Minimal interaction with tank

[inachu]

What would be your minimal interaction with your tank?

I used to check it 3 times a week and now I just fill it up with water and leave the rest alone.

I have not checked the filter for over 3 weeks.

I did that thinking perhaps I am messign with my filter too much.

I used to just rinse out the filters once a week but so far I have not seen any reduction in filtration or other filter problems.


For the past 2 years I have been poking at the filters 2 times a week minimum.


Nothing to worry?

One thing I have not been checking and I just did was to check my salinity...... I have been for the past 4 months just buying the commercial REAL ocean water its like rated at 1.0.30

I was told since it evaporates and when I add more then the salinty goes up..... they were right.... it is now at .32

I bought a lot of plain no salt RO to bring it back down.

[drparker]

Water changes every 10 - 15 days
Filter socks cleaned every 3 days.
Skimmer cup cleaned every 3 days.

Calcium and alkalinity checked after a water change. Magnesium and nitrates check monthly to every 6 weeks.

You should only use salt water when you do a water change. To make up or top-off from evaporation us fresh water, RO/DI preferred.

As for leaving your filters for weeks before cleaning your running the risk of the build of junk becoming a nitrate factory and many things other than fish in reef system do not tolerate high nitrates.

[gnarlyswine]

Ive been ( as Im sure many of you are ) a bit Lazy in the summer months - cleaning the skimmer a little less , not keeping the glass as clean , but on the plus side keeping my hands out of the tank - so its not doing too badly , I do have a whole host of upgrades planned soon so no doubt will see my interest rekindelled

[drparker]

Originally posted by gnarlyswine
Ive been ( as Im sure many of you are ) a bit Lazy in the summer months - cleaning the skimmer a little less , not keeping the glass as clean , but on the plus side keeping my hands out of the tank - so its not doing too badly , I do have a whole host of upgrades planned soon so no doubt will see my interest rekindelled

Exactly, that's why my water changes are now 10-15 instead of every week and skimmer is 3 days instead of daily. After three days the smell forces me to clean it.

[PoukieBear]

I wish I could keep my hands out of my tank ! But I'm addicted to playing in the water.

I keep telling myself that my tank is FULL! I couldn't possibly squeeze another coral in there. That thought process breaks down at least once a week.

My friend is moving his store, and he keeps bringing over corals and putting them in my tank ! I keep telling him that there isn't any more room...but he always seems to find it. Darn profesional aquascaper man!!....

Other than that, I empty the skimmer cup when needed, top off every day, and I used to do small water changes on the weekends. That hasn't been done in about a month.

[budbreak96]

How bout some pics Michelle

[PoukieBear]

Originally posted by budbreak96
How bout some pics Michelle

OK ! This isn't quite up to date, since a few more corals were put in there on Tuesday night when my fish guy came over. He added a bunch of baby pink and green hairy mushrooms that have been in his display tank FOREVER, and that I've been begging him to frag for me ever since I first saw them.

And he added some baby blue polyps, not sure exactly what they are, but they are pretty !