Maintenance Schedule

Yinski · 12-30-2004, 12:49 PM

Heya 3reefers i thought that seeing as there seems to be reasonably even amounts of experienced/successful people and noobs (such as myself) on this site it might be helpful to the latter group if the former would post their typical tank maintenance schedule: i clean this every so often, i do this many water changes with this kind of water, i put in so much of this reef additive every now and then.........that sort of thing

I know that at the least it would help me a great deal and maybe some of the other beginners on this forum too.

allaboutfish37 · 12-30-2004, 05:59 PM

hi,well I have 4 tanks in my home but only 1 belong to me the others belong to wife and kid hehe.anyways I change 10% every week if I forget or to busy I do a 20% change.I have a 300gl tank so it is easier for me to do 10% per week then a really big one ..I clean the glass twice a week and skimmer about every other day..

Birdlady · 01-01-2005, 05:00 AM

Hmmm, I try to do as little as possible! *LOL!
I add *a mix of Kalkwasser and a smidge of vinegar every night in *a slow drip.
I add
turbo Calcium and alk buffer when testing shows needed which is a few times per week.
Added Iodine once to bring level up, have not needed more yet according to tests.

clean glass every day

feed every day

Water change when things don't look 'quite right', probably 15% every 2 months or so.

One general rule I use, regardless of what the directions on *a product say is safe, I do not add anything without testing for it first!!

Matt Rogers · 01-01-2005, 07:49 AM

Good stuff BL.

I tend to test on the weekend. See where I am at and then determine what needs to be dosed during the week. Sometimes it doesn't always work out and I think I should go to dosing anonymous.

I usually do a little water change every couple weeks.

Yinski · 01-02-2005, 11:06 PM

Thanks all... Ive been wondering what does kalkwasser do? how do you test whether you need it?

Birdlady · 01-03-2005, 02:59 PM

Kalkwasser is basically lime. Pickling lime that you can get at the grocery store...I use one just for marine tanks.

It helps to maintain calcium and alkalinity levels. It is often dripped in at night to prevent the naturally occuring drop in pH during the dark hours. It has the added benefit of precipitating phosphates from the water.

Testing would be for calcium and alkalinity. There are also other ways to dose for these things as well.

Bruce · 01-03-2005, 03:53 PM

lol i am so lazy...i clean my glass when its to pink to see...i never go water changes...i well unless somthing is wrong...or i am bored...and i clean my skimmer once a week...i have it "set" on low lol...and i need to buy new lights they r crappy now...bulbs i add iodine, calcium, and studsjdkd and molyskjdkk spelling lol u know what i mean those supps lol once a week....and feed my coral 1-2 a week...my brain likes to suck on my finger lol...hes a baby...w00t

Birdlady · 01-03-2005, 04:45 PM

Yup, that sounds like a regiment I would recommend to all......NOT!
[smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=loco.gif]

I hope that you do not develop an allergy to the nematocyts in your brain coral. You may end up in the hospital.

JohnO · 01-03-2005, 05:46 PM

My tank is only a few months old, but I simply clean my cannister filter every Friday and also my newly installed skimmer. Also clean the glass as required.

Water changes are not part of my regular maintenance but I do check and adjust Alk and Calc at the same time as cleaning the filtration.

John

allaboutfish37 · 01-04-2005, 02:44 AM

Like I said I have 4 tanks and I love to work on them.I just wish I could find a job taking care of tanks that pays very well