Daily Tank Checks
by Dr. Adrian Lawler
(retired) Aquarium Supervisor (l984-l998) J. L. Scott Aquarium Biloxi, Ms 39530
Original to Aquarticles
Daily tank checks should be done in order to catch problems with living specimens or tank
equipment before specimens are lost. Following is a list of items to look for/do during
tank checks (Part of this list was from my handbook on how to operate the J. L. Scott
Aquarium, where tanks had to be maintained for a daily inspection by the public and
politicians. Private tanks should also be maintained for inspection and viewing by the
owner and visitors, and to catch and correct any problems.). Tank logs should be kept to
document problems with specimens and support equipment, etc. Log in things done to tanks,
observations of animals and plants in tanks, plus observations on tanks and support
equipment.
Animal
--Find missing specimens (to avoid decay in tank, bacterial growth, and possible tank
fouling).
--Remove any dead specimens (to avoid decay in tank, etc).
--Remove injured or sick specimens to treatment tank, and treat (or discard).
--Separate fighting animals (try to remove the aggressor to lessen territorial fights for
a while).
--Remove sheds of crustaceans (to avoid decay in tank, etc).
--Remove uneaten food (to avoid decay in tank, etc).
Plant
--Remove dead or dying plants or parts of plants (to avoid decay in tank, etc).
--Remove excess algae (especially on viewing glass) or plants (do water change if
excessive nitrates;
adjust timers on lights, change bulb intensity, or change wavelength of light
to increase/decrease the
algae/plant growth). --Replant dug up plants.
Support equipment for tank
--Verify air on.
--Verify all support equipment working correctly and electrical supply safe.
--Verify no hole in substrate exposing under gravel filter (giving path of least
resistance for water to flow
through hole, and thus decreasing flow through substrate and decreasing
biological filtration).
--Level substrate if using under gravel filter (to more even flow of water through
substrate to encourage
biological filtration throughout substrate).
--Add water if tank level is low.
--Verify water clear, not cloudy, or another color.
--Replace bad lighting bulbs.
--Back-flush/clean filters and other support equipment.
Tank
--Verify no leaks or overflows.
--Remove accumulated salts on parts of tank and support equipment.
--Repair aquascaping display.
Copyright 2006 by Dr. Adrian Lawler, Author Copyright 2006 by
Aquarticles, Internet Sponsor
Author Information must remain with article.
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