Best approach for water changes?
- Thread starter akaps
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If you do not have the extra space for an ATO reservoir, you can use a cheap water bottle ato. I use something like this on my 11g tank and it works perfectly. You just hear it gurgle from time to time. But imo, it’s worth it to avoid swings.
POPETPOP Aquarium ATO T Tool Aquarium Mini Level Water Controller
https://a.co/d/3Qd7byD
Edit: Sorry, I never answered the question. Like I said, I have a 11.3G with roughly ~7G of actual water and I do ~10% weekly. I use a one gallon pitcher with measurements on the side so I know how much I took out and easily measure how much to put back in.
Amazon product
POPETPOP Aquarium ATO T Tool Aquarium Mini Level Water Controller
https://a.co/d/3Qd7byD
Edit: Sorry, I never answered the question. Like I said, I have a 11.3G with roughly ~7G of actual water and I do ~10% weekly. I use a one gallon pitcher with measurements on the side so I know how much I took out and easily measure how much to put back in.
Amazon product
Last edited:
Reef_at_Sea
Active Member
DON'T GO CHEAP ON AN ATO, if it fails you will have a world of hurt, get yourself a good well proven ATO.
It’s a simple gravity fed ATO with a small water bottle. Even if somehow the whole bottle emptied prematurely, it wouldn’t overflow the tank and shouldn’t drastically swing the parameters. I haven’t had any issues with it and just refill it every water change.
NC AL
Community Member
I am assuming you have a Fluval 13.5, so all of my comments are based on this. Disregard my comments if not. My son has this tank as well and it has been thriving for over a year. Here are some helpful suggestions.
If you are using the stock light, replace it with an AI Blade grow 12". $150ish but fits perfectly into the stock location. He uses the stock lid. The stock light is way to bright adding too much energy into the tank.
He has a small dosing pump ($80) to dose kalkwasser solution. Through trial an error we have been able to match the dosing amount to equal (perhaps a teeny tiny amount less) to the evaporation rate in the tank. The accomplishes the auto top off while providing a fixed kalwasser solution input. The return pump chamber maintains a constant volume. This keeps the salinity stable. Now when he does weekly water changes (2-3gallons) we just make sure the water going in has the correct salinity. He could do less, but normally takes him that amount to vacuum the sand.
If you are using the stock light, replace it with an AI Blade grow 12". $150ish but fits perfectly into the stock location. He uses the stock lid. The stock light is way to bright adding too much energy into the tank.
He has a small dosing pump ($80) to dose kalkwasser solution. Through trial an error we have been able to match the dosing amount to equal (perhaps a teeny tiny amount less) to the evaporation rate in the tank. The accomplishes the auto top off while providing a fixed kalwasser solution input. The return pump chamber maintains a constant volume. This keeps the salinity stable. Now when he does weekly water changes (2-3gallons) we just make sure the water going in has the correct salinity. He could do less, but normally takes him that amount to vacuum the sand.
OP
OP
akaps
Active Member
Yes vacuuming sand is why my water changes turn out so large! This is all great advice, I do appreciate it. I use the light that came with it, but I attached a timer and a dimmer to it so it’s only on 5-6 hours a day and only an hour or two of that is full brightness. I am fairly new to this hobby, what is the kalwasser for?
Balthazar
Community Member
The op stated there is no coral in the tank. Not sure why the light recommendations unless he plan on corals in the future.
The 13.5 has enough room in the return pump chamber for, a pump, heater and ato if you choose the right equipment.
I use one from autotopoff. He has a few different options to suit. I had one float switch fail once but the back up float switch stopped the tank from overflowing. I use a power tiny pump that he sells or you can find it as well on amazon. Pumps up to 4 ft with no problems.
Highly recommend an ATO as others have mentioned.
The 13.5 has enough room in the return pump chamber for, a pump, heater and ato if you choose the right equipment.
I use one from autotopoff. He has a few different options to suit. I had one float switch fail once but the back up float switch stopped the tank from overflowing. I use a power tiny pump that he sells or you can find it as well on amazon. Pumps up to 4 ft with no problems.
Highly recommend an ATO as others have mentioned.
NC AL
Community Member
Just merely offering some advice from a fellow EVO owner. The stock light is a fixed light that puts off a tremendous amount of heat for its size. It is also within 2-3 inches from the water. This directly relates to the evaporation which is contributing to his salinity swings. Switching to an AI blade was one of the best upgrades we did to my sons tank. The OP can make his own decisions with any information he is given.
Balthazar
Community Member
He doesn’t have much evaporation. Is it possible he is topping off with saltwater? Akaps?
Someone else mentioned perhaps he is making his water changes before topping off with ro water thus increasing his salinity.
OP
OP
akaps
Active Member
I don’t top off as I don’t get more than half a gallon, if that, of evaporation between water changes. I think my issue is just doing too big of changes, I’m gonna try doing smaller ones and see how it goes!
OP
OP
akaps
Active Member
I do see how this could be an issue with larger amounts of evaporation, and I see now I shoulda been taking this into consideration when doing water changes and adding more saltwater than i should have been. I think taking this into consideration will help me a lot
Balthazar
Community Member
Being that you said you are new to this, top off water is done with fresh(as in no salt) water. Preferably made with a ro/di unit or purchased. You could use distilled water from the store if needed.
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