Reef Tank Parasites

Adding RODI water to my Reef Aquarium water changes?

Hey, I have a 180 gallon saltwater Reef Tank, when doing a 10% water changes is it a good idea to add RODI water (purified freshwater/reverse osmosis) straight to the tank? After adding the freshwater I usually adjust its salinity accordingly. I have heard that purified water kills many parasites. Is this the right way to do it?

You should never do water changes by adding freshwater to your tank and then adding salt to your tank….never.

ALWAYS mix your RO/DI water (excellent choice to use RO/DI) with synthetic salt in a separate mixing container (make sure the container has no metal parts in it). Mix this new saltwater to 1.025-1.026 specific gravity, bring it to the same temperature as your tank, and let this mixture circulate with a powerhead and heater for 12-24 hrs before introducing it to your display tank as a water change.

After the 24 hrs of mixing time, you can remove the 10% water from your display tank and then add the newly mixed saltwater back into your display.

Pouring salt directly into your display tank can actually burn and kill fish, coral, and invertebrates. It is a very dangerous process to add the salt into your tank. This is why we don’t even mix the new saltwater in a separate bucket and then add it directly to our tanks. We let it mix and stop ‘reacting’ by waiting 12-24 hrs.

Hope this helps,
swimmer

Suspected Brain Eating Parasite