Continuous water changes

[Pescador]

Is anyone doing this on their systems?
I like the idea of mixing 50g and have it change slowly over the course of a month.
From RHF article here
Water changes in reef aquaria (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php#13)
These changes are slightly less efficient than single batch water changes of the same total volume. A continuous water change of 30% exactly matches one batch 26% water change. As with very small batch water changes, these have the advantage of neither stressing the organisms (assuming the change is done reasonably slowly), nor altering the water level in the aquarium.
The price for a Litermeter and remote pump (http://www.spectrapure.com/St_prec_p0.htm) or Reefiller seems like the biggest drawback unless there are some cheaper options.

[slakker]

I was thinking something similar but instead of having the system pump water out to be dumped into the drain, just put the 50G as part of the whole system... Have the water trickle through the 50 G at a slow rate then dump the whole 50 G every month or 2 to be replaced with fresh. Then the overall system volume is the DT+sump+ the 50G and you're basically doing 50G water changes every month... maybe?

[Alberta-newb]

Don't have such a system on my display but I do have my quarantine tank running on continuous water change. I T-ed off my display's return pipe and continously drip into the QT at the rate of about 1 gal/day. The QT has a corner overflow that goes right down the drain. Only thing I am concerned with is salinity creeping up but hasn't been a problem so far. I also have to top up my sump every couple of days, at a gal/day it works out to about 25% per month on my display . Nice thing is after 4 weeks of quarantine, my new fish won't have any shocks going into the display as it's the same water.

[scuglass]

You could also skimm wet and top off with salt... Might take a while to get the correct SG due to evaporation replacement too...

[Marlin65]

Don't have such a system on my display but I do have my quarantine tank running on continuous water change. I T-ed off my display's return pipe and continously drip into the QT at the rate of about 1 gal/day. The QT has a corner overflow that goes right down the drain. Only thing I am concerned with is salinity creeping up but hasn't been a problem so far. I also have to top up my sump every couple of days, at a gal/day it works out to about 25% per month on my display . Nice thing is after 4 weeks of quarantine, my new fish won't have any shocks going into the display as it's the same water.

Cool I like that.:biggrin:

[Red Coral Aquariums]

Don't have such a system on my display but I do have my quarantine tank running on continuous water change. I T-ed off my display's return pipe and continously drip into the QT at the rate of about 1 gal/day. The QT has a corner overflow that goes right down the drain. Only thing I am concerned with is salinity creeping up but hasn't been a problem so far. I also have to top up my sump every couple of days, at a gal/day it works out to about 25% per month on my display . Nice thing is after 4 weeks of quarantine, my new fish won't have any shocks going into the display as it's the same water.

Well thought out.Plan on same procedure at the store.
Kevin

[michika]

Alberta-newb,

Have any photos to share of this set up?

[rockworm]

I am setting up the daily change using the Profilux Controller and their dosing pumps. Profilux makes a stand-alone dosing pump (http://progressivereef.com/proddetail.php?prod=PL-0506) that would work. You do not need an additional pump with this one. Unfortunately, dosing pumps are not cheap. These dosers are available in 1 pump to 4 pump combinations and priced accordingly.



Is anyone doing this on their systems?
I like the idea of mixing 50g and have it change slowly over the course of a month.
From RHF article here
Water changes in reef aquaria (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php#13)

The price for a Litermeter and remote pump (http://www.spectrapure.com/St_prec_p0.htm) or Reefiller seems like the biggest drawback unless there are some cheaper options.

[mark]

Great idea for the QT.

My biggest problem with a QT has been the keeping the parameters in check with a small, non-established tank.

I would just need to balance my fresh water ATO, so not to drop salinity against, SW top off.

[Alberta-newb]

Well thought out.Plan on same procedure at the store.
Kevin

Kevin, all the credit goes to you. I came up with this setup after several discussions with you on the best approach. Thanks!

[Alberta-newb]

Have any photos to share of this set up?

Catherine,

Can do:biggrin:

Here's an overall view, please forgive the electrical mess, gotta pick up some chord organizers!:redface: This is the closet space beside my display (in wall). Water from the display's return line enters the top of the "bubble or drip counter" and flows into the QT. The QT is drilled in the bottom corner and I plumbed a standpipe and drain to a lab sink I plumbed in beside the display. I also have a line off my display return (green valve) that lets me do easy water changes (no buckets anymore!). I also labbelled the unpainted "window" into my calfo overflow so I can check if any fish have "gone over the wall". Also shown is my SW storage (RV water tank)

http://www3.telus.net/lucas-mustangs/AQUA/QT-setup.jpg

You can see my two new arrivals in the shot as well. A Magnificent Foxface (siganus magnifica) and a Scribbled Rabbitfish (siganus doliatus) that came in from OA Monday night. They will be in QT for an expected 4 weeks if all goes well.


Here's a view of the QT overflow. I bought a jet tub nozzle fitting, chucked out the nozzle and stretched a piece of fishnet over the top to prevent accidental trips down the drain. I also added a SeaChem ammonia badge for extra piece of mind.

http://www3.telus.net/lucas-mustangs/AQUA/QT-overflow.jpg


And here's the homemade bubble or drip counter I made. A valve from Home Depot, two rubber ends that I had in my junk drawer (they are used to protect pipe fittings) and a piece of uder gravel filter standpipe. The valve does take a bit of fiddling to get the right flowrate as it's not very accurate, next time I would use a needle valve. It's clipped to the wall as I remove it to drip acclimate corals as well.

http://www3.telus.net/lucas-mustangs/AQUA/drip-count.jpg

[Alberta-newb]

A shot of my new "test subjects":

http://www3.telus.net/lucas-mustangs/AQUA/magnificent1.jpg

So far they are doing well and both have good appetites. The doliatus is extremely shy and has not colored up yet (might take several weeks). For different species they sure are chummy and spend most of their time side by side in contact with each other. Do fish make friends like people?

[michika]

Thank you very much for the photos. I'm a visual person, so sometimes technical descriptions are beyond me.

Love your new additions. I tried for a magnificent foxface, but J&L couldn't ship it out at a time that worked for me. They are super hard to find!