Top 10 Reef Tank Maintenance Tips

In this video, we are going to look at the top 10 Reef Tank Maintenance Tips for a successful aquarium. We take a look at everything from cleaning aquarium equipment to water changes in this video.
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[@vadolphe8491]

Ultra new to this world never done before , have the large tank and is just running water and equipment at the moment just collecting info and like the way you explain all of your tips love the video !!!

[@kenanderson2725]

⁰

[@claytonthompson4454]

Great vid always enjoy your stuff 👍

[@bradtanksley5109]

Cleaning my power heads is the thing I never do but never realized the importance of it. Good video. Thanks

[@mikesenuty7162]

We're still fairly new to this hobby, that being said, I'm still learning what necessary maintenance is needed. Thank for all the good information.

[@MadHattersReef]

You're very welcome...

[@EastCoastFlipper]

Every time a fish dies of mine it’s like I lost a best friend.. :-( I lost a fish today..

[@AbsoluteZero6714]

Sorry to hear about it. Which fish was it and why did you lose it? :(

[@jwatson001]

Cleaning salt creep is something I do not keep up on. It mostly is around the rim of the display tank. Love the videos

[@wombraider091]

Hi How about sandbed maintenance? I get mixed messages for advice, some say don't touch it, some say stir it and some say syphon it.. Which one of them is right? Thanks for reading and love your videos 👍

[@DLJFunk]

i can do a top 5 list of things I put off doing with my tank, I know I should be doing. By the way I just ran across your channel today. Good Things you are helping the Hobby with for me is starting up and stocking my tank with. Thank you

[@MadHattersReef]

You're welcome man. Thanks for watching!

[@mozby76]

Didn't see changing out filter socks/filter floss. Would think that is vital to maintenance. Did I miss it?

[@thunderfox53]

I am 2 years late hehe but I think they didn't mention it as it ideally should be common sense when you think about it change filters as well as general filter maintenance

[@DanielChanReef]

Great tips. I just started my first saltwater tank and hoping to document my experience on YT.

[@mikeynolan122]

Regarding water changes what do you think about triton method 👍

[@MadHattersReef]

You got me... forgot about the ol' triton method. I've never used it so I can't say much about it.

[@mikeynolan122]

Mad Hatter's Reef I only started it 4 weeks ago it was only way I could get around my better half when I wanted to upgrade from 60 gallon to 240 haha promise of no more mess just for the record I was able to tick other 9 on your list 👍

[@joeljanides1925]

Thanks for your time on these videos.

[@THULAA100]

lot of love from India .

[@paulsturgill8848]

Good stuff!

[@annef2111]

I don’t clean the glass as much as I should. I always love how clean everything looks once it’s clean!

[@JasonEKeane]

Also one maintenance item to add that a lot of people seem to forget. Clean salt spray from your light splash guards. Over time, with enough spray it could have a impact (albeit small) on your light output.

[@jacobside2656]

Water change, water change, water change! I love that you say that, all these snake oil in a bottle products saying "no more water changes" you spend more money on snake oil trying to do no water changes then you do on salt for your water changes. I'm bad at water changes because I haven't set up my water mixing station (aka 2 roto mold 40 gallon tanks) that get taken care of tonight!

[@rosedonnapur]

I’m newbie and I’m making nots of evething your useing my shoping cart is not liking you atm lolol. I’m getting my tank tomorrow super excited I’m fond this video and warking my way thu all your videos

[@MadHattersReef]

Welcome aboard!

[@Hernani475Park]

cleaning my return pump

[@theaquaman2373]

Hi so i have to disagree with you about water changes but i like the video. I think it is possible to have a very succesful tank without regular water changes. Dont get me wrong eventually you may need to do one however they are not very effective in removing waste. It is proven that they dont add to many trace elements and you risk upsetting the balance of your tank if the fresh waters parameters arent the same. I believe that by dosing regularly you can give corals exactly what they need and by exploring other methods of nutrient export there are better more time and cost effective ways. Water changes are good for removing yellowing pigment in the water and do make you feel like you have done something to the tank though.

[@MadHattersReef]

Thanks for sharing. The concepts behind this video are geared to new hobbyist. When putting this video together I forgot to mention the triton method but for the most part that method is outside the scope of common reef keeping.

