Recommended marine emergency kit

Sk8r · 01/04/2010, 07:10 PM

Nothing worse than being caught short---especially on a holiday weekend.
I've been at this some few years: here's what I recommend you have on hand...in order of price/versus/benefit/likelihood of need.

1. enough salt to replace 50% of the water in your tank. You never know when you will have an accident.
2. carbon and bags or ladies kneehigh nylons: carbon can remove ammonia, among many other things, and save your tank. When something bad has happened, you will not go wrong running carbon as a first try at fixing it.
3. alkalinity test: do this weekly: your reading should be between 8.3 and 9.3. IMHO, this is an important test for all tanks, FOWLR to reef.
4. test strips for ammonia/nitrate
5. a bottle of Amquel or equivalent. Read the instructions, and DON't have to use this stuff, but have it just in case. I use it in the kitchen, when I've gotten bleach on my hands. It's good for that.
6. a stack of old towels: when you want them, you will WANT them!
7. enough polystyrene 5 g paintbuckets to replace half the water in your tank.
8. a mixing pump: the Maxijet 1200 is good.
9. some Gutterguard (Lowe's) or some plastic needlepoint canvas (hobby store) AND plastic sewing thread or fishing line.
10. a sheet of white lighting grid/eggcrate/Lowe's lighting.
11. a spare thermometer for a fast crosscheck (I stick mine onto the sump).
12. spare hose of every diameter. Couplers (hose barbs) for these sizes: no reefer ever has too many varieties of hose.
13. if you can possibly afford it/deploy it---a backup generator; or at very least, a plan. I have kept fish alive for 3 days with a hand squeeze bulb...this is how basic you can get if you are stuck for a solution. And do NOT over-stock your tank: you never know when ice or wind is going to hand you an 8-hour power-out, or worse.
14. Also, if you can possibly afford it, a spare main pump. Your tank can live without lights for a week, easy; without a skimmer for a week, easy; but without the main pump, you are in increasing trouble after a few hours.

NirvanaFan · 01/04/2010, 07:24 PM

Excellent advice. The 5 gallon buckets are always good to have.

My one suggestion... A battery powered air pump is also a good, cheap thing to have. In case of a power outage, you can still keep tank water moving a little to get some gas exchange.

Russter · 01/04/2010, 07:57 PM

Great list! I need to head out and get a few things.

loosecannon · 01/05/2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Nothing worse than being caught short---especially on a holiday weekend.
I've been at this some few years: here's what I recommend you have on hand...in order of price/versus/benefit/likelihood of need.

1. enough salt to replace 50% of the water in your tank. You never know when you will have an accident.
2. carbon and bags or ladies kneehigh nylons: carbon can remove ammonia, among many other things, and save your tank. When something bad has happened, you will not go wrong running carbon as a first try at fixing it.
3. alkalinity test: do this weekly: your reading should be between 8.3 and 9.3. IMHO, this is an important test for all tanks, FOWLR to reef.
4. test strips for ammonia/nitrate
5. a bottle of Amquel or equivalent. Read the instructions, and DON't have to use this stuff, but have it just in case. I use it in the kitchen, when I've gotten bleach on my hands. It's good for that.
6. a stack of old towels: when you want them, you will WANT them!
7. enough polystyrene 5 g paintbuckets to replace half the water in your tank.
8. a mixing pump: the Maxijet 1200 is good.
9. some Gutterguard (Lowe's) or some plastic needlepoint canvas (hobby store) AND plastic sewing thread or fishing line.
10. a sheet of white lighting grid/eggcrate/Lowe's lighting.
11. a spare thermometer for a fast crosscheck (I stick mine onto the sump).
12. spare hose of every diameter. Couplers (hose barbs) for these sizes: no reefer ever has too many varieties of hose.
13. if you can possibly afford it/deploy it---a backup generator; or at very least, a plan. I have kept fish alive for 3 days with a hand squeeze bulb...this is how basic you can get if you are stuck for a solution. And do NOT over-stock your tank: you never know when ice or wind is going to hand you an 8-hour power-out, or worse.
14. Also, if you can possibly afford it, a spare main pump. Your tank can live without lights for a week, easy; without a skimmer for a week, easy; but without the main pump, you are in increasing trouble after a few hours.

Or you can just run a line from your nearest public aquarium.

MrsHaggis · 01/05/2010, 05:06 PM

Towels and towels and more towels......
Spare heater in case one breaks......

