So I am researching a tank and had a few questions about maintenance. I have a niece who worked in a pet store (chain) and said their saltwater tanks were always super nasty and had to be cleaned daily and even then it was not enough for them to be clean. Now from my research it seems a lot of people do not have to do this with their tanks... My question is can someone tell me their maintenance schedule and what they do daily/monthly/yearly. I just want to know before I delve into this great adventure. Now routine maintenance does not scare me at all but I'm just curious as to what others do. Thanks in advance!
A few questions before I begin...
- Thread starter JimBonks
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I’m the worst, but have learned the hard way, expensive way, and couldn’t be happier today. 10% weekly water changes can help bunches, but I also found out that too clean isn’t good either. Remember this, it helped me greatly, Try to do something everyday! Make your own routine.
8 am - check tank, everything working, nothing leaking, nobody dead, ok, here’s some food.
12 pm - check again,
7 pm - check again, feed again
Most of your time is spent looking, searching, wondering what could be!
Hey! Welcome to Reef 2 Reef ! Most questions answered. Many answers questioned!
8 am - check tank, everything working, nothing leaking, nobody dead, ok, here’s some food.
12 pm - check again,
7 pm - check again, feed again
Most of your time is spent looking, searching, wondering what could be!
Hey! Welcome to Reef 2 Reef ! Most questions answered. Many answers questioned!
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There is a good chance that her pet store approached saltwater from a freshwater perspective (ie treated tapwater) in which case they will be an incessant problem. An RODI system will go a long way to removing said hassle. A good cleanup crew and cleaning fish can make a world of difference as well (ie snails, crabs, sand sifting fish, algae eating fish). Saltwater tanks are higher maintenance than freshwater but a lot of it depends on what size of tank you have and what it is stocked with. A 20 Long FOWLR (Fish Only with Live Rock) tank isn't going to be much more maintenance than a freshwater tank.
sbash
Valuable Member
Not a whole lot on my end... Cleaning the glass is the only thing I do once a week. If my evenings aren't terribly busy, then I might clean it a couple times a week. I invested in a good magnetic cleaner with a scraper on one side and a scrubby on the other, I use the flipper max; but magfloats work well, as do the cheapo ones from China.
I empty my skimmer cup every couple weeks... Hmm... There's testing, which I do anywhere from once every couple weeks to every day (I'm still trying to hone in my 220).
Water changes are even being phased out in the hobby as a regular form of maintenance. Now, my 220 is far from perfect, ever since my auto-feeder fell in I have been battling hair algae. But it still looks great, there is nothing nasty going on.
If you have problem algae, then you may need to keep on it to get it fully removed (once or twice a week with your arm in the tank pulling it out). You are going to have problems, and if they are dealt with properly then they should go away and shouldn't become part of your regular maintenance.
A lot of issues I see with new people in the hobby is over feeding, which you likely will do, we all do... So build a refugium with a good light and a good macro...
I empty my skimmer cup every couple weeks... Hmm... There's testing, which I do anywhere from once every couple weeks to every day (I'm still trying to hone in my 220).
Water changes are even being phased out in the hobby as a regular form of maintenance. Now, my 220 is far from perfect, ever since my auto-feeder fell in I have been battling hair algae. But it still looks great, there is nothing nasty going on.
If you have problem algae, then you may need to keep on it to get it fully removed (once or twice a week with your arm in the tank pulling it out). You are going to have problems, and if they are dealt with properly then they should go away and shouldn't become part of your regular maintenance.
A lot of issues I see with new people in the hobby is over feeding, which you likely will do, we all do... So build a refugium with a good light and a good macro...
