Old Tank Syndrome - Page 3

jimeluiz · 05-24-2006, 09:59 AM

Very good summary. Thanks Witt. I'm making my to-do list...

Witfull · 05-24-2006, 10:08 AM

i think the cliffnotes version to avoiding old tank syndrome,,,keep on playing, keep on playing~

once you sit back and think,,,,"ok,,i dont have to do anything now", not only have you lost the passion, but sentenced a tank to slow decline and sudden fall.

Woodstock · 05-24-2006, 10:29 AM

Great read!!

Dragon Wrasse · 05-24-2006, 12:43 PM

Well said Wity.....

Charlie97L · 05-24-2006, 01:09 PM

also, i've read several places that changing out the sand every 2 years or so is a good idea... you can keep a few cups (depending on the size of the tank) to reseed after the new sand is in.

i would think that most reef tanks might need to be "re-invented" every few years with a major cleanup. but we tend to do that anyway, i think.

meandean45 · 05-28-2006, 06:56 AM

Great Thread! Maintainance, Maintainance,Maintainance, and then more Maintainance! The Idea that "if it works, don't fix it" is just plain wrong, not only in reefs, but anything else in life that is worthwhile. My dentist always said "if you ignore your' teeth, they'll go away". I believe him now (I've still got MOST of them).
If you settle back to watch instead of being actively involved with your' tank, I fully expect that you'll get to watch it go into a slow, but steadily increasing, downward spiral that one day leads to "Oh no, my tank is crashing"(I speak from past experience here). It's my belief that OTS is really ignored tank syndrome. I got very complacent early on, and had the symptoms of OTS after just a year and a half or two. Yup, it crashed, and it took about two years to set it right after this "Benign Neglect".
I was very diligent again for a couple of years, and my tank thrived. Yup, time to "Sit back and watch again". Some of us have to learn the hard way twice!
On a more positive note, I've gotten off my can, and have things headed in the right direction again. Research is being done, the algae is on the run, weekly water tests are again being performed (and on a LOT more parameters than before), water changes have become more regular and larger, and, surprise!, my tank is looking better every day.
Beware the Ignored Tank Syndrome!
Dean

05-24-2006, 09:59 AM	#31 (permalink)
jimeluiz Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Niteroi, Brasil Posts: 829 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Old Tank Syndrome Very good summary. Thanks Witt. I'm making my to-do list... __________________ Sold the tank prior to our move. Setting up our new life in Brazil.

05-24-2006, 10:29 AM	#33 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,663 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Old Tank Syndrome Great read!! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

05-24-2006, 12:43 PM	#34 (permalink)
Dragon Wrasse Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 991 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Old Tank Syndrome Well said Wity..... __________________ *Member "Crabs Are Evil" Society* "A wise man learns more from a foolish question, then a fool learns from a wise answer" - Bruce Lee _____________________________ 75 gal SeaClear II Reef Tank (softy tank) - Coralife 125 Super Skimmer - Little Giant 2-MDQX-SC - Angstrom 2537 UV 15W - HOB Refugium - Eheim Pro 2228 - Red Sea Wave Maker w/Maxi-Jet 600 (X4) - 100 lbs Live Sand (DSB) - 100 lbs Live Rock - 260W PC lighting - 470nm lunar lights (X15) - AquaController II Custom 75 gal Starphire glass tank (SPS/LPS tank) - Custom 24 gal Refugium - Tuzne Wave box - JBJ Chiller - 390W PC lighting - 175W MH (X2) - Knop Cal. Reactor - AquaController 3 Pro - Aqua C Skimmer - Phosban Reactor - 18W Turbo-twist UV sterilizer - Sump - Sony Computer 5 gal Nano Hospital Tank - Eheim 2213 - Red Sea Prizm Skimmer - Live sand - Live Rock - Built in Refugium - 36W PC lighting

05-24-2006, 01:09 PM	#35 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Old Tank Syndrome also, i've read several places that changing out the sand every 2 years or so is a good idea... you can keep a few cups (depending on the size of the tank) to reseed after the new sand is in. i would think that most reef tanks might need to be "re-invented" every few years with a major cleanup. but we tend to do that anyway, i think. __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

05-28-2006, 06:56 AM	#36 (permalink)
meandean45 Ricordea Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bradford, Vt., USA Posts: 177 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Old Tank Syndrome Great Thread! Maintainance, Maintainance,Maintainance, and then more Maintainance! The Idea that "if it works, don't fix it" is just plain wrong, not only in reefs, but anything else in life that is worthwhile. My dentist always said "if you ignore your' teeth, they'll go away". I believe him now (I've still got MOST of them). If you settle back to watch instead of being actively involved with your' tank, I fully expect that you'll get to watch it go into a slow, but steadily increasing, downward spiral that one day leads to "Oh no, my tank is crashing"(I speak from past experience here). It's my belief that OTS is really ignored tank syndrome. I got very complacent early on, and had the symptoms of OTS after just a year and a half or two. Yup, it crashed, and it took about two years to set it right after this "Benign Neglect". I was very diligent again for a couple of years, and my tank thrived. Yup, time to "Sit back and watch again". Some of us have to learn the hard way twice! On a more positive note, I've gotten off my can, and have things headed in the right direction again. Research is being done, the algae is on the run, weekly water tests are again being performed (and on a LOT more parameters than before), water changes have become more regular and larger, and, surprise!, my tank is looking better every day. Beware the Ignored Tank Syndrome! Dean __________________ Meandean45 -RELATIVITY: "Sit on a red hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit next to a pretty Girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's Relativity". A.Einstein : "A man's got to know his limitations."- Clint Eastwood in "Magnum Force"

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