Indymann99 · 01/05/2010, 05:10 PM

duct tape

tgray3 · 01/05/2010, 05:16 PM

A tube of weld-on.

I got a crack in my skimmer body (my fault. dropped it while cleaning) after all the stores closed and the tube of weld-on 16 i had saved me.

Boundless · 01/05/2010, 06:04 PM

Sk8r how bout a list of recommended items to fight off diseases of various kinds

bertoni · 01/05/2010, 06:56 PM

Medication list for me (as best as I can remember offhand):

Praziquantel in some form (PraziPro is fine)
Cupramine (better than the other copper medications)
Metronidazole
SeaChem coral dip (there are a lot of products like this)
Flatworm Exit (for dips on new corals)

loosecannon · 01/05/2010, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boundless

Sk8r how bout a list of recommended items to fight off diseases of various kinds

condum

Boundless · 01/05/2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Medication list for me (as best as I can remember offhand):

Praziquantel in some form (PraziPro is fine)
Cupramine (better than the other copper medications)
Metronidazole
SeaChem coral dip (there are a lot of products like this)
Flatworm Exit (for dips on new corals)

Thanks for the items listed I will make sure to assemble this kit when I finish assembling my tank!

But one question for Cupramine does it have copper in it or does it work better than most medicine?

Boundless · 01/05/2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loosecannon

condum

Lol Fish wise .

alleykat81 · 01/05/2010, 10:33 PM

What's the gutterguard and fishing line for?

lordofthereef · 01/05/2010, 10:38 PM

What are you referring to as the hand squeeze bulb? Do you mean you were hand circulating the water with something like a turkey baster?

Gilbert46 · 01/06/2010, 01:03 AM

how bout a generator...

patsfan1130 · 01/06/2010, 06:52 AM

Great advice! I also like to keep plenty of zip ties handy and always recommend having some extra PH available. IMO a spare return pump is key as well. I've had many o' return pump crap out on me late at night, weekends & holidays. A copper med is always crucial to have as well.

lordofthereef · 01/06/2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilbert46

how bout a generator...

Generator is on the list as an "if affordable" however I would add it as a must, especially if you live in an area where there are likely power outages (which honestly is nearly everywhere in the US LOL.

Sk8r · 01/06/2010, 10:27 AM

Lol: the hand-bulb was a fistsized air bladder on a hose scaled down with hose-adapter to an airline to an aerator. And my hand hurt. I took to doing it with my foot. I was a mess, but the fish survived.

The fishing line is to 'stitch' things together, anything with holes in it: you can cut gutter guard or needlepoint canvas with a scissors to make an antijump barrier, or to screen an opening; you can stitch a box together of eggcrate, etc.

Actually I don't keep any meds at all on hand, because I have a stable fish population that doesn't spontaneously get sick. I've never medicated a marine fish in my entire 40 plus year career: some dumb luck, careful fish selection (nice strong body, no filmy eyes, fin ends, etc), careful water quality, and tending to get all my fish at once, get them in and healthy, and not bring new fish into a well-running tank if I can at all avoid it. I've lost fish to predation, my stupidity, accidents and old age, but disease has just never been a problem for me.

Michael · 01/06/2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Nothing worse than being caught short---especially on a holiday weekend.
I've been at this some few years: here's what I recommend you have on hand...in order of price/versus/benefit/likelihood of need.

1. enough salt to replace 50% of the water in your tank. You never know when you will have an accident.
2. carbon and bags or ladies kneehigh nylons: carbon can remove ammonia, among many other things, and save your tank. When something bad has happened, you will not go wrong running carbon as a first try at fixing it.
3. alkalinity test: do this weekly: your reading should be between 8.3 and 9.3. IMHO, this is an important test for all tanks, FOWLR to reef.
4. test strips for ammonia/nitrate
5. a bottle of Amquel or equivalent. Read the instructions, and DON't have to use this stuff, but have it just in case. I use it in the kitchen, when I've gotten bleach on my hands. It's good for that.
6. a stack of old towels: when you want them, you will WANT them!
7. enough polystyrene 5 g paintbuckets to replace half the water in your tank.
8. a mixing pump: the Maxijet 1200 is good.
9. some Gutterguard (Lowe's) or some plastic needlepoint canvas (hobby store) AND plastic sewing thread or fishing line.
10. a sheet of white lighting grid/eggcrate/Lowe's lighting.
11. a spare thermometer for a fast crosscheck (I stick mine onto the sump).
12. spare hose of every diameter. Couplers (hose barbs) for these sizes: no reefer ever has too many varieties of hose.
13. if you can possibly afford it/deploy it---a backup generator; or at very least, a plan. I have kept fish alive for 3 days with a hand squeeze bulb...this is how basic you can get if you are stuck for a solution. And do NOT over-stock your tank: you never know when ice or wind is going to hand you an 8-hour power-out, or worse.
14. Also, if you can possibly afford it, a spare main pump. Your tank can live without lights for a week, easy; without a skimmer for a week, easy; but without the main pump, you are in increasing trouble after a few hours.

