Parameters

djmccauley · 03/15/2016, 02:02 PM

I am new to the hobby. I just started to cycle my tank and have some questions. If the answers are here, please point me in the direction.

What is your daily/weekly/monthly, etc schedule to document parameters?

Thank you,

David J. McCauley, EdD
Coral Springs, FL 33065

heathlindner25 · 03/15/2016, 03:38 PM

Daily, would include things like, cleaning the glass and topping off with fresh water..... possibly dosing but not in the beginning.
Weekly, would include testing.... monthly I usually clean equipment...hth

Sk8r · 03/15/2016, 04:08 PM

An ato (autotopoff) is a real good idea, even at this point. Salinity hopping about due to evaporation is a problem for life, and you can't be tied to that tank for the rest of your days.

Also start reading that very large sticky file set with the red arrow. ^

Lot to learn.

heathlindner25 · 03/15/2016, 04:18 PM

Well ,I feed my fish everyday anyways,so..... I add some water while I'm there.

heathlindner25 · 03/15/2016, 04:47 PM

The "reef chemistry forum" very top post labeled "articles", is a great place to get lost in reading,too...

CStrickland · 03/15/2016, 04:48 PM

Daily
- feed fish 3-4 times

Every other day
- feed non-photosynthetic coral
- replace filter socks (when all used up soak in 10% bleach overnight and hand wash in hot water, last rinse with dechlorinator)
- empty skimmer cup, wipe down neck and pour water into airline

Weekly
- blow off rocks with a small pump
- vacuum sand removing 10% of water, replace that water with new
- clean glass
- test: temp, sg, phos, nitrate, calcium, alk

Every other month (each week I add one of these to my weekly task)
- clean 1/2 the powerheads (run in vinegar for an hour and disassemble to wipe down)
- clean skimmer motor
- clean return pump
- clean gfo reactor, replace media
- vacuum sump
- tidy sump, calibrate thermometer & refractometer, check wires for wear, check drain screens for clogs & tears, dust inside lights with canned air (led with internal fan), test mg
- empty and rinse top off reservoir and clean pump (I run kalk)

I prolly tested parameters twice as often and fed half as much until my tank was all settled.

03/15/2016, 02:02 PM	#1
djmccauley Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 2	Parameters I am new to the hobby. I just started to cycle my tank and have some questions. If the answers are here, please point me in the direction. What is your daily/weekly/monthly, etc schedule to document parameters? Thank you, David J. McCauley, EdD Coral Springs, FL 33065 __________________ David J. McCauley, EdD United States Air Force Retired Coral Springs, FL 33065

03/15/2016, 04:08 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	An ato (autotopoff) is a real good idea, even at this point. Salinity hopping about due to evaporation is a problem for life, and you can't be tied to that tank for the rest of your days. Also start reading that very large sticky file set with the red arrow. ^ Lot to learn. __________________ 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%.

03/15/2016, 04:48 PM	#6
CStrickland Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New England, U.S. Posts: 4,595	Daily - feed fish 3-4 times Every other day - feed non-photosynthetic coral - replace filter socks (when all used up soak in 10% bleach overnight and hand wash in hot water, last rinse with dechlorinator) - empty skimmer cup, wipe down neck and pour water into airline Weekly - blow off rocks with a small pump - vacuum sand removing 10% of water, replace that water with new - clean glass - test: temp, sg, phos, nitrate, calcium, alk Every other month (each week I add one of these to my weekly task) - clean 1/2 the powerheads (run in vinegar for an hour and disassemble to wipe down) - clean skimmer motor - clean return pump - clean gfo reactor, replace media - vacuum sump - tidy sump, calibrate thermometer & refractometer, check wires for wear, check drain screens for clogs & tears, dust inside lights with canned air (led with internal fan), test mg - empty and rinse top off reservoir and clean pump (I run kalk) I prolly tested parameters twice as often and fed half as much until my tank was all settled. __________________ If you're havin tank problems I feel bad for you, son. I got 99 problems but a fish ain't one Current Tank Info: 3/2016 upgrade to 120g. Chalk bass, melanurus, firefish, starry blenny, canary blenny, lyretail anthias, engineer gobys, kole tang. Softies / LPS / NPS. <3 noob4life <3

03/15/2016, 03:38 PM	#2
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Daily, would include things like, cleaning the glass and topping off with fresh water..... possibly dosing but not in the beginning. Weekly, would include testing.... monthly I usually clean equipment...hth

03/15/2016, 04:18 PM	#4
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	Well ,I feed my fish everyday anyways,so..... I add some water while I'm there.

03/15/2016, 04:47 PM	#5
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	The "reef chemistry forum" very top post labeled "articles", is a great place to get lost in reading,too...