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Cultivated Reef

FW dip


DamperFire

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DamperFire

How exactly would I do a freshwater dip for zoas and live rock?

 

I have heard that the water needs to be the exact temp and pH of the tank water. But how do I get my 7.2 tap water to 8.2 without adding salt mix? And how long should I dip them for?

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The Propagator

I think its crazy for any one to say that the water needs to be "exact" in any part of its make up if its a fresh water dip save for the temp. I would get the temp as close as you can and call it a day.

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Weetabix7

DON'T USE TAPWATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!

 

Okay, I feel a little better now.

 

Simplest way to do it is to get some distilled water, put it in a bag and float it in your tank for 20 mins or so to get the temp matched to your tank temp, then dip for 3 mins or so.

If you want to match the PH, use some kind of Reef Buffer to raise the PH.

 

Also, if you FW dip LR, you will kill most of the organisms on it. Is that your goal?

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DamperFire
DON'T USE TAPWATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!

 

Okay, I feel a little better now.

 

Simplest way to do it is to get some distilled water, put it in a bag and float it in your tank for 20 mins or so to get the temp matched to your tank temp, then dip for 3 mins or so.

If you want to match the PH, use some kind of Reef Buffer to raise the PH.

 

Also, if you FW dip LR, you will kill most of the organisms on it. Is that your goal?

 

I normally wouldn't dip LR, but I just want to be able to know how.

 

I would use RO or RO/DI water if I could afford it, but what is so bad about tap water? What will the differences be? Will you even see any? I know it has some phosphates and that could cause algae, could I control the algae using a phospate absorber? Or is that only for FW?

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CorvetteJoe
I normally wouldn't dip LR, but I just want to be able to know how.

 

I would use RO or RO/DI water if I could afford it, but what is so bad about tap water? What will the differences be? Will you even see any? I know it has some phosphates and that could cause algae, could I control the algae using a phospate absorber? Or is that only for FW?

 

Tap water is FULL of stuff you don't want to expose your animals to. Chlorine, Fluoride, copper and lots of other stuff that is bad for the fish and inverts. Plus it can create an extreme algae bloom.

 

Use Distilled if you can't afford RO or if its not convenient to get.

 

I personally use Distilled as my "fresh/clean" water in my 10 gal with great results.

 

For water changes I use a 7gal container you can pickup at Walmart for like $5, take it to a LFS and have them fill it with RO salt water for $7-8 (my LFS is $1.25/gal). This will last you a good 6 weeks or so if you do weekly water changes on your 10gal. For dilution of the salt water or topping off, I just use the distilled water from Walmart or Target you can pick up for like $.75 per gallon. The nice thing is you can use the empties to keep salt water handy next to the tank (I keep my big jug in the garage).

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DON'T USE TAPWATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAGH!!!!!!!!!!

 

Okay, I feel a little better now.

 

Simplest way to do it is to get some distilled water, put it in a bag and float it in your tank for 20 mins or so to get the temp matched to your tank temp, then dip for 3 mins or so.

If you want to match the PH, use some kind of Reef Buffer to raise the PH.

 

Also, if you FW dip LR, you will kill most of the organisms on it. Is that your goal?

 

I'm so glad you addressed this! I bought some Seachem reef buffer as I thought you had to have the same pH. It says even if you OD it...it wont raise your pH higher than 8.4. Well....I used it and it tested out way above 8.8. so it's good to know you don't have to worry about pH. and good idea about floating the bag. You have so many good tips!! Thank you!!

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