Changing Water and Topping up water

[phuakl]

Hi,

I am in the process of cycyling my pico tank. If the water evoporate, should i use distilled water or salt water i got from the LSF?

Do i have to change the water weekly while the cycyling is ongoing? Should i change the water using the NSW from the LSF?

Does mineral water from the supermarket consider distilled water?

Sorry for so many questions.

Jai

[onizukaa]

I am in the process of cycyling my pico tank. If the water evoporate, should i use distilled water or salt water i got from the LSF?

answer: you can get ro/di water to top up and never top up with salt water, salt is already inside your tank and only "water" evaporates leaving the salt behind,unless you suck the water out from your tank, yes you need to pour the same amount of water back

Do i have to change the water weekly while the cycyling is ongoing? Should i change the water using the NSW from the LSF?

suggestion: not really, some reefers change water only after the 1 month cycling period e.g.: 20% or 50%, some dont even change the water and it ready to stock.

my 2cents

[arcanehacker]

Do i have to change the water weekly while the cycyling is ongoing?

Do water change only after cycling phase.. meaning ammonia and nitrite is 0, nitrate starts to increase..

[teebs]

Top up of evaporated water use distilled water. DON'T use mineral water.

Water change can be done using either your own salt mix (distilled/RO/DI water mixed with any brand of sea salt) or NSW if you want to save the hassle of mixing your salt. Just take note that some NSW from some of the LFS has nitrates and phosphates.

[comycus]

Because yours is a pico tank, water change is essential. I think weekly is the bare minimum. However, start changing only after your cycling process is completed.

I still prefer salt mix to NSW, especially since you won't be changing much at anytime, the costs and hassle of mixing salt yourself is not as great as compared to a 100G tank.

[Ketchup]

Ya.. for pico tank, making one batch of salt water is easy.. can last a while.

[phuakl]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the fast reply.

Just wondering, when do i need to test for Ammonia, No2 and No3? I just start cyclying yesterday night.

Anyway, i got the NSW from AQ and purchased the live sand from AQ as well. There are two pieces of live rock in it. i added one dose of bacteria as well.

But i yet to add in the fish food. Most properly doing it tonight when i reach home.

Anything else i miss out?

[phuakl]

I will out properly getting the distilled water since it is a pico tank...haha..

[jackywongto]

I will out properly getting the distilled water since it is a pico tank...haha..

stock up when NTUC has the 2 bottles for 89 cents promo.

that makes 1.5 l only about 45 cents.

quite cheap.

but do note that Distill water has only a PH of 7.

So your PH is likely to drop over time if you top up often.

If you adding tap water using conditioners, do note tap water has a PH of about 9.5

happy reefing bro and welcome to the club!

[comycus]

sounds ok to me. Can start testing every 2-3 days if i were you. Although I think you might not register much as you are using nsw, live sand and cycled rock.

btw... what's AQ? can only think of aquatic quotient...

[onizukaa]

AQ might be aquamarin haha

[phuakl]

Haha.. Should be AM..

One more question, i just read that the NSW from the LFS can only last for few days? Unless i connect it with a air pump. And you can't seal it with the cover because there will be any oxygen in it, is that true?

I just get one jerry can of NSW from the shop?

[jackywongto]

Haha.. Should be AM..

One more question, i just read that the NSW from the LFS can only last for few days? Unless i connect it with a air pump. And you can't seal it with the cover because there will be any oxygen in it, is that true?

I just get one jerry can of NSW from the shop?

correct. there are beneficial bacteria in the water.

without oxygenation, there will be die offs.

but having said that, they are reefer who keep them for weeks in a container without oxygen.

Pls do not assume its NSW so the parameters are all ok.

Pls check nitrate, phosphate and salinity especially before using

[comycus]

Haha.. Should be AM..

One more question, i just read that the NSW from the LFS can only last for few days? Unless i connect it with a air pump. And you can't seal it with the cover because there will be any oxygen in it, is that true?