[@theaquaman2373]

Mad Hatter's Reef true i agree with that. i suppose triton is still relatively new in america where it has been in the uk a while now. Only recently have i seen triton videos emerging from the us. I use something from a german company called ati essentials

[@MadHattersReef]

Is that a product line for the Triton Method?

[@theaquaman2373]

Mad Hatter's Reef it is very simillar to triton method but made by ati the same company that make the lights. They test for more elements in their icp testing and a lot of people have switched from triton to go to ati. Its very similar in its approach.

[@jaredc5789]

I don't clean my return pump enough just because of the plumbing involved haha. I agree with the water changes I like to mix my water at 1.026-1.027 because my tank has really bad salt creep on the top rim and my salinity drops quite a bit. I definitely notice the before and after difference between water changes in my Coral. I think that's a topic that's not discussed very often though is what is the difference between a unhealthy Coral, a somewhat healthy Coral, and a really healthy Coral would be a great video topic I think 😝

[@MadHattersReef]

That would be a goof topic, Thanks for watching!

[@randalranka2153]

New reefer here and these videos are extremely helpful

[@MadHattersReef]

Awesome. Glad to help.

[@jussless2834]

Great video next time can you show the title of each of the top 10 they can possibly start a new topic for a top 10 great vid!!!! Look,forward to seeing the next one

[@plootsa]

I like the salt creep idea

[@MadHattersReef]

Thanks!

[@AmericanReefing]

As always another great video! Thanks for all the great info.

[@MadHattersReef]

You're very welcome, thanks for watching.

[@RogueAquariums]

Great tips in maintaining a reef system. So many unfortunately take these things for granted...

[@rja9784]

6:17 I thought he said butter and vinegar 🤣🤣 Third time I got the word water

[@MadHattersReef]

Thanks for watching!

[@Ariaeditzzzz]

Nice crocs bro

[@richardnation3379]

Do I have to aireate the water If I buy it ready made? I just finished cycling and want to buy 2 weeks worth at a time. wondering how long it can sit. Is 1 weeks okay? Would I have to aerate it if it is a week or so old.

[@stephendunn8782]

Great video. I agree 100% about water changes. Thanks for putting out great videos. My nemesis is consistent water testing.

[@oneilwiz]

Great tips

[@fishstix1988]

would you recommend a weekly water change or 2x a month water change?

[@ArturoGarcia-vo3jv]

Can’t wait to star up my tank

[@JasonEKeane]

Really need to clean the detritus from the bottom of my sump but don't have an efficient way to do it at present. Need to get myself an inline pump!

[@MadHattersReef]

I have a video I’m working on for that exact problem. 😎

[@erikpoff1954]

God bless everyone who sees this I hope you have a great rest of your day and a great day tomorrow God loves you ❤️🙏🏽🤍🕊🤍

[@henrynoma560]

One thing that I absolutely hate doing is cleaning the protein skimmer

[@MadHattersReef]

It can get pretty nasty, especially when you are running bio-pellets.

[@Shadowstar1917]

With my freshwater. Proper Gravel vacs and cleaning the glass. I almost never clean my algae off the glass moslt because I leave it for my plecos to pick at and I almost always forget to vacum the gravel when I do my water changes. But they are also planted tanks so it isn't as bad :-P

[@lonestarpatriot876]

Two totally different world's when discussing freshwater and reef aquariums.

[@ambamanda1]

I'm really bad about performing weekly water test. I don't know why because it doesn't take too long but I can just never get on a good schedule to do it frequent enough

[@brandonn5371]

My least favorite maintenance part is cleaning sand. Which is why I need a sandsifting fish! Great vids as always!! Liked & subscribed!

[@MadHattersReef]

Thanks for subscribing 👍🏻

[@NathansWildLife]

How do you change rodi filter

[@MadHattersReef]

Pre filters or membrane?

[@NathansWildLife]

@@MadHattersReef Idk what ever one.I’m not to good with saltwater but I do want to get into it

[@NathansWildLife]

@@MadHattersReef membrane I think

[@rickg8439]

I honestly hate pulling out my return pumps and cleaning them. Need to get a couple of backup pumps to make it easier and have less down time for the system.

