I know it may sound terrible, but I enjoy doing water changes because I've already grown attached to my baby coral.
Here is the process I go through twice a week to make sure the tank is very clean:
1. Transfer the tiles to the other tank. We have two tanks for each environmental condition: two "high light, high temp", "high light, low temp", "low light, low temp", and "low light, low temp" tanks. There are two types of coral in each tank as well so I have to be very careful not to mix up the tiles...It becomes quite a process when the markings have worn off and I have to puzzle out which tile went missing.
Only four can fit in each bin so I've mastered the art of stacking.
2. The algae grows on the sides of the tanks so the water must be siphoned off.
Yes, I have swallowed some gross old seawater.
3. The water pump (constantly moves the water around the tank), the thermometer (takes the temperature of the tank around the clock), and the bubbler are removed from the tank.
4. I use paper towels to remove the algae. It was really gross in the beginning, but now I find it kinda of cool. There are different algae that grow in each tank depending on the environmental conditions. In the high light tanks, the algae grows the fastest and is very bright green. This example is in a "low light, low temp" tank and there is dark brown algae.
5. The tank was then refilled with the special filtered salt water.
Here is the process I go through twice a week to make sure the tank is very clean:
1. Transfer the tiles to the other tank. We have two tanks for each environmental condition: two "high light, high temp", "high light, low temp", "low light, low temp", and "low light, low temp" tanks. There are two types of coral in each tank as well so I have to be very careful not to mix up the tiles...It becomes quite a process when the markings have worn off and I have to puzzle out which tile went missing.
2. The algae grows on the sides of the tanks so the water must be siphoned off.
Yes, I have swallowed some gross old seawater.
3. The water pump (constantly moves the water around the tank), the thermometer (takes the temperature of the tank around the clock), and the bubbler are removed from the tank.
4. I use paper towels to remove the algae. It was really gross in the beginning, but now I find it kinda of cool. There are different algae that grow in each tank depending on the environmental conditions. In the high light tanks, the algae grows the fastest and is very bright green. This example is in a "low light, low temp" tank and there is dark brown algae.
5. The tank was then refilled with the special filtered salt water.
6. The bubbler, water pump, and temperature computer are then placed back in the tank
7. Then you have to wait. Depending on the environmental condition, it could 1-3 hours for the tank to equilibrate to the ideal temperature.
This low temp tank has to be between 25 and 27ºC.
8. The tiles are replaced and the tank is covered with plastic wrap to protect the light.
9. And repeat...7 more times!
you have to siphon it with your mouth!?! twoo coral love hahaha
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