Topic: Tips & Tricks

[callen]

A turkey baster is a great way to pick up any uneaten food.  It's also a great way to clean rock or hard to get at places in the tank.  It comes in real handy with live rock in saltwater tanks to keep it detritus free, also helps suck up cyano on the sand without disturbing the sand bed to much.

[callen]

When cleaning your filters swish them in some tank water that you have syphoned out during a water change.  The chlorine and chloramine in the tap water will kill the nitrifying bacteria in the filter.

[callen]

When you know you are going to set up a new tank...set up the new filter on an existing tank for a while so when you get your new tank, instant cycled.

[callen]

Another tip is you don't have room for a filter to seed a new tank.

Take some gravel that you are going to use for your new tank and place it in a filter bag or stocking hose.  Put the bag in an established tank for a few weeks.  Then transfer to your new tank and voila bacteria transferred.

[mrbigfish]

Callen how fast do you think that would establish the new tank. Would you still check amonia, nitrite, andf nitrate levels?

[callen]

If you have a good amount (a few cups worth) that you transferred it would be instant. 

Would you still check amonia, nitrite, andf nitrate levels?

Yes I would always do that for a new tank.

[mrbigfish]

that's the way I seed new tanks but have never thought about using that much gravel.Great tip!

[callen]

When adding new fish to your tank never add the water that the fish came in into the tank.  do a 100% water change in the bag by slowly adding tank water and dumping the water into a bucket until you are positive that you have exchanged all the old water out.   It's a good way to acclimate your new fish. 

[Gerry]

If adding a new cichlid to a tank with another cichlid in it who is a more aggressive species then remove the existing fish to another tank/bucket and rearrange the tank. Then put the new guy in (after acclimatising of course) and give it a short time to get the feel for its new home before adding the original fish back in.

This will increase your chances of the original guy leaving the new one alone

[callen]

Because acrylic tanks scratch easy it's best to only use what is made for acrylics to clean the tank.
For example the Mag-float to clean the sides.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13366&cmpid=03csegb&ref=3312&subref=AA&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=0011966000000

[Stormbringer]

just make sure when using it tho that no sand or gravel gets caught between them tho

[Dale]

A very obvious one, but don't do your water checks, PH, nitrate etc, over the tank to avoid any spills of chemicals into the water.
   Also, when ever I clean my condensation tray, I dry it fully, and wipe it over with diluted algae control.
I've been doing this for two years and have to clean it half as often.   

[mrbigfish]

If you use a python to clean your tank (s) you can save a bunch of water if you turn water off after water removal,gravel cleaning has begun. the water does not come out as fast as with water on, but gravity takes over once it starts. In this day and age no need to waste water. hey I'm greening

[callen]

With a saltwater tank with a sand bed...Its not good to disturb the sand bed but use critters like Nassarius snail to move it around for you.