hey sk8r, its fantasic to see you back here on the new to the hobby posting up these threads again, personally, ive missed your input, just need sister the capn and the man wk to come back regulary as well, i hardly reconise the forum at the moment, welcome back

Sk8r · 01/06/2010, 10:47 AM

Thanks! Life intervened---but I'm glad to be back!

bertoni · 01/06/2010, 05:47 PM

Cupramine is a form of copper, but it's an organically-bound copper that's easier on the fish.

I should have recommended getting the SeaChem copper test to go with the Cupramine. Fairly pointless to have copper with no way to measure the concentration.

Boundless · 01/06/2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

Cupramine is a form of copper, but it's an organically-bound copper that's easier on the fish.

I should have recommended getting the SeaChem copper test to go with the Cupramine. Fairly pointless to have copper with no way to measure the concentration.

Thanks for the info on Cupramine and the suggestion!

seadub1 · 01/06/2010, 09:47 PM

Thank you yet again! Your lists are very helpful! Keep em' comin'!

lordofthereef · 01/06/2010, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Lol: the hand-bulb was a fistsized air bladder on a hose scaled down with hose-adapter to an airline to an aerator. And my hand hurt. I took to doing it with my foot. I was a mess, but the fish survived.

Wow you either have a lot of money in fish or you really love them or both! Interesting method though

jherrin215 · 01/07/2010, 12:29 AM

sk8r I just want to tell you that you have some of the best posts that I have read on here. These are the kind of things that newbies such as myself need to know but don't think to ask. I've been a member on several forums but don't think I have ever seen anyone who would actually start threads just giving people great advice. I have learned tons, but usually because I asked!! Thanks!!

01/04/2010, 07:10 PM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Recommended marine emergency kit Nothing worse than being caught short---especially on a holiday weekend. I've been at this some few years: here's what I recommend you have on hand...in order of price/versus/benefit/likelihood of need. 1. enough salt to replace 50% of the water in your tank. You never know when you will have an accident. 2. carbon and bags or ladies kneehigh nylons: carbon can remove ammonia, among many other things, and save your tank. When something bad has happened, you will not go wrong running carbon as a first try at fixing it. 3. alkalinity test: do this weekly: your reading should be between 8.3 and 9.3. IMHO, this is an important test for all tanks, FOWLR to reef. 4. test strips for ammonia/nitrate 5. a bottle of Amquel or equivalent. Read the instructions, and DON't have to use this stuff, but have it just in case. I use it in the kitchen, when I've gotten bleach on my hands. It's good for that. 6. a stack of old towels: when you want them, you will WANT them! 7. enough polystyrene 5 g paintbuckets to replace half the water in your tank. 8. a mixing pump: the Maxijet 1200 is good. 9. some Gutterguard (Lowe's) or some plastic needlepoint canvas (hobby store) AND plastic sewing thread or fishing line. 10. a sheet of white lighting grid/eggcrate/Lowe's lighting. 11. a spare thermometer for a fast crosscheck (I stick mine onto the sump). 12. spare hose of every diameter. Couplers (hose barbs) for these sizes: no reefer ever has too many varieties of hose. 13. if you can possibly afford it/deploy it---a backup generator; or at very least, a plan. I have kept fish alive for 3 days with a hand squeeze bulb...this is how basic you can get if you are stuck for a solution. And do NOT over-stock your tank: you never know when ice or wind is going to hand you an 8-hour power-out, or worse. 14. Also, if you can possibly afford it, a spare main pump. Your tank can live without lights for a week, easy; without a skimmer for a week, easy; but without the main pump, you are in increasing trouble after a few hours. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/05/2010, 05:06 PM	#5
MrsHaggis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St Louis, France Posts: 675	Towels and towels and more towels...... Spare heater in case one breaks...... __________________ Nothing scarier than a clown!! ----------------------------- 1 ClownFish 1 SixLine Wrasse 1 Foxface Rabbitfish Mushrooms Long Polyp Leather Green Anchor Coral Zoanthids Trumpet Coral Goniopora Current Tank Info: 360 litre (95 US Gallons), Tunze DOC Skimmer 9010, Lights: Metal Halide 250 Watt and 2x24 Watt Moon Lights, Tunze MultiController 7095

