Saltwater change premixed vs mixing myself

[Smarkalan83]

Ok today I need to do a 15 gallon water change to try and lower nitrates.... I have always used premixed water from LFS but it is getting pretty expensive .... If I mix the water myself today do I have to wait to change the water or can I put it in after I mix it.... I have extra powerheads to help mix it and they are pretty powerful....or should I eat my loss and buy premixed for the time being.....

 

[iDream]

most leave it over night to make sure it completely mixes and add a heater to keep the temp matched to your tank

 

[Smarkalan83]

Well I can make it same temp no prob .... I am only mixing 15 gal and using 1300 gph powerhead to mix.... Do you think I would be able to put it in w/o harming fish after hour or so?

 

[neilanh]

You're doing a 15g water change, but how large is the tank? Are you changing 10% of the water or 1%?

Allowing it to sit for 24 hours is ideal. This allows not only for the salt to mix, but for the agitation to stabilize the pH of the new water as well.

You can do an "emergency" water change without letting everything stabilize, but it's not preferred.

 

[Smarkalan83]

It is a 60 gallon tank and I think it would have to be emergency change being that my nitrates are 60-80ppm

 

[neilanh]

In that case, I think you'll be okay, I just wouldn't make it the standard. Give it as much time as you can to mix up and make sure the salinity is correct. Run the powerhead pointing at the surface to get as much surface agitation as possible in the process too.

 

[PrettyFishies]

Keep in mind that salt is actually bad for the fish if not mixed long enough. But in this emergency situation, you should be okay if you give it a couple of hours.

 

[Smarkalan83]

Well I mixed the salt with 2 1300gph powerheads for 2-1/2 hours checked salinity and it was at 1.022 so was my tank.... I poured in the water fish seem fine but now it's saying 1.026-1.028 .... Is that possible and will it harm fish?....

 

[neilanh]

was the water level in the tank low when you added it?

 

[Smarkalan83]

Both levels were identical ... 1.022

 

[Gti_Leo]

it could possibly be the different temps of the water that caused the SG to be different. did you make sure the temperatures were the same?

 

[Smarkalan83]

They were about 2 degrees off

 

[Smarkalan83]

Can the higher salinity harm my fish??

 

[nxb161]

the change can stress some fish out, and depending on their envirnoment, like the reason for the emergency water change, won't help things.

 

[Gti_Leo]

i think the best way to change water it to pump the water from your mixing bucket with a power head and empty the water the same way. i doublt the fish would notice the difference as it'll just be cycling the water like the power head would

 

[thincat]

How did you get the nitrate level to go so high? When was the last time you did a PWC? What are your other readings?

 

[Smarkalan83]

I did a 6gal water change a week ago to help with a cyano outbreak then that cleared and I lost a rabbitfish and they spiked an then I changed yesterday and I lost emperor angel today and they spike again in process of mixing 28 gallons for a water change I am hoping this helps my situation

 

[thincat]

Sorry for your lost, Son, But you have to keep up on your water changes as this is the only way to keep "Parameters" in check in a closed system. Replacement water is allot cheaper then fish. You need to do at least 15% everyother week.

 

[iDream]

emperor angel in a 60? thats much too small. what all is this tank stocked with? it may be a contribution to the cyano outbreak

 

[Smarkalan83]

Well I'm upgrading to bigger tank soon but right now I have from biggest to smallest

Hippo tang
Scopas tang
Sailfin tang
Yellow tang
2 clown fish
1 goby
2 damsels
1 Sally lightfoot
4 anemones
4 blue leg hermit crab
10 snails