[@justanthonyfishing1439]

I rarely do water changes and my tank is doing fine all the water perimeters are fine

[@jenkinscrew]

Hate cleaning inside the 2 tall corner overflow boxes of the display tank. Just not room and have to remove the lights and canopy.

[@serenabowman2214]

Great video buddy 💪 new sub from me 👊

[@BCarl25]

Cleaning the return pumps. I’m afraid I won’t be able to put them back together.

[@rqp12]

Definitely remembering to do water changes I always put it off a day or two to be honest.

[@zachty8173]

This video was awesome! I mostly don’t test my water as much as I should :/

[@MadHattersReef]

Very common response... your in good company.

[@liamstewart6271]

My biggest thing that I don’t do is change out the filter. I do not know why but it just isn’t anything I think about because I don’t see any dirtiness in the tank.

[@cubanreefer1582]

I hate to stir the sand with my vacuum or clean detritus on the sump bottom when I do water changes.

[@santiagoalmonte7211]

I keep finding scratches on my glass after I bought the flipper

[@BakedBigCheeto]

Cleaning up salt creep. Always makes a mess and 95 percent of it is around the sump so guests never see it.

[@Throttled19]

I find the easiest way to clean the creep is keeping a spray bottle with RO/DI and spray the creep so it melts back into the water. Quick and easy!

[@larrygilbert5098]

Hi so my name is Kathleen and I am getting back into the hobby I guess I haven't aquarium for approximately 5 years of crashed I gave up and now 18 years later I am oh I have set up a 55 gallon aquarium have a canister filter and I think I'm I never experienced any mechanical failure or equipment failure or anything it was always my water conditions or the kind of fish that I put into the tank that would cause the problem and now my nerves are so bad so basically I am did a water change and I have a canister filter with the hoses and everything and I decided to take the I guess the guard off of the intake hose to clean it and I got it confused with another pump head that I had or another filter guard that I had so I decided to leave it all and I had a maroon clown it was a tiny little thing and he disappeared one day and I didn't understand I thought maybe maybe the girl killed him and the crabs 8mm I didn't but I kept looking at the hoes though like I wonder if he got sucked up in there so I did a water change last night and did not put the guard back on and the filter sucked up my little black and white clownfish and his girlfriend was just swimming around are the only two in the tank and she's swimming around looking for and he is nowhere to be found luckily my husband and just glanced at the tank and actually saw him gets sucked into it so he knew where he was and called me and luckily we were able to save him I'm surprised we saved him my husband took the filter pump apart at the top and cuz he had made it down I guess he was too big to get down into where the medium is and so he was at the top of this filter powerhead thing and covered in sand and still wet during his last flop and my husband spotted him and I threw him back in tank luckily with a little stress coat I don't know if it actually works or not but I just feel like he was stressed out so I gave him some stress coat and now they are swimming along happily ever after and I just really really wanted to reach out to you and thank you for the videos and the I guess the the the the matter-of-fact kind of this is what can happen in this is what will happen in this is what you should do or shouldn't do and I just wanted to say that you should put the filter guard thing the thing the suction guard back on never leave that all because I know that's what happened to my Verizon cloud now I was so glad that we were able to save sir and he's swimming around and there they're waiting for me to plug everything back in when are so bad right now so I just wanted to reach out didn't necessarily know how to do it on KZbin so thank you I appreciate all let you do for the hobby

[@brendonvodden]

Thanks for the video!!

[@MadHattersReef]

You're very welcome.

[@nuclearwalnut998]

This helps a newcomer alot

[@MadHattersReef]

Thanks for watching.

[@BorealisOffroad]

I know I have some algae growth in the short flexible piece of my return plumbing that needs to be cleaned but I'll probably break down the entire tank by the time I clean it.

[@MadHattersReef]

LOL. thank you for sharing.

[@bluegrassreef2705]

The one thing I know I should do more of is regular testing of my water. I do test my ALK somewhat regular (thanks to Hanna) but I know I need to be doing more. I guess 10 years in the hobby can make you over look the basics sometimes.

[@MadHattersReef]

Sounds like a case of the LARS...