01/05/2010, 05:10 PM	#6
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	duct tape __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

01/05/2010, 06:04 PM	#8
Boundless Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Richardson,Texas Posts: 140	Sk8r how bout a list of recommended items to fight off diseases of various kinds __________________ The biggest tank you can have in life is in your dreams. = ) Current Tank Info: Planning Stage!

01/05/2010, 06:56 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Medication list for me (as best as I can remember offhand): Praziquantel in some form (PraziPro is fine) Cupramine (better than the other copper medications) Metronidazole SeaChem coral dip (there are a lot of products like this) Flatworm Exit (for dips on new corals) __________________ Jonathan Bertoni Last edited by bertoni; 01/05/2010 at 09:06 PM.

01/04/2010, 07:24 PM	#2
NirvanaFan Reef Ninja Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,280	Excellent advice. The 5 gallon buckets are always good to have. My one suggestion... A battery powered air pump is also a good, cheap thing to have. In case of a power outage, you can still keep tank water moving a little to get some gas exchange.

01/04/2010, 07:57 PM	#3
Russter Northern Reefer Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada Posts: 531	Great list! I need to head out and get a few things.

01/05/2010, 05:16 PM	#7
tgray3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 258	A tube of weld-on. I got a crack in my skimmer body (my fault. dropped it while cleaning) after all the stores closed and the tube of weld-on 16 i had saved me.

01/05/2010, 10:33 PM	#13
alleykat81 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 187	What's the gutterguard and fishing line for?

01/05/2010, 10:38 PM	#14
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	What are you referring to as the hand squeeze bulb? Do you mean you were hand circulating the water with something like a turkey baster? __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

01/06/2010, 01:03 AM	#15
Gilbert46 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sacramento Posts: 60	how bout a generator...

01/06/2010, 06:52 AM	#16
patsfan1130 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Woburn, Ma Posts: 2,010	Great advice! I also like to keep plenty of zip ties handy and always recommend having some extra PH available. IMO a spare return pump is key as well. I've had many o' return pump crap out on me late at night, weekends & holidays. A copper med is always crucial to have as well. __________________ My cat's breath smells like cat food Member of the Boston Reefers Society Current Tank Info: 75g lps, 90g sps, 120g mixed, 180 nem tank, 300g reef, 600g up & coming reef

01/06/2010, 10:27 AM	#18
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Lol: the hand-bulb was a fistsized air bladder on a hose scaled down with hose-adapter to an airline to an aerator. And my hand hurt. I took to doing it with my foot. I was a mess, but the fish survived. The fishing line is to 'stitch' things together, anything with holes in it: you can cut gutter guard or needlepoint canvas with a scissors to make an antijump barrier, or to screen an opening; you can stitch a box together of eggcrate, etc. Actually I don't keep any meds at all on hand, because I have a stable fish population that doesn't spontaneously get sick. I've never medicated a marine fish in my entire 40 plus year career: some dumb luck, careful fish selection (nice strong body, no filmy eyes, fin ends, etc), careful water quality, and tending to get all my fish at once, get them in and healthy, and not bring new fish into a well-running tank if I can at all avoid it. I've lost fish to predation, my stupidity, accidents and old age, but disease has just never been a problem for me. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/06/2010, 10:47 AM	#20
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Thanks! Life intervened---but I'm glad to be back! __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

01/06/2010, 05:47 PM	#21
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Cupramine is a form of copper, but it's an organically-bound copper that's easier on the fish. I should have recommended getting the SeaChem copper test to go with the Cupramine. Fairly pointless to have copper with no way to measure the concentration. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/06/2010, 09:47 PM	#23
seadub1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Channahon, IL Posts: 64	Thank you yet again! Your lists are very helpful! Keep em' comin'!

01/07/2010, 12:29 AM	#25
jherrin215 GO COLTS!! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 854	sk8r I just want to tell you that you have some of the best posts that I have read on here. These are the kind of things that newbies such as myself need to know but don't think to ask. I've been a member on several forums but don't think I have ever seen anyone who would actually start threads just giving people great advice. I have learned tons, but usually because I asked!! Thanks!!