Monthly Routine

[angnak]

I would like to hear about your monthly routines. How often you feed, target feed corals, H2O testing, water changes, etc... Everything. I figured this might be useful to all the newbies who wonder when things should be done. And who else would be better to lead the way than the great people of RS!!!

[strat]

well, ill tell you my daily routine.. i always try to (and this is very important) get an hour or so of reading in at RS... and daydream about my future tank


just kidding, but i cant wait

strat

[Electrobes]

Um.. lessee:

Weekly: I dose 1 mL of a two-part additive (Natureef). One drop of Lugol's Iodine, even though it suggests two for my size tank but I do not want to overdose... especially when I ahven't recieved my test kit for it yet!! (I have a soft & LPS tank). I dose chleated Iron for my macro algaes in the refugium. I typically have to refill my auto top-off of which as of lately I have been using the vinegar and kalkwasser method to boost my calcium, but levels have finally leveled out... er.. so says my Salifert tests kits anyway. I change the minor filter padding.

Monthly: I do a 10% water change using Oceanic's salt (I do not use a protein skimmer). I complete tests for Magnesium, calcium, and alk.

Every two months: I harvest the spaghetti algae


Can't think of anything else I do...

[maffu]

My set up is kinda new so I think I probably have a less complex view on life.... but here goes:

While cycling I did a daily test on the following:

Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, salinity, temp.

Now I am into month two of the tank and I the clean up brigade are all in and happy, and I have started stocking up (although lightly). I changed my regime to the following:


Daily-

Livestock check- does everyone look happy, mobile(where appropriate), full of colour, and are they all feeding etc.

I check my water level and top off the tank to the required level- I will be automating this soon.

Also check temp. and salinity (hour or so after top-off).

Initially I tested these at one point each day. I am now beginning to take sample readings at different times of day in order to 'map out' typical variances, as well as maintaining the original time slot.

So notwithstanding any usual events or obvious problems every 2-3 days I now test for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate.

Weekly I complete the picture with Carb Hardness, Alkalinity, pH, and Phosphate tests.

It is important to say that if any of my tests produce out of parameter results I then begin to track them more closely until an issue is resolved and\or explained.

For example, last week I had a phospate spike... so I tracked that through the remedial action of water change and addition of antiphos, and continued to track for a few days after the first zero was recorded.

I do all of my regular tests at a similar time of day.

Hope thats what you are after and isnt too simplistic... but I am pretty new to this!

Matt

[EdgeKrusher]

I do a 15% water change every sunday. I check my top off everyday. Dose Kalk daily via the top off. Feed every other day once a day. Clean the glass on feeding day. check to make sure the temp is stable. I used to test once a month, but now it's more like every month and a half. Water params are very stable for my little nano.

[Gina]

We top off everyday.
Clean the skimmer about once weekly
Feed everyday-every other day depends.
Test about every two weeks
Check the water temp daily
Clean the glass when needed
Change about 15% water every third week
We make water for our water changes a day in advance.
We make top off water and store in gal jugs when needed.
Check the power heads and pumps and make sure they are working properly every day.
Hmm...if I think of something else, I'll get back to you with it.

[Electrobes]

holy poo, 15% EVERY sunday?? Isn't that a bit much?

[fidojoe]

Ek's tank is only a 12g nano, so 15% isn't too much.

I will have to change a few cups a week on my new 2.5g nano, check params weekly, and topoff daily.

My 50 is a different story-
change 5 gallons every other week, or whenever (I've gone 1.5 months w/out a water change with no ill effects)
Feed fish every third day, and add instant algae (DT's equivalent, but better IMO, plus much cheaper)
Add water to kalk reactor bucket every other day.
Can't think of anythig else right now.

[reefrunner]

Kalk added 24/7 via auto top off Change 30% water every other week, clean skimmer cup each week, change GAC each week. Add 2 part CA and ALK (CalMax) as needed to maintain CA and ALK. Feed every third day. Harvast fuge as needed. Frag as needed.