[@tristanrogers1780]

8:40 Triton method? BRS is looking to have great success with it. Enjoyed the video

[@aaronhouser1254]

I never seem to get my water changes done on a decent schedule. Usually ends up being 2-3 months

[@denisemporter]

I don’t take apart my return pump once a year and clean. I also need a backup pump in case of emergency. Thank you for the helpful videos!

[@MadHattersReef]

Redundancy!!! Very, very important... this is something I’m going to be talking about more and more on the channel. Thanks for sharing.

[@kv7310]

Helpful video!

[@MadHattersReef]

Thanks for watching!

[@darrellmarshall7025]

Great video

[@MadHattersReef]

Thank you.

[@williamwulffleff6829]

Changing filter socks. I always slack off due to it being hard to remove in my sump.

[@matthewshermoen4437]

Siphoning back chambers on the cube!!

[@duaneclark6223]

for me its cleaning my powerheads. I actually called and complained to current usa about a powerhead that was not working properly to which they sent me a new hub and pump only to find out I did not clean it well enough and catch the fact that something had wrapped around the impeller. I have offered to pay for the replaced equipment. it was a duh moment for me for sure.

[@shawnburns9297]

I don’t clean the glass. I feel like the snails will take care of it for me and they do a great job at it and when I feel like they can’t keep up with the algae on the glass then I will step in and clean the glass.

[@AlexsReef]

I can't find myself getting an ro unit, and also a ato... All tho I am looking, so coming around maybe

[@Emanna81]

Alex's Reef , I got one from www.Autotopoff.com. $40 and bought a aqua lifter pump for $20 a plastic container and some air hose. Cheap and effective been working for 2 years now. Does the same as the more expensive ones.

[@MadHattersReef]

You must have a smaller tank then?

[@AlexsReef]

Mad Hatter's Reef 22 gallon tank, right now getting about 4 gallons of rodi water keeps me about two weeks. Witch allows me to dose what I need and keeps me going into the store to look around. But an ato would be nice just worried I might mess up my doseing

[@hippyskee316]

i need a refractometer 🤔 def gonna get one this week.

[@MadHattersReef]

Check this one out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXvRoHaKqph_ebc

[@itsadino5806]

Water change, I just trust my reef enough for it to let me know if somethings up.

[@sweetscience1019]

Hello everyone I have a question for any experienced refers out there. Can improperly rinsing carbon before adding to filter kill fish? I added two 100g packs of fluval carbon to my filter. Instead of rinsing them in my sink like I normally do, I took about a gallon of tank water and swished them around until the water turned black then added to my filter. I did this at about 5pm. By next morning all but my clownfish were dead and the clownfish was in bad shape gasping for air. I noticed the water also looked a bit cloudy (could have been a coincidence) and tested my water but there was zero ammonia and nitrite. I was puzzled could the carbon have killed my fish? I can’t think of anything else.

[@lonestarpatriot876]

I doubt the carbon did that. With that said, it is important to understand that not all carbon is created the same. Also, carbon is only good for 3 to 5 days. It should be changed out often. You can also just use it for 3-5 days as a part of a schedule. So you might run it for the first 3-5 days of each month and then not run it the rest of the month. That is just an example of what I do as each system would be different. Some may have to do it bi-weekly, others may get away with longer. I never leave carbon in my tank for more than 5 days.

[@nicknasty14]

Use chemi pure blue. Dont use straight carbon in reef tank. Not good or suggested. I had to learn the hard way.

[@lonestarpatriot876]

@@nicknasty14 I have always run carbon in my reef tank with zero problems. It is all in how you do it. And I don't know where you got that it is not recommended because if you ever got something toxic in your tank like Dino, you would have to run carbon amongst other things. Plenty of reefers use Carbon but as I said in my original post, it is how you employ it that matters. It also must be pre-rinsed before adding to tank and it must be a good activated carbon because they are not all created equal.

[@lonestarpatriot876]

@@nicknasty14 And I hate to tell you this but Chemi Pure Blue is an Activated Carbon with proprietary resins. It is a passive way of using Carbon as it is not being run through a fluidized media filter but rather just sitting in your sump or filter.

