Steps to Follow in Repair and Renovation of a 210-Gallon Tank
by Dr. Adrian Lawler
Extracted from the staff Operational Handbook which Dr. Lawler wrote as Aquarium
Supervisor for the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center and Aquarium, of Biloxi, MS
Aquarticles
From the Editor: These notes were written for the guidance of staff at a public
aquarium, but are also relevant to home aquaria.
Black-Out
- Use Black-out board to black out tank
- Add "Exhibit In Progress" sign to front of tank
Sterilize
- Fill tank to working level
- Add three to four cups chlorox
- Run air 10-15 minutes to circulate chlorox throughout tank
- Turn air off (leaving air on will drive chlorine out of tank) and let stand at least one
day
- Turn air on to drive chlorine out - let run at least one day to drive fumes out (if
saving water)
- Dump water & clean tank (if not saving tank water)
Clean
- Drain, scrub (whole tank), flush (vacuum, siphon, or net) grunge out of tank
- Remove coral (gravel) - either discard coral or wash thoroughly; wash gravel thoroughly
- Vacuum debris, remaining coral (gravel) with Shop Vac
- Use acid to clean carbonate film off window (use gas mask, gloves, & safety
goggles). If window is etched, it will need to be replaced
Inspect
- Stability of Standpipes
- Sealing of screen around edges & standpipes
- For holes in screens
- Supports under filter plate (Enough, spaced evenly?)
Repair
- Seal standpipes to tank wall
- Repair holes in screen, seal screen if pulled away from tank (or replace with new screen
- save old screen as a pattern)
- Seal around front & rear windows, if needed - Other problems found, as needed
Set Back Up
- After silicone sealant has cured at least 36 hours, add thoroughly washed coral (gravel)
- old or new coral (new preferred) - two to three inches thick over screen in tank
- Do aquascaping planned for tank - tank must be dry if using silicone sealant
- Add filtered (or treated) freshwater to fill tank; turn on air; aerate at least one day;
test for toxins by adding a live Guppy (Molly, mosquitofish, etc.)
- If fish lives for at least one day - drain tank; add water of appropriate salinity; seed
tank with bacteria from a tank with a similar salinity; add display organisms and log them
in.
Open Up Display
If all appears normal, remove black-out board & "Exhibit In Progress" sign
- Clean both front windows of display
- Log in repairs done to tank and date opened back up for display
Monitor
Watch organisms for two to seven days, looking for:
- Damage due to handling
- Damage due to fighting among display organisms
- Any other signs of stress
Correct any problem
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