Small tips for keeping a healthy reef tank

[Surfandturf]

So I was wondering if people had small tips or tricks that they have learned through the years or by observation, to keep their reef looking great. I was not sure where this topic should go or if it is already a topic. I know that there is a lot of experience on this site, and I think we could make a list of suggestions that would help everyone from the begginer stage to expert. I have a very simple piece of advice that may seem obvious to some, but I am sure would be helpful to others.

1. When feeding flake food, I find that more of the food is eaten if I put the flake food in a cup of tank water first and then drop it in the tank. Instead of the flakes resting on the top of the water and trapped in the filter sock, they immediately fall below the surface of the water and all food is consumed. No extra waste.

Again, it's a small tip that some may think is obvious, but I think some may find the benefit.

2. If feeding reef roids, do not place too much emphasis on the "dosing/quantity" amounts in the directions. Take some of the powder and place it is a cup or bowl. Then place just enough tank water in the cup/bowl to create a thick paste. Use a syringe with air line tubing to suck the paste up, turn off all pumps, and drop the mixture directly into your corals. 10-15% water change the next day. I do this once per week.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Just the basics for me. All the standard stuff..... consistency, good husbandry, following recommendations......etc.

 

[TemDave]

Great thread Surf-n-Turf!!
I'm get'n back in from a 25ish yr hiatus... and hate to show the "newby" I am, but what are reef roids?

 

[Surfandturf]

Just the basics for me. All the standard stuff..... consistency, good husbandry, following recommendations......etc.

Flipper,

Thanks for the reply, but those are obvious. I was looking for more secrets that people use or handy tips that people have learned over time.

 

[ca1ore]

If feeding reef-roids I'd start by ignoring the recommended dosing - it's FAR to much. I use a quarter of what they suggest, twice a week.

Since the 'theme' seems to be feeding ..... rather than turning pumps off when I feed, I actually pour the frozen directly into my vortech pumps. Fish show a vastly improved feeding response if they think their prey is trying to flee. Pump also disperses the food so even the less aggressive feeders get their fill.

 

[Surfandturf]

Another one: use an electric toothbrush on your live rock to get rid of algae. This $5 investment will save you a lot of money instead of spending on snake oil products.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Flipper,

Thanks for the reply, but those are obvious. I was looking for more secrets that people use or handy tips that people have learned over time.

Old school and KISS works well for me.

 

[Surfandturf]

Old school and KISS works well for me.

I get it lol. But that is like telling a car owner that if they want their car to run, they need to put fuel and oil in it.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I get it lol. But that is like telling a car owner that if they want their car to run, they need to put fuel and oil in it.

Lol, yes. There's some links I can share from the Masters of reefing, you might find interesting. They say there isn't any "secret sauce" they use, but still very interesting to read though:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tank-parameters-of-some-masters.263/

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/following-the-masters-part-two.301/

 

[Sallstrom]

Make sure your container/tank for RO water isn't too large if you have a level sensor that might fail. We use RO tanks we have to fill twice a week, to avoid too low salinity if all the RO water goes into the tank(which has happened a couple of times).

/ David

 

[Sallstrom]

Feels like I mostly can think of the more boring tips. But here's another one

Use a log book/take notes (we use excel docs) on everything you do with your tank (outside the everyday stuff like feeding, cleaning skimmer cup etc). This way you can go back and see what changes you have done and see the outcome. Specially good to have these notes if your memory isn't great or you manage many tanks
We have done this at work and it has helped a lot.

/ David

 

[Surfandturf]

Great tips everyone!