Tank Maintenance Schedules

[josephxsxn]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to come up with a planned maintenance schedule going forward and was wondering if anyone had items missing from the list that I should be thinking about.

Here is what I have came up with so far:

Task	Frequency
Empty Skimmer Cup	Every 3 Days
Change Filter Socks	Weekly
10% Water Change	Weekly
Clean 1/3rd of Sandbed	Weekly
Refill ATO	Weekly
Tests - Salinity, Alk, Cal, No3, Po4	Weekly
20% Water Change	Monthly
Clean Gyres	Monthly
Clean Protein Skimmer	Monthly
Clean Return Pump Filter Floss	Monthly
Tests - ICP	Quarterly
Clean and Calibrate PH Probe	Semi-Annually
Clean Return Pump	Semi-Annually
Clean Sump	Semi-Annually
50% Water Change	Annually
Clean Light Fans and Heatsinks	Annually
Replace Heater	Annually
Calibrate Thermostat	Annually
Replace used doser heads	Annually
Measure PAR from lights	Annually
Replace PH Probe	Every 2 Years

 

[Ron Reefman]

If you can keep to that schedule, you should have very if issues!

I do about 6 of those things and the only ones that are by schedule are water parameter tests and ATO refill which are done weekly. Things like filter sock changes, skimmer collection cup dump are when needed and water changes are FAR more sporadic.

 

[A sea K]

Nothing to add but maybe a few adjustments. Change filter socks, Id make that every 3 days when you clean the skimmer. Filter socks get dirty pretty quick and are completely fouled in just a few days IME and could never make it a week.
Tests. Once things get settled in and your familiar with your system I see no need for such a frequent test schedule. Maybe test your Alk weekly and salinity with your WC but the others should not drift much once everything is dialed in.
20% monthly WC. I dont see the point in this if doing 10% weekly changes.
Clean return pump filter floss, not sure but I suspect it will require more frequency than monthly. Like filter socks I assume it will plug rapidly and IMO filter floss is too fine for a pump filter. I'd use a very coarse open pore sponge for that duty as we only need to keep the big stuff out.
50% annual water change, same as the 20% monthly. I dont see the point with a regular 10%weekly schedule
Clean light fans and heatsink, you'll need to clean the light lenses/reflectors from salt creep or splash probably monthly or at least quarterly.

 

[Waters]

That is the list that every new reefer compiles....unfortunately after about 6 months most only do about 5% of them lol. On paper though, the list looks great.

 

[josephxsxn]

If you can keep to that schedule, you should have very if issues!

I do about 6 of those things and the only ones that are by schedule are water parameter tests and ATO refill which are done weekly. Things like filter sock changes, skimmer collection cup dump are when needed and water changes are FAR more sporadic.

Thanks, seems like a good point to just have it marks 'As Needed'

20% monthly WC. I dont see the point in this if doing 10% weekly changes.
50% annual water change, same as the 20% monthly. I dont see the point with a regular 10%weekly schedule

Thanks for this, I like it when people challenge my assumptions. To try and best decide what if any impact water changes would have with increased frequency I made this calculator. It does indeed seem that eventually the system balances itself almost logarithmic (maybe I have bad math) in terms if just simple import/exports.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Yup. Some do water changes religiously and others don't do them at all... especially after the tank has matured. I do mine when I see anything in the tank I don't like, say a particular coral not having good polyp extension.