I just get one jerry can of NSW from the shop?

I still prefer salt mix due to their stable parameters. You can't afford wild swings in your pico tank.

[onizukaa]

I still prefer salt mix due to their stable parameters. You can't afford wild swings in your pico tank.

agree.

salt mix have the calcium/mag/kh etc minerals that NSW is low in.

therefore using salt mix, you wont really need to dose additional additives if your salt mix cal/mg/kh is high.

save $$

[phuakl]

I still prefer salt mix due to their stable parameters. You can't afford wild swings in your pico tank.

Noted. But can the salt mix last for months?

Do i have to add in the bacteria into the salt mix?

[onizukaa]

Noted. But can the salt mix last for months?

Do i have to add in the bacteria into the salt mix?

yup if you buy a pail of salt mix

red sea coral - 8 red notes ++++

or

D&D H2Ocean Natural Reef Salt (23 Kg) - 2 blue and 3 red notes +++++

or other salt mix that is within your budget.

it can last you for months, 3 month down the road with changing of water weekly for my 12g, it's not even 1/4 used HAHA.

can last you for ages as your's a pico.

For the bacteria, i would recommend dosing prodibro (petmart offer of 20% might be still on can call to check)

1 blue notes ++++ for 30 bioclean (not sure promotion still on) can dose bi-weekly per tube.

if budget your concern can try those cheap bacteria starter..

[comycus]

Prodibio is good, but since yours is a pico, I won't suggest it coz quite wasteful to dose 1 tube into your pico tank.

Can consider rowabac if budget not a concern. If budget is a concern, can try Brightwell's microbacter 7. You should dose bac whenever you do a WC, which in your case should be v. often. I would do 10% change every 3-4 days.

Salt mix can last for a long time as long as it's stored in a cool, dry place. Don't need to get a bucket la, overkill. Maybe get the smaller buckets, can last you prob at least 1 year.

[phuakl]

Thanks for the reply guys,

I didn't know that the salt mix is so expensive. Actually, i am thinking to mix the salt and fill up the Jerry can i have. Is it a good idea?

Also, the NSW i got from AM, do you think i should pour it away since it can last for 2-3 days?

If i use distilled water, do i still need to add in the anti-clorine liquad?

[comycus]

distilled water no need to add anti chlorine.

salt mix is not as expensive as you think. To put things into perspective, a 6.6kg bucket from D-D H2Ocean costs $45 (before discount) and can mix approximately 50 gallons. If yours is a 10g pico, doing a 10% change twice weekly, this small bucket can last you 5-6 months.

You can mix the salt and leave it to stand in the toilet or something. Just remember to check the salinity before adding to account for possible evaporation of water.

[onizukaa]

to add on to bro comycus, you need to put one air bubble/wavemaker to circulate the salt mixed water.

[phuakl]

distilled water no need to add anti chlorine.

salt mix is not as expensive as you think. To put things into perspective, a 6.6kg bucket from D-D H2Ocean costs $45 (before discount) and can mix approximately 50 gallons. If yours is a 10g pico, doing a 10% change twice weekly, this small bucket can last you 5-6 months.

You can mix the salt and leave it to stand in the toilet or something. Just remember to check the salinity before adding to account for possible evaporation of water.

ok.

Thanks alot for the advise.

Do you think i should add fish food instead of having a prawn for cycling? Is there any other choices?

[RockyBoy]

ok.

Thanks alot for the advise.

Do you think i should add fish food instead of having a prawn for cycling? Is there any other choices?

Put startup bacteria. You can purchase from any LFS.

[RockyBoy]

to add on to bro comycus, you need to put one air bubble/wavemaker to circulate the salt mixed water.

A good practise but I never do this.

[comycus]

A good practise but I never do this.

lol you're not the only guilty one.

Yupz, I didn't add fish food or mkt prawn to cycle. Just bac will do.