snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
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:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
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.
[*]
General look and feel. Does everything look healthy, out, open, and swimming around?
[*]
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.
[*]
Feed the fish, corals, and inverts what I normally would.
[*]
Observe to see if timers are turning everything on and off at the proper times and make adjustments as necessary.
[*]
Top offs
[*]
Empty skimmer cup and clean it.
[*]
Assess to see if a water change is needed, if water quality is in balance then I wait.
[/list type=decimal]
Weekly:
I check the salinity, Nitrate, Phosphate, calcium and alkalinity and make adjustments to it as needed.
I check the power cords and equipment for signs of rust and erosion
I wipe down my lighting's glass and clean it
I wipe down my tanks glass, inside and out.
I use a turkey baster to blow/dust off all of the rocks and let it get caught by the filtration system.
I replace half of my filters with fresh filters, or rinse my old filters out in tap water.
I check the air valve to the skimmer to make sure it's working properly and unclogged.
I scrub half of my algae scrubber clean.
I check to make sure all the pumps and powerheads are still working properly.[*]
I check that the GFCI unit still works.
[*]
Test my water to see if my chemical balances are correct and adjust them as necessary
[*]
If chemical balances are not correct, I make up a 20% water change.
Monthly:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
I do a full range test, excluding ammonia and nitrite. Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium, Phosphate, Nitrate, salinity. If needed, I make adjustments.
[*]
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.
[*]
Assess water quality and determine if water change is applicable. If detritus is building up in sump, then a good siphoning is in order.
Every 3 months:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
I replace the CFL bulbs on my algae scrubber.
[*]
Lightly disturb the sandbed and prepare for a 20% water change if water quality or chemical balance is off.
Every Six Months
I replace any bulbs that look like they are yellowing or outdated
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...
[/list type=decimal]
Every year:
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.
I'll change bulbs that are burnt out or yellowing
re-check all of my equipment
Stir some stuff up in the tank to prevent old tank syndrome
re-arrange / frag corals
[/list type=decimal]
I do not believe in constant daily or weekly water changes, but constant water quality checks and balances to assess if water changes are needed. 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.
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.
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:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
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.
[*]
General look and feel. Does everything look healthy, out, open, and swimming around?
[*]
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.
[*]
Feed the fish, corals, and inverts what I normally would.
[*]
Observe to see if timers are turning everything on and off at the proper times and make adjustments as necessary.
[*]
Top offs
[*]
Empty skimmer cup and clean it.
[*]
Assess to see if a water change is needed, if water quality is in balance then I wait.
[/list type=decimal]
Weekly:
I check the salinity, Nitrate, Phosphate, calcium and alkalinity and make adjustments to it as needed.
I check the power cords and equipment for signs of rust and erosion
I wipe down my lighting's glass and clean it
I wipe down my tanks glass, inside and out.
I use a turkey baster to blow/dust off all of the rocks and let it get caught by the filtration system.
I replace half of my filters with fresh filters, or rinse my old filters out in tap water.
I check the air valve to the skimmer to make sure it's working properly and unclogged.
I scrub half of my algae scrubber clean.
I check to make sure all the pumps and powerheads are still working properly.[*]
I check that the GFCI unit still works.
[*]
Test my water to see if my chemical balances are correct and adjust them as necessary
[*]
If chemical balances are not correct, I make up a 20% water change.
Monthly:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
I do a full range test, excluding ammonia and nitrite. Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium, Phosphate, Nitrate, salinity. If needed, I make adjustments.
[*]
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.
[*]
Assess water quality and determine if water change is applicable. If detritus is building up in sump, then a good siphoning is in order.
Every 3 months:
[list type=decimal]
[*]
I replace the CFL bulbs on my algae scrubber.
[*]
Lightly disturb the sandbed and prepare for a 20% water change if water quality or chemical balance is off.
Every Six Months
I replace any bulbs that look like they are yellowing or outdated
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...
[/list type=decimal]
Every year:
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.
I'll change bulbs that are burnt out or yellowing
re-check all of my equipment
Stir some stuff up in the tank to prevent old tank syndrome
re-arrange / frag corals
[/list type=decimal]
I do not believe in constant daily or weekly water changes, but constant water quality checks and balances to assess if water changes are needed. 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.
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.
(with their tails but that made them soooo pretty)