace]

Corals throwing a 2 hour hissy fit after a water change isn't uncommon at all. If you have a sump and you really, really want to minimize stress, you could do your water change out of/into the sump to minimize disruption in the DT. But if you're matching temp & salinity you're ahead of the curve. You could also try to match pH as well, but I've never done that.

[PathOfDeception]

Corals throwing a 2 hour hissy fit after a water change isn't uncommon at all. If you have a sump and you really, really want to minimize stress, you could do your water change out of/into the sump to minimize disruption in the DT. But if you're matching temp & salinity you're ahead of the curve. You could also try to match pH as well, but I've never done that.

 

 

 

Went snorkeling in Hawaii and there were cold spots all over. Like 10 or more degrees easy. Locals said it was freshwater welling up from the hills. I dunno about that, but it was cold in places very similar to a spring fed lake.

 

Ummm, what is the issue again? They do that from time to time and especially after water changes. Probably eating some of the yummies you stirred up doing the water change. As long as they open back up and don't have any prblems (brown goo, bare spots, dissolving flesh) you are fine.

Thanks a bunch guys!