1. siphon happens whenever the source is higher than the receiving end. Cure: a hole that lets the suction break at the high end, say top of the curve [called a siphon break] or just never letting the end of the hose touch the other water supply.
2. a pump that is 'off' can still siphon. This game often works in topoff reservoirs who have missed item #1.
3. a sump has TWO water levels; pump on and pump off. Be sure a hose doesn't touch the water in EITHER situation.
4. copper is ok BEFORE the water enters the ro/di filter but not AFTER IT EXITs the ro/di filter.
5. clean water holds more oxygen than dirty water.
6. cold water holds more oxygen than hot. An overheat kills, partly by oxgen shortage, partly by, well, heat. If you have to have a tank disaster, and run at 80, you have 5 degrees safety upward, but a leeway of 18 degrees downward...cooldowns preserve more oxygen and are easier on critters than an overheat. 79-80 is generally a good temperature.
7. plumbers tape wrap is directional---wrap it on in the direction you screw it on. And you don't need a whopping lot of it. Just a couple of turns.
8. superglue is ok in tanks---we use it to fasten corals.
9. if you have a leak underwater, it's a piffle. If out of water, not so much. If you MUST make a hose connection with something, a hose barb is generally better---may leak a LITTLE. But steel hose clamps will rust out and fail anywhere near a tank because of salt in the air. You do use a hose clamp with a hose barb if a leak would be disaster. Plastic-wrapping that connection might help. Not guaranteed.
10. A water alarm is real cheap: get one that sits on the floor and screams if its bottom gets wet.
11. GFIC is a must around water. You can kill somebody or burn down your house if you skip this precaution.. This is a hobby that involves putting electricity and water together---insane, right? Back yourself up with this simple electrical precaution.
12. don't glue pipes that don't have to be glued. Sometimes you have to replace a bulkhead connector (age) and sometimes you have to pull a standpipe.
13. some skimmers have snits and spit water---a lot of it. A skimmer that sits in or has some means of emergency drain into your tank is safer. Ask about the skimmer. Some also have water height requirements when they sit in your sump.
14. secure your hoses to the tank or somewhere so that nothing can cause them to fall out. Same goes for your ATO probe. A secure line is a safe one.
15. apply 14 to electrical cords, and try to get any cord connections up where water can't reach them, and where it can't run down a cord to reach the socket.
16. It's best to have your pump on a separate breaker, with large pumps.
17. If you have guests with children or who act like children, watch your tank and cover it if you possibly can. Keep all moveable chairs away from it, so as not to afford access to kids.
18. You may want a light shield with very strong lights if you are habitually at sitting height. This can be rigged with flexible laminate, wood, almost anything.
19. if you are having heating issues, even a small computer fan mounted to blow onto the water surface can lower the temperature quickly.
20. If you overheat, turn off the lights (LEDs don't contribute much, but other light sources can.)
21. Know where your towel is. Keep a stack of old towels where it can be reached in a hurry.
22. A lost razorblade is no big deal. Iron just rusts away. A copper bit, however, like a penny, is death on the halfshell. Find it, no matter what. Drunken party guests. Or a kid tossing in a tv remote.
23. Penn-plax makes battery-powered aeration pumps that will go on in a power failure. These are a good backup. You can either install them, or just keep them in reserve.
24. Conditioned tap water is perfectly fine for qt or for a tank emergency so you can make salt. Worst it'll do is give you an algae bloom. You can solve that later. Breathing is essential, and clean water is better than bad water. Do mix your salt water ===use your electric mixer if necessary--- until clear.
25. If you have a heater failure in the winter, and need to warm the tank til you can get one, you can microwave a cup of your tank water and pour it back in---slowly. Repeat as needed.
2. a pump that is 'off' can still siphon. This game often works in topoff reservoirs who have missed item #1.
3. a sump has TWO water levels; pump on and pump off. Be sure a hose doesn't touch the water in EITHER situation.
4. copper is ok BEFORE the water enters the ro/di filter but not AFTER IT EXITs the ro/di filter.
5. clean water holds more oxygen than dirty water.
6. cold water holds more oxygen than hot. An overheat kills, partly by oxgen shortage, partly by, well, heat. If you have to have a tank disaster, and run at 80, you have 5 degrees safety upward, but a leeway of 18 degrees downward...cooldowns preserve more oxygen and are easier on critters than an overheat. 79-80 is generally a good temperature.
7. plumbers tape wrap is directional---wrap it on in the direction you screw it on. And you don't need a whopping lot of it. Just a couple of turns.
8. superglue is ok in tanks---we use it to fasten corals.
9. if you have a leak underwater, it's a piffle. If out of water, not so much. If you MUST make a hose connection with something, a hose barb is generally better---may leak a LITTLE. But steel hose clamps will rust out and fail anywhere near a tank because of salt in the air. You do use a hose clamp with a hose barb if a leak would be disaster. Plastic-wrapping that connection might help. Not guaranteed.
10. A water alarm is real cheap: get one that sits on the floor and screams if its bottom gets wet.
11. GFIC is a must around water. You can kill somebody or burn down your house if you skip this precaution.. This is a hobby that involves putting electricity and water together---insane, right? Back yourself up with this simple electrical precaution.
12. don't glue pipes that don't have to be glued. Sometimes you have to replace a bulkhead connector (age) and sometimes you have to pull a standpipe.
13. some skimmers have snits and spit water---a lot of it. A skimmer that sits in or has some means of emergency drain into your tank is safer. Ask about the skimmer. Some also have water height requirements when they sit in your sump.
14. secure your hoses to the tank or somewhere so that nothing can cause them to fall out. Same goes for your ATO probe. A secure line is a safe one.
15. apply 14 to electrical cords, and try to get any cord connections up where water can't reach them, and where it can't run down a cord to reach the socket.
16. It's best to have your pump on a separate breaker, with large pumps.
17. If you have guests with children or who act like children, watch your tank and cover it if you possibly can. Keep all moveable chairs away from it, so as not to afford access to kids.
18. You may want a light shield with very strong lights if you are habitually at sitting height. This can be rigged with flexible laminate, wood, almost anything.
19. if you are having heating issues, even a small computer fan mounted to blow onto the water surface can lower the temperature quickly.
20. If you overheat, turn off the lights (LEDs don't contribute much, but other light sources can.)
21. Know where your towel is. Keep a stack of old towels where it can be reached in a hurry.
22. A lost razorblade is no big deal. Iron just rusts away. A copper bit, however, like a penny, is death on the halfshell. Find it, no matter what. Drunken party guests. Or a kid tossing in a tv remote.
23. Penn-plax makes battery-powered aeration pumps that will go on in a power failure. These are a good backup. You can either install them, or just keep them in reserve.
24. Conditioned tap water is perfectly fine for qt or for a tank emergency so you can make salt. Worst it'll do is give you an algae bloom. You can solve that later. Breathing is essential, and clean water is better than bad water. Do mix your salt water ===use your electric mixer if necessary--- until clear.
25. If you have a heater failure in the winter, and need to warm the tank til you can get one, you can microwave a cup of your tank water and pour it back in---slowly. Repeat as needed.
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