Reefing with chronic pain

[Gareth elliott]

Welcome to r2r!
Sorry for all the health issues.
I have no first hand or even second hand information on if they work, but there are automatic glass cleaners.

RoboSnail Automatic Aquarium Glass Cleaner 10mm

Automated glass cleaner Prevents algae build up on the aquariums surface Activate automatically once a day 24hrs after its last cleaning Made to work with most freestanding, rimless, or in wall mounted aquariums

www.robotshop.com

Never

 

[waywardreefer]

Welcome to R2R. Sorry to hear about your situation. I hope you can find some relief in some way.

I know many have spoken about tank automation already and I def agree that could help your situation. Also some methods to consider could be those that limit and or closely eliminate water changes, such as the Triton method. There is a lot of information and success stories out there with those using it.

 

[Bbfishb81]

Some businesses provide a maintenance service. Or maybe ask around. Someone might know a person who does this as well. I loved Australia so much and want to move there in the next year, doing tank maintenance was something I though of as an extra cash job.

 

[WVNed]

Welcome
My solution was to build a large system that I can maintain standing up in a well lit area. I have nothing on the ground or in a cabinet. It is all screwed to a wall.
I have heard large systems are more stable and require less fiddling and this seems to be true. I am doing one water change a month instead of every week.
Any water I need to go anywhere does so in a pipe. No lifting.
I am very messy and tend to get water everywhere. So everything is on waterproof flooring.
Unions to clean pumps and things are in the open where I can put force on them with tools and not my joints. The pumps are in a large area and easy to access. No contortions to get them out.
So far there is no inkling of what is wrong with me. I go to a neurologist and rheumatologist in January.
I toughed it out for 25 years and will go down fighting.

 

[motortrendz]

Wow man so sorry to hear this... theres a ton of guys that automate. I think that would be best for you. And then get yourself a recliner and a stiff drink and relax...

 

[Ruben's Reef]

!!! Welcome to R2R !!!

 

[tripdad]

Sorry for your challenges and I hope your life will improve. As suggested I would put the sump on a stand about knee height next to the tank not under it. An automated water change system attached to your RODI will eliminate buckets and get a new shop vac for cleaning out the sump so no water in that direction to carry. I use a pad on a stick type glass cleaner, it's easier on worn out wrist joints than wrestling magnetic cleaners, no friction. Best of luck.

 

[dbl]

Thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself and share your story.

 

[BeejReef]

Welcome Shane,

Sorry to hear about your run of bad luck and pain issues.

I guess I'd try to keep things standing height. Perhaps your cubes can drain into a display style refugium/sump that is mounted only a foot or so lower than the display tanks. Sounds like a custom stand for sure. A drain near the tank is a real life saver. Once your siphon starts, you can drain as much water out... vacuum your sand... as much as you like.

I have a 70g salt mix station underneath my tank in the basement with 3/4" tubing coming up through the floor behind the tank stand. When I need to fill back up with saltwater, I click a remote controlled outlet. The pump comes on, and I refill the water I drained during the change. Only real work is going downstairs and flipping the valves back to closed, so the 2yo doesn't hit the remote and flood the house.

Mag floats can be kinda tiring. Maybe a walk board and an old fashioned algae scraper?

I'm sure you'll find a way!

 

[Emarley]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Jeto2004]

Welcome to R2R! Hope you will find the answers you looking for here. I’m sure some automation will certainly be possible!!

 

[ShaneB]

Thanks for all of your warm wishes.

Automation definitely does look like the way to go, but I think financially will be a little while away. I'll aim to get there in stages. I'll start with the mixing station. At present I'm using natural seawater, but the SG of it is quite high (1.028). I dilute it to 1.025 with RO/DI that I make at home. I have 2 x 220L (58 gallon) plastic barrels that I plan on plumbing up for RO/DI and mixed salt water. I'll then have hose run permanently from the barrels to the two tanks. I'll also run a drain from the tanks to outside. It will mean I'll no longer have to carry heavy buckets. I'll investigate the other options mentioned.

The auto water change stuff does have some concerns in my mind on failure modes of the different components. I have a major distrust of levels switches (use thousands of them at work of different types and have seen far too many failures). I'd hate to lose everything as the result of the failure of one of them.

@Edp251 Yes I agree on the type of corals kept. I've ended up trying to stick to mainly softies, xenia, mushrooms, zoas. There's still plenty of colour and movement with those.

My cubes are unfortunately close to 24" deep and while from a visual point of view this is great, from a pain and maintenance point of view it is not great. I'd certainly recommend a shallower tank of you have any range of movement or back issues.

@Buffalou I'm sorry to hear that you too are a chronic pain sufferer. Yes, I hear that SCS are not always what they make them out to be. I was trialling one of the DRG style ones which were supposedly greatly improved, but unfortunately it wasn't to be. I'm glad to hear that managed to get your motivation to come back from the tank crash. Is there a DIY page somewhere for how the litermeter pumps can be setup for auto water change? I'd like to see how they are doing it. Thanks for your wishes and all the best for your pain relief.

