'Daily' tasks for new reefers?
- Thread starter Squibege
- Start date
thelawnwrangler
New member
I top off morning and night, and I look at temp. I look at all my corals and see if they open and looked happy. I do the magnet cleaner daily. I feed daily, and lately I test cal and alk daily because I am starting to dose and trying to find that happy spot.
scooter31707
New member
I checked the parameters about every 3-4 days to make everything was stabling out. I made sure I checked temp and all the equipment was working properly as I had couple used items.
gone fishin
New member
IF I remember correctly I checked the nitrate and phosphate weekly for a few months after the tank finished cycling. I still do the following everyday, check sump level/ATO, tank temp, skimmer, powerheads and return pump. Over time I have got into the habit of checking the following weekly dosing bottles, test ALK and Calc. I check magnesium and phosphate every 2 weeks.
thelawnwrangler
New member
how long did it take you to get dialed in on dosing, and how often did you check when you are dialing. I know you have a bigger water volume. I am checking cal and alk everyday.
I just switched to red sea coral pro from tropic marin bio active and did a 25% water change so curious what will happen when I test tonight
In point of fact, with stony coral, and using kalk for supplement, the best practice is to do the weekly water change and to test the magnesium and nitrate. If you once set the mg at 1350, then set the alkalinity at 8.3 and calcium at 420, all readings will lock into that relationship and stay steady until mg falls below 1200, at which point alk and then cal start trending down. This is only true with a kalk supplement. (limewater.) This makes lps stony coral one of the more trouble-free sorts of tanks to run. Weeks of stability. OTOH, sps stony coral is a bit of a pita, the very bleeding edge of the hobby. Softies also can hit periods of stability, though not quite as much, and should test alkalinity and nitrate weekly, as should fish-onlies. Nitrate is a sneaky thing that you should try to keep as close to nothing as you can.
kmbyrnes
New member
While I was in the adding things regularly stage, I checked temp, water levels, pumps and overflows daily. I also checked that all fish were eating and all corals looked at least as good as yesterday.
Weekly water changes and level testing never stop.
Over time you learn what your tank(s) should look like on a good day and can instantly tell when something is off.
I read somewhere where one reefer was in the habit of touching his tank for temperature any time he passed by it.
Weekly water changes and level testing never stop.
Over time you learn what your tank(s) should look like on a good day and can instantly tell when something is off.
I read somewhere where one reefer was in the habit of touching his tank for temperature any time he passed by it.
gone fishin
New member
I tested every couple of days after a WC for 12 days until I did another WC,about 25g,then tested again to see if I saw a trend. After a WC my numbers went up some drifted back down. I then raised my mag, then slowly raised alk and calc to my setpoints. After I got to the setpoints I tested everday at the same time for 4 days to get my daily dosing levels. Since that time I test once a week and have had to tweak the dosing based on growth and additions.
If you wonder about the odd number of testing days it is because I work a 4 on 4 off schedule.
thelawnwrangler
New member
25g WC every 12 days....I might be over doing that 9-10 gallon WC every week for a 36 gallons of total volume lol. My water did look clear today. Corals were a little peaved though blaming new salt. I will check levels now.
I am going to lose my first coral I think- short tentacle torch coral I barely new you. My other Euphyilla are happy though so unsure what the issue is
gone fishin
New member
Yeah over time I learned that WC cycle works pretty good for me. After awhile you will as well. Slowly with out realizing you will get to know your tank. One day you will see something in the tank and know exactly what is needed to correct it.
To bad on the torch, They have been hit or miss for me. It seems I could put two of them in the same conditions and one of them would not like it LOL.
thelawnwrangler
New member
I think I wore it out with too direct flow from power head. I took it out to clean and then I think when I put it back in didn't notice it was getting hammered. It might come back but the revive deep bleached it a little. It was just a 15 dollar frag. It makes me feel better to hear it is hit and miss for you. I think I beat the over nutrient issue bc Nitrates are undetectable and the green is dying away.
gone fishin
New member
Good deal glad to hear it coming together for you. In a year you probably won't recognize it as the tank you started. LOL I was looking at an old picture of mine when I reset it up 4 years ago after our move. It could have been a picture of the moon it was so barren.
thelawnwrangler
New member
Thanks
now I need to fight the buy a frag or 4 (buy 3 get 1) everytime I got to buy water
I am scared if I get RO/DI it will go in unfinished basement and the next thing you know I will randomly start 40 gallon breeders lol
I do want a pink skunk and maroon clown - so that is two 40 gallon breeders there. Already had thoughts of putting them back to back so a Kessil AP700 covers both and then 1 sump lol
Did a back stage turtle tour of Camden Aquarium- they have back up tanks I need back up tanks. Ps that tour was awesome we stood over their 760,000 gallon tank. Probably the most questions about filtration the Marine Biologist ever got. So they run temp at 74 ish and 31 salinity to keep the sharks from fighting lol
gone fishin
New member
Cool I heard the Camden aquarium was great. Never got the chance to get down there when we lived Connecticut.
:lmao: Be careful with those 40 breeders they multiply like rabbits. That is how I ended up with my 180g. My wife finally said "for the love of god will you just get one big tank", didn't need to say it twice.
:lmao: Be careful with those 40 breeders they multiply like rabbits. That is how I ended up with my 180g. My wife finally said "for the love of god will you just get one big tank", didn't need to say it twice.
thelawnwrangler
New member
lol thanks for the 180g playbook lol
So two 40g Breeders with a shared sump in the basement should get that ball rolling. I read Joyce Wilkerson Clownfish as a kid, and ever since then I envision a garage (I was in the south where it was feasable) now the dream is a basement with multiple pairs of clowns. I don't know that I would ever breed them, but hobby seems to lead to irrational decisions.
Justintegra
New member
If you don't do anything else, check the temp sensor daily, preferably twice daily. It's just too easy to make sure a run away or dead heater doesn't kill everything.
