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I did my first tank maintanance tonight where I went to do upkeep on somebody's fish tank. This is what I did:

-Observe: I was sent out to do routine maint. and they thought their fish had a disease(turned out they didn't).
-Tested pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate
-cleaned algae
-gravel vac'd 1/2 gravel thoroughly
-changed 1/3 of the water
-reburied fake plants and whatnot
-cleaned debris
-filter maint including cleaning intake tubes and rinsing filter floss. (next time I will replace cartridges & carbon)
-clean front glass

How'd I do? Anything else I should have done, or is there something I shouldn't have done?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

What about feeding? (LOL) Thats all I do with my tank other than observe the fish and look closely at the contents of the tank.

That's a good idea, maybe I'll take out some frozen brine and stuff they wouldn't normally feed.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 21-Oct-2005 00:01

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

How about cleaning the side glass?

Also, might be worth a minute to wipe down the hood and light to get the dust off. Might be worth it to scrape clean the glass under the light, or at least check it to make sure the calcium hasn't built up to a point where it's restricting the light as well. A bright tank is a happy tank

I never feed after doing a water change. I was told many years ago most fish cannot cope with a water change and feeding within 12 hrs.

I agree I would clean all glass both sides.

Also I would save and prepare the water for the next change.

Finally think how much better the tank would look with live plants if the fish will allow (not eat)

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Matty,

Good job.

The one thing you don't mention is if you keep a log of your activities (by client).

I would strongly suggest that you do that as it is very likely that you will not be able to remember what you did when once you have multiple clients to care for. It also helps to uncover a reason if there should ever be a problem with a tank.

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 21-Oct-2005 04:53

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks everybody,

wipe down the hood and light to get the dust off

I did actually do a little dusting

Might be worth it to scrape clean the glass under the light

This I'll definitely do next time.

I agree I would clean all glass both sides.

I cleaned algae all along the inside, but the front was the only viewable panel, so I didn't clean the outside anywhere else. Maybe I'll try next time.

Also I would save and prepare the water for the next change.

I don't really know what you mean by this, I used my homemade python to fill the tank (it was the exact temp) and is freshwater so it didn't need anything but some dechlor.

Finally think how much better the tank would look with live plants

I agree, but I don't know if I could convince them to spend the money for decent low light plants. Maybe a couple months down the line once I get to know them or just give them snippets of my plants for cheaps or free.

The one thing you don't mention is if you keep a log of your activities (by client).

There you go always trying to make some sort of list . But seriously it's a good idea, and I did take some notes, but I tend to be a little more messy about things .

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 21-Oct-2005 09:13

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

“There you go always trying to make some sort of list … I tend to be a little more messy”

Yeah yeah, but don’t come running to me if you really need the info of what you did about 2 months ago to someone’s tank, all I will do is say “I told you so” ,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I don't really know what you mean by this, I used my homemade python to fill the tank

I believe he means sitting the water in a contaner to degas and stabilize before the next change. Depending on what the water company puts in the water, you may not even need to use dechlor

I believe he means sitting the water in a contaner to degas and stabilize before the next change.

Ahh....I've never done that....maybe if it was salt water I'd do that, but I think for the sake of ease(finding somewhere to put 25G of water, then transport it to their house) I'll stick with the python and dechlor.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

My fish have know problem eating after a water change. Some of my fish will nibble at my arm while I'm trying to clean the inside. I think a log would be a really good idea if you are doing tank maintanence for other people.