Snake's Methods for Aquarium Maintenance

Snake's Methods for Aquarium Maintenance

This is just my personal guideline as to what I do and check for when I maintain my (or someone elses) aquarium. Different systems require different checks. I do not use all of the equipment that one can put on a tank, therefore I can not tell you what the maintenance is on every single piece of equipment.

Daily:

1. I count the fish, corals, and inverts. If something is missing, then I have to find it. If a fish is dead, it should be gotten out of the tank.

2. General look and feel. Does everything look healthy, out, open, and swimming around?

3. Look at the fish for any sign of irregularities. At the first sign of disease, I can pull them out and put them in a hospital tank to be treated.

4. Feed the fish, corals, and inverts what I normally would.

5. Observe to see if timers are turning everything on and off at the proper times and make adjustments as necessary.

6. Top offs

7. Empty skimmer cup and clean it.

Weekly:

1. I check the salinity, Nitrate, Phosphate, calcium and alkalinity and make adjustments to it as needed.

2. I check the power cords and equipment for signs of rust and erosion

3. I wipe down my lighting's glass and clean it

4. I wipe down my tanks glass, inside and out.

5. I use a turkey baster to blow/dust off all of the rocks and let it get caught by the filtration system.

6. I replace half of my filters with fresh filters, or rinse my old filters out in tap water.

7. I check the air valve to the skimmer to make sure it's working properly and unclogged.

8. I scrub half of my algae scrubber clean.

9. I check to make sure all the pumps and powerheads are still working properly.

10. I check that the GFCI unit still works.

Monthly:

1. I do a full range test, excluding ammonia and nitrite. Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium, Phosphate, Nitrate, salinity. If needed, I make adjustments.

2. I dose Kent's Essential Elements in the water to add trace elements back to the water (including iron) which helps my corals and algae scrubber to grow strong.

Every 3 months:

1. I replace the CFL bulbs on my algae scrubber.

Every Six Months

1. I replace any bulbs that look like they are yellowing or outdated

2. I'll assess my water quality and compare it to my corals growth patterns and determine if a water change is necessary. If not I proceed onward...

Every year:

1. I assess my water quality and determine if a water change is applicable. If my aquarium is looking decent, and I am getting good growth patterns and my water quality is fine, I'll assess it again in another six months to determine if a water change is necessary.

2. I'll change bulbs that are burnt out or yellowing

3. re-check all of my equipment

4. Stir some stuff up in the tank to prevent old tank syndrome

5. re-arrange / frag corals

Notice that I only do water changes once every six months to a year. I do not believe in constant water changes, but constant water quality checks and balances. Calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, and trace elements can all be dosed in a tank. Salinity can always be kept constant with top offs, Sometimes, salinity will rise because of dosing two part solutions, and therefore, some saltwater will have to be taken out and be topped off with freshwater. I do one 50% water change once a year, almost always. I don't believe I have ever gone more then a year without a water change. It usually doesn't even need it, but I do it because I feel once a year is bare minimum.

Nitrate and phosphate can always be reduced by algae scrubbers and protein skimming. Therefore, I don't do water changes to reduce nitrate and phosphate because my nitrate and phosphate are usually zero. This is just my experience, and all the water change information I have presented here may or may not work for you. Through experience, you will learn what works best for your tank.

If you would like to read more of my articles and threads, please visit this link: Snake's Methods.

Hey Mike! Sorry I am just now noticing that someone posted on this thread. To answer your question(s)... 

This is my build thread for my current tank: http://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/387674/snakes-20g-nano-build-thread

I also have had a lot of saltwater aquariums over my career, and taken care of many others. My first tank I set up was a little over 6 years ago. It was a 20g too. Then I moved on to a 90g show tank with a 16g sump. Then I bought six 55g tanks and set up an aquaculture / growout / experimentation system. I gathered some equipment to breed clownfish and grew out three clowns, but didn't have the time to continue breeding. From there I set up several tanks for friends and clients. Then, I started a live fish store in 2008, where I ran 44, 30g holding tanks, two 135g squares, two 55g liverock tanks, and a 240g reef tank. I had quite a few clients at the time, freshwater, saltwater, and turtle tanks that I maintained. I closed my store and sold most of my tanks and equipment, but I've kept up with enough equipment for a 20g tank. I just was financially able to start up a 20g nano tank again a few months ago.

I have several freshwater aquariums that I maintain for clients, and I have three saltwater aquariums that I maintain for other clients. One of my clients tanks I take weekly pics of and post the shots in. Here's the link: http://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/388488/progress-shots-of-110g-show-tank

In the next couple of years, I am going back to school at the University of Southern Mississippi to get a Bachelors and Masters degree in Marine Biology. I hope to also obtain a Doctorate of Marine Biology one day.

Thanks nightfox. Any additional questions? 

Thanks, lol?

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelerjp98 

Not too bad... lol.

Just wondering why you are laughing?

lol. Traveler is young, so it's forgivable.

Lol. I just assumed that most people's second hobby is photography.... Taking pics of their fish. I didn't list it because it's not truly a part of maintenance. 

Mike,

You may find this thread interesting: http://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/388776/snakes-methods

Specifically these two threads:

http://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/388857/snakes-method-for-building-an-algae-scrubber

http://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/388858/snakes-method-for-algae-scrubber-basics

Let me go ahead and say that algae scrubbers do not eliminate the need for water changes. Algae scrubbers need to be cleaned once a week, like clockwork. If the scrubber is left too long without a cleaning, the algae underneath will die from lack of light and will not be effective at removing waste. So, being lazy with water changes is ok, as long as ya'll aren't lazy cleaning the scrubber screen.