Sorry More Questions!

[heavenly_d3vi1]

I've just realised, I've bought all this equipment and have all these wonderfull plans.. but I have no idea what kind of 'routine looking after' marine tanks require!

Water changes, how much/how often, does anything need to be added to the water apart from salt obviously. and any information on whatever else needs doing!

Thanks

 

[HappyGeorge]

Weekly 10% change - premixing salt into water and heat it up well in advance.
Skimmer collection cup emptying - as and when needed
Top up with NON-SALTED Ro water - making up for losses through evaporation I do about 5 litres daily.
Cleaning stuff - as and when required.
Bulb changes - recommendations vary.

Probably lots of stuff I have forgotten but thats a quick list

 

[Yuma]

That's a good list to start from.

I admit I haven't gone through all of your threads, but here are a few more items, some of which you may have addressed already.


If you're going to run a sump, you will want to vacuum out the detritus as it collects, probably once a week or so, you can do it as your weekly water change, just vacuum out the sump and/or the sand in your display as you drain the water.

+1 to George. Top-off with RO, water changes with Saltwater.

Once you get full up with corals, you may have to consider some dosing, but it depends on how many, size, and species that you put in there. With the exception of SPS and plating/encrusting corals, most things will be fine with a good salt mix and weekly water changes as the salt mix should contain sufficient amounts of the items being used up.

You'll want a good test kit, and want to keep an eye on your water parameters. More so at the beginning, but still on a regular basis. You'll learn as you go the things you have to test for and how often.

If you haven't purchased an RO unit...I highly recommend it. There are a few hobbyists out there that don't use RO, but most are experienced marine keepers and compensate for the potential issues you can have with tap water by other means. Some of them just have exceptional tap water. I'm not saying it can't be done, just saying you can avoid potential issues down the road if you know your water. Regardless water testing is a necessity. I can't stress this enough because I got burned. If you purchase RO or Salt water TEST ITS PARAMETERS BEFORE YOU ADD IT TO YOUR TANK. I got burned by a LFS that didn't change it's filters and it took me much longer than it should have to figure out that was the source of my nitRATe problem.

If you have a good source for RO water and salt water, such as a respected LFS locally, that's good too and you can go that route, although in the long run you probably save money by buying an RO/DI unit. Personally, I would recommend just buying RO and mix your own saltwater. I would also add on the mixed saltwater......It's not entirely NECESSARY, but highly recommended to mix in advance as George says and mix well to stabilize O2, PH and temp.

Hope that helps.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

Thank you! And yes I have an RO unit on the way.. I did do a bit of researching about just using tap water, I believe the cornish tap water is the best in the country.. but lets face it, with the amount I've spent on equipment this week, and the amount i WILL be spending on fish and corals.. another £100 or so for the RO unit and an hours set up wasn't really worth the hassle of risking!

when it comes to mixing up the water with salt, whats the best way to go about mixing it, I mean obviously in a large container (I plan on using a dustbin) but I mean a wooden spoon aint quite gunna cut it! Do you stick a powerhead in or something like that?

What test kits are recommended? They seem to vary in price by quite a bit, is it worth spending the extra, will it be more accurate etc?

 

[weezawoo]

Best way ive heard to mix is a food safe container with a heater and powehead!

 

[woody88]

I use a 25 L container for my nano. I have a powerhead and heater in there and start mixing 24 hrs prior to the water change.

Although at a push I can get the water up to salinity and temp within 2 hours if I need to do an emergency wc.

When mixing, I advise you get the plain ro up to temp BEFORE you start mixing salt as rise in temp effects salinity [So I have found anyway].

The most popular test kit is the Salifert range. They come highly recommended by the majority on here [including myself]

Next one down is the API saltwater or reef master test kit.

Please note that the Salifert range come un indivdual kits and not a master kit.


ps- like yer pic!.....Your hot! lol!

 

[Yuma]

Agreed on everything said so far.

I have a 30 gallon trash can that I mix in. Works wonders. If you can get one that has the wheels on the bottom, even better. I like to mix mine in the laundry room and then drag it tank side. I use a mag 7 pump in the bottom of mine to mix water, pretty much any powerhead or pump will do. I will give you a little trick though....with my mag 7, I attached a hose to the output. When it's mixing, the hose just sticks in the can, but, when I get ready to do water change, I can plug that baby in and pump it straight into my tank....no buckets, no cups, no mess. I do hold the outlet hose into a plastic cup so that I don't blast the sand bed.

Salifert are generally recommended as best test kits and are a little pricier. As far as accuracy, I don't know that there is a distinguishable difference, as I have always used the API and have had no problems, other than sometimes distinguishing one color from the next.

Pretty much any heater will do. Both my pump and heater were purchased second hand for next to nothing.

Woody brings up a good point about heating before salt, although I never do it and haven't had an issue. Another benefit to that is that salts tend to dissolve a bit better if the water isn't ice cold.

 

[heavenly_d3vi1]

lol, thanks woody.. tho that pics a couple of years old now and I have more added wrinkles

Anyway.. if I get the individual salifert tests, I've noticed at a quick glance there are loads and loads of different ones.. apart from the obvious ph, ammonia trite and trate ones, are there any other I NEED to have?

Yuma.. good call on the pump and hose, think I'll go with that idea too! I'm gunna be able to drag a binfall of water frmom where it will be mixed (in the kitchen) through to the tank in the living room as I have stairgates and things in the way! I have been picturing myself walking through the house 1463 times with a little bucket!! lol

 

[Yuma]

LOL....1463...LOL!! That made me laugh pretty good.

The money on the pump and clear hose was some of the best money I've spent.

To start with, the test kits you mentioned are sufficient. Although you might also consider phosphate as well. In addition, if you're planning on corals, calcium and carbonate hardness should be part of your kits too.