How to do a Water Change

[reefnoob]

I used to vaccuum the gravel but I realize this could be sucking up the organisms living in it. So how would I change the water? Would I just scoop some water out randomly and then dump water back in?

 

[Civicdemon]

When i do a water change i usually just clean the glas before i suck any water out. if you like you can slightly go over your substrate to pick up anything you see that should not be there.

What kind of substrate are u using ???

Your clean up crew should mostly take care of the sand for you. If you have a deep substrate then its inportant not to disturb it and just let your CUC take care of it. Keep in my a gooc CUC ( Clean up Crew ) Is Key.

So just suck bad water out and slowly pore in new water and try not to disturb anything.

Me personally i like to use a turky baster and blast my rocks a bit while im using my syphon house to suck all that nasty stuff out. I turn all my power heads off and pumps that way it does not go everywhere and i have a chance to suck it out of the tank.

 

[ErinCahir]

I used to vaccuum the gravel but I realize this could be sucking up the organisms living in it. So how would I change the water? Would I just scoop some water out randomly and then dump water back in?

Do you have actual gravel in your tank? Or some other substrate? Sand is your best best.

(And I siphon water out (focusing around my rocks) and then slowly pour it back in.)

 

[reefnoob]

Sorry I meant that I have sand.

 

[ErinCahir]

In that case you should let your clean up crew tend to the sand for you. Nassarius snails do a fabulous job keeping the sand stirred up.

 

[reefnoob]

I ordered about 40 nassarius snails from liveaquaria and they were TINY. Like 1/4-1/2 of a centimeter. Those were the regular kinds. Should I order the super tongan nassarius snails next time instead?

 

[ErinCahir]

That would work. Or a fighting conch. I loved mine!

 

[reefnoob]

Would a sand sifting goby work too?

 

[ErinCahir]

Absolutely!

 

[reefnoob]

Thanks so much for the advice!

 

[ErinCahir]

Anytime. :)

 

[reefnoob]

Actually there is a possibility that I have very small gravel. Like not the huge kinds, but its like really tiny rocks and stuff. Not sure if this is still sand. But a watchman goby can still sift it though right?