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Basssa

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Amazing Advice everyone abot Nitrates. As soon as I get my shipment of Salt I will get going on the continued water changes. However, when using a Python, or other sypon device, how do you calculate the amount of water going down the drain. Secondly, how do you calculate the amount of ROCK in the tank, I didnt (foolishly) weigh it when I put it in. If I cant fit a Bucket UNDER the Python in my sink, and I cant yank out my rock to weigh it...how can I measure this therefor being MORE precise with my water changes.
I also have a nitrate sponge on the way and will keep it handy in case the Nitrates are not where they need to be after water changes...in the meantime I am "eyeballing it" and when it drops 4-5 inches from the starting water line, I am dividing it by the depth of the tank.
THANKS!!!!!!!!
 

Bobzarry

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Drain out the amount you want to make a water change once using a siphon direct to a bucket. Then mark the water depth with a marker or tape. after that youl be able to use the python to drain to that level without worry.


Bob
 
A

Anonymous

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I eyeball it. I have a certain level in the tank that I drain down too, and I use the same office garbage can that I drain to.

As far as figuring out how much rock you have... I'd just eyeball it. Take a look at other people's tanks and make an estimate. It's not really an exact science.

Ty
 

toyfreek

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Im thinking you paid some money for the live rock. if you can remember how much you paid and how much a pound it was im sure your source wieghed it to get the most $
good luck
icon_biggrin.gif
 

polyp

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Measure the length and width of the tank. Next, measure down from the water line to whatever level you're going to siphon down to (This assumes there's nothing diplacing any water in the upper column of the tank that you need to drain -and if you're willing to drain the entire tank for the fun of it, this provides a hint to your other question, not that I would do it...).
Mark both the current water line and your depth measurement with tape. Next, determine the volume of water in whatever unit of measure: length*width*depth = volume.

Metric is easiest: 1000 cc's = 1 liter.

...whereas one cubic foot = 7.48051818833363 US gallons. One US gallon = 231 cubic inches.

Also, you can solve for a the final water level based on the volume of water that you'd like to drain. Say you want to change 10 gallons of water and you've got a tank that's 48"x18"x24" = 20736 cubic inches = 89.766232617011 gallons (not quite a 90 gallon tank).

10 gallons = 2031 cubic inches.

48"x24" = 1152"
2031" / 1152" = 1.763"

1.763" of water needs to be drained from the tank to remove 10 gallons.

At the moment, I couldn't tell ya how to do these unit conversions (I'm using a conversion calc), but that's what search engines are for - you can find one easily... better yet, use metric.

But mostly, when it comes down to it, I just eyeball it.
 

polyp

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Ooops. Regarding the last example in my previous post, I've transposed Height and width... Sorry 'bout that. ...same idea though.
 

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