Pies Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Hey Cookie, no problem. The weather down here has been appauling, so we havn't collected water for quite a while. Over 2 months for me. In light of no water to change, I don't change any. I had a 25kg bag of salt I biffed out about a month ago, I would rather forgo the water change than use ASW. Keep in mind I have a low bio load fish wise and over 2500 litres of water, so this won't suit many people but works for me. I really want to do the water change, as I am going to run Flatworm Exit on my refugium which is teaming with them, but its just not practical at the moment. So I can't wait. As a general rule I try and do about 300 litres a month, which just just over 10% a month. So its not far overdue anyway and got a big (600 litre) change when we moved the sump a while back. Pray for good weather for us. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 weather has been crap in auckland for ages too, i havent changed in about 8 weeks - and it shows with the increased algae growth in the fuge the weather has stopped raining for a couple of days though so went down this morning and swapped out 200 litres (about 20%) which is not as much as i'd like but better than nothing. the corals have responded well to the change especially my purple bubble coral - the colour so much more vivid. the rest of the corals have fully extended polyps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Thats why I have a large amount cycling as backup. It just make things so much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 The water in Christchurch was crystal clear last week when I got some. There was a truck there from the airport collecting water for the subzero tanks at the International Antartic Centre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Hey Cookie, You must have then at least tried coral on toast then huh!!!! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raeh1 Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 Picked up water a rags (raglan) during the weekend. Not much swell so its quiet good. So get going before the next swell hits. Its very clear and will improve for the next couple of days on the west coast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 na only worms and caulerpa! nearly attacked a tongan once who tried to sell me this beautifiul tridacna clam meat in a bag. :evil: also acro's don't get any softer even if you boil them for hours (same thing applies to island chickens too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted June 12, 2005 Report Share Posted June 12, 2005 :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 I've never used NSW, but I'm very interested in starting with my new 6 gallon. I was thinking about setting up a smaller version of Control's storage system - a 75 litre container kept in the dark, Powerhead onto a piece of LR (with possibly some LS?). I would fill the container and then leave it for 4 weeks, and then using the water. Topping the container up every three weeks or so with new NSW. Surely this would allow the water to cycle, and keep an equilibrium by the mix of new water? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted June 15, 2005 Report Share Posted June 15, 2005 are you planning on doing 500% water changes?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Surely this would allow the water to cycle, and keep an equilibrium by the mix of new water? The water doesn't need to cycle. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RnB Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Pies ok post your data seriously, be nice to see some real data on this topic any life in the NSW will die off quick once oxygen is not freely exchanging... I seriously doubt tho that there is enough life in it for this resulting dieoff to cause much of a spike in any nitrates etc, but it would be nice for this to be experiementally proven........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 I'd be interested in finding out exactly what kind of spike there would be from the die-off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 For those that use NSW. What sort of "life" are you trying to add and why? Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 for a small tank i think asw is preferable because it doesnt cost much but its safe. cost would be the main factor of using nsw on a bigger tank for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Buying salt is not expensive, at $129 for 25 kg. is pretty cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Where do you get it? Best I've been able to find is like $50 for boxes to make about 120 liters. I really don't want to be spending $50 per water change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Petshop, $120 gets you enough to make 600-700 litres Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Gunner Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 The main reason for me wanting to use NSW is due to the fact that I can't locate a good source of RO/DI water to mix ASW with. I agree that using NSW on such a small tank is much riskier than using it in a large setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Not around here it doesn't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Control Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Petshop, $120 gets you enough to make 600-700 litres $20 dollars will give me a trip to sumner with my wife and kids with a trailer on the back with some barrels. If I had the other $100 I'd be putting it towards stock for my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 Ira, the guy in parm sells a 25k (?) box of red sea salt for $120. I'm no expert but isn't it more the minerals and trace elements in NSW that ASW can be missing that make the difference? Has anyone tested the calcium of ASW? I guessing a lot of small tanks wouldn't have calcium reactors or even kalk water topup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeveus Posted June 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 are you planning on doing 500% water changes?? LOL Draining the whole tank 5 times, sounds like a great idea, in one hit ofcourse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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