Expose rock/coral during water change?

[Dominican]

For the longest time I've had enough LR to only stack up about 60% of the way up my 150; that's 60% of the way up in the middle, 25-30% on the sides. Now I'm planning on getting more LR to make room for SPS by stacking higher. How high should I go?

It occurred to me that when I do water changes, as it is, I drain the tank down to where a big plate coral that sits directly in the middle and sticks up gets slightly exposed. So I thought, how does someone with LR and large amounts of coral that sit high in their tank do a water change without exposing a bunch of the coral to air? What are your experiences? Curious and just thinking ahead, thanks...

[princer7]

My corals are mostly frags but...

during water changes, they get exposed to the air. I just try to be prepared with everything so the water change is done quickly.

[andysgr]

As long as the corals are not dry for an extended period of time they should be perfectly fine. In nature many corals are without water for a long-time during low tide.

[coraline79]

I have pulled my rock w/ corals attached out, to clean something off, to pull creeping gsp's, or just for rearrangement. I have left them out for up too about 45 minutes, no problem.

[des]

Acropora and other shallow water coral are adapted to air exposure. And most people frag and glue their corals out of the water. I've been told that the only thing hurt by air exposure are sponges- they get "air-lock" in their siphons and water channels.

[Bill S]

Mine get regularly exposed to air. I DO turn the lights off so as not to bake them.

[ErikH]

How much water does your sump hold? You could just drain it from there.

[tropicana]

How much water does your sump hold? You could just drain it from there.

Thats how I do it, I use 2 pumps. I pump out from the section that the overflow goes into. Then I use another pump to pump from another bucket back into the section where the return pump is. My water never fluctuates.

[Dominican]

Good feedback thanks.. My sump is only 20gal, and stays about 3/4 full - not nearly enough to absorb a 30-40% water change without pulling from the display. I do pullfrom the sump during a change.. Either way, sounds like there are no major concerns. I get my WC done within about 20 minutes.. Anyone else?

[Dominican]

Also, I'm looking for a bigger sump, but have limitations related to cabinet doors.. What's the ideal sump volume for a 150? The answer is probably - the bigger the better, right?

[ErikH]

Also, I'm looking for a bigger sump, but have limitations related to cabinet doors.. What's the ideal sump volume for a 150? The answer is probably - the bigger the better, right?


Correct. The more water you have, the easier it is.... kinda. :angel:

[Dominican]

Right, more volume = more stability. 20g is pretty wimpy for a 150, but I've had it in one of those blue/grey rubbermaid tubs in case I have another "accident". Early in my adventure with this tank (my 1st, btw) I had the return too low, and a couple of power outages conditioned me to fear sump-floods. Since then I raised the return and should be ok, but I'm still a little paranoid. Need to upgrade to a bigger, nicer sump, and get rid of that rubbermaid...