Huge water change...is it bad?

[jroczniak]

To make the story short

1. did about a 30% water change
2. tube fell out of sump and drained part of tank on floor..say about 20 gallons..
3. had to add a ton more prepared water.

Is it bad that I had to do a probably 60% water change tonight? Can it affect the tank too much? I know most people say to do around 20.


Thanks....

p.s. all water leaked through hardwood floor into basement......still dripping...shopvacs rule...

 

[Chris L]

i would not worry. just check your water to make sure salinity and parameters are good

 

[JayM]

You may have depleted some of the waterborne plankton and bacteria, but you should be OK. Make sure you do param checks.

BTW, your post is my worst nightmare.....20 gallons

 

[Chris L]

i have about 150 gallons total volume and i do about 30 gallons a week

 

[JayM]

Your dilution rate at 30 gallons is 20%, 1/3 of his 60% water change. 40% is a lot of buffer for the delta in percentage.

FWIW, I was doing 25 gallon changes fighting a nitrate/biolad problem on my tank, with about 60 gallons of total volume.

 

[jroczniak]

I will just watch the normal parameters and watch the fish and coral and hopefully it will all be ok. Maybe i can finally lose that last little bit of a nitrate problem...

Thanks all...

 

[Triggerfish]

Maybe i can finally lose that last little bit of a nitrate problem...

and that's probably what was needed to reduce the nitrate..so not all bad.

 

[RichConley]

As long as you matched up Ca, Alk, and salinity, it should be ok. I dont like adding freshly mixed salt to my tank (everything looks pissed for a couple hours) but I've never seen it actually kill anything.

 

[JayM]

As long as you matched up Ca, Alk, and salinity, it should be ok. I dont like adding freshly mixed salt to my tank (everything looks pissed for a couple hours) but I've never seen it actually kill anything.

LOL, 'everything looks pissed'