@WVNed I agree entirely. I get water everywhere... Unfortunately I don't have the room to move things around from where they are. I'd love a basement like a lot of US houses have and would put the sump down there in a heartbeat. Unfortunately my house is single story on a concrete slab. Keep fighting!

Shane

 

[Buffalou]

Thanks for all of your warm wishes.

Automation definitely does look like the way to go, but I think financially will be a little while away. I'll aim to get there in stages. I'll start with the mixing station. At present I'm using natural seawater, but the SG of it is quite high (1.028). I dilute it to 1.025 with RO/DI that I make at home. I have 2 x 220L (58 gallon) plastic barrels that I plan on plumbing up for RO/DI and mixed salt water. I'll then have hose run permanently from the barrels to the two tanks. I'll also run a drain from the tanks to outside. It will mean I'll no longer have to carry heavy buckets. I'll investigate the other options mentioned.

The auto water change stuff does have some concerns in my mind on failure modes of the different components. I have a major distrust of levels switches (use thousands of them at work of different types and have seen far too many failures). I'd hate to lose everything as the result of the failure of one of them.

@Edp251 Yes I agree on the type of corals kept. I've ended up trying to stick to mainly softies, xenia, mushrooms, zoas. There's still plenty of colour and movement with those.

My cubes are unfortunately close to 24" deep and while from a visual point of view this is great, from a pain and maintenance point of view it is not great. I'd certainly recommend a shallower tank of you have any range of movement or back issues.

@Buffalou I'm sorry to hear that you too are a chronic pain sufferer. Yes, I hear that SCS are not always what they make them out to be. I was trialling one of the DRG style ones which were supposedly greatly improved, but unfortunately it wasn't to be. I'm glad to hear that managed to get your motivation to come back from the tank crash. Is there a DIY page somewhere for how the litermeter pumps can be setup for auto water change? I'd like to see how they are doing it. Thanks for your wishes and all the best for your pain relief.

@WVNed I agree entirely. I get water everywhere... Unfortunately I don't have the room to move things around from where they are. I'd love a basement like a lot of US houses have and would put the sump down there in a heartbeat. Unfortunately my house is single story on a concrete slab. Keep fighting!

Shane

Hope your having a good day, on page 16 of this link

http://wholesale.spectrapure.com/manuals/LiterMeter3J-PF.pdf

it gives you the rundown on how to do water exchange. I can set it up to do regular exchanges, small. Or just set it to on to do major changes. No more hauling 5 gallon jugs around. I just ran 1/4" tubing from water making station to sump. The PDF gives you complete info on how to set it up.
Happy reefing and God Bless.

 

[ShaneB]

Hope your having a good day, on page 16 of this link

http://wholesale.spectrapure.com/manuals/LiterMeter3J-PF.pdf

Thanks very much for that. It looks very interesting. They appear to be using pressure sensors or switches for level detection from what I can tell. Not a bad way of doing it, so long as they handle the moisture. The advantage of that setup is that I don't need a whole apex setup for each tank, just two sets of these.

Wishing you a low pain day.

Shane

 

[LadyMac]

Welcome. I can sympathize with you about the hands. I have fibromyalgia and it effects mostly my hands. Suspected carpal and ulnar tunnel syndromes in both. They become very weak very fast. Constant swelling. Also affected are my feet and knees. No rheumatoid arthritis yet.
I have to work on my tank in short intervals. Also asking my husband to help with the lifting and other things i can’t reach/do.

 

[AdamB]

Welcome and sorry to hear about the constant pain. I know it’s so tiresome by the end of day. Will have you in my prayers.
It looks like the experts have weighed in quickly to help and given some
Solid advice!
Just wanted to give you some words of encouragement that you get relief of your pain.

 

[Richard Severns]

As said in the beginning this is the best place, not only have so many offered you advice but they've helped a lot of us that haven't said anything about our problems so thank you Shane for bringing this up, and a huge thank you to all that has offered up suggestions, wishing everyone a great day

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Thanks for sharing, you’ll find lots of support and ideas to help you continue to enjoy the hobby

 

[ShaneB]

Welcome. I can sympathize with you about the hands. I have fibromyalgia and it effects mostly my hands. Suspected carpal and ulnar tunnel syndromes in both. They become very weak very fast. Constant swelling. Also affected are my feet and knees. No rheumatoid arthritis yet.
I have to work on my tank in short intervals. Also asking my husband to help with the lifting and other things i can’t reach/do.

Thanks and sorry to hear you are struggling with similar issues. I know of fibromyalgia as my wife has it, although she hasn't had a major flare-up for a number of years. It was quite scary for her in the beginning trying to find out what was going on.

Thanks very much to all of you for your good wishes. To those also in pain, I hope you have a pain free day (a week would be better )

Shane

 

[Reesj]