[@nicknasty14]

@@lonestarpatriot876 Yea i understand that. There are also benefits to using activated carbon, which you fail to mention. Like a larger surface are for one. Many tankers love chemi and swear by it. Its all what works for you. Im just talking about using straight carbon without anything else. Ive always heard not to use alot of charcoal for reef. Only minimal. You have to also thouroughly rinse that stuff or it will cloud and mess up your water. Which sounds like what happened to this person on here. Chemi pure doesnt need to be thouroughly rinsed for one. Youre telling me that you run carbon for a few days and then remove it for the rest of the month, lol? What, why on earth would you do something like that? What are you running the rest of the month. I need to know this. Can i do the same? Chemi pure blue for me is all i basically need. Its an all in one, so you dont need gfo and other media. Lasts 2 months without changing and its easy for me to just drop a couple in the caddy along with the filter floss. Everyone has there own method. Whatever works for them. Im only running a small 10 gallon nuvo fusion right now. Will get bigger going again eventually. Alot of frikin work.

[@liambrewster6399]

I hate cleaning the power heads because I always feel like I’m gonna break it or some how make it dirtier. I know it’s weird

[@johnnycarreiro5698]

How would you suggest to make coralline algae in a aquarium

[@MadHattersReef]

Calcium and lighting, T5 lighting seems to work best for growing coralline algae.

[@jaredc5789]

You have to have some spores to grow it. I got some from a frag I bought but there's a company that sells the spores in a bottle that you add to your aquarium I think I might try it just try it haha here's their website. arcreef.com/product/coralline-algae/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAzfrTBRC_ARIsAJ5ps0vRMioZ_Vu-Y4DgFv-IY87idlIQwArE_34vhNp6Qsx8_gMPzty9hTgaAj9OEALw_wcB

[@holdenhohman5549]

Billy was so funny, he should do more vids

[@aidenzrihen3505]

Testing

[@ericbostwick9036]

Testing. ....that's my downfall. Add drops shake check. Ahgggg drives me nuts

[@rja9784]

Bro, letting salt creep fall into the tank is not an issue AT ALL!

[@MadHattersReef]

My personal experience says otherwise.

[@Jonyace]

I’m terrible about testing. I figure if everything looks ok, then it must be fine.

[@MadHattersReef]

I need to get better about testing myself.

[@elijahstrosnider3875]

👍

[@ralphpastine4587]

Haven't done a water change in 5 yrs...my tank is just fine

[@Rx12233]

Ralph Pastine so I’m guessing you haven’t check the tank in years then.

[@ralphpastine4587]

@@Rx12233 can you read?? I clearly stated my tank is fine

[@Rx12233]

Yep, obviously I can’t read.

[@MrJaman0083]

Dude, people get so offended when you tell him you haven’t done water changes in so long. I always get “that’s impossible” , and “you are full of shit” . I just laugh. Then they give you that look like you just smack their mother. Why the hell would I need to do a water change if I got my water pristine through dosing and scrubbing. To each their own. It’s also a marketing ploy to sell products.

[@chriswade7506]

I don't know what to do when I test and something is wrong.

[@jaredc5789]

Chris Wade water changes 😝

[@yoooofufuuu]

🖒

[@Tekitremble]

I always hate trying to clean the (internal) sponge filters that come inside some pumps.

[@seztreg7686]

Do i need an rodi thing for a clown & easy coral setup?

[@MadHattersReef]

I would just because of all the things that can happen with poor water quality.

[@seztreg7686]

@@MadHattersReef ok thanks anywhere i can get a cheap one? Im already spending 500 on my new tank considering im 16 and working 4 jobs for upkeep lol

[@laurenyoclips]

I like you :)

[@justinmeyer51]

Filter maintenance. I tend to forget

[@georgevillasenor5225]

Water testing, I should probably do it often, I simply forget about it from time to time.

[@MadHattersReef]

I definitely need to test more often.

[@pennywoods2113]

Don’t clean my glass as often as I should

[@MadHattersReef]

No one does

[@The_reel_archer]

Changing the filter sock because I forget most the time

[@MadHattersReef]

I had to take my filter socks out of the tank because I would never change them.

[@lundiboy8]

I would add cleaning off the live rock with a turkey baster or something. That is where I find most of my detritus and random crap.

[@josharmenta3131]

Tithe one thing I don’t do is pull and clean my system power heads. The only time pull the power heads is when they fail to operate.

[@Eric-ho9uf]

I almost never clean my powerheads.

[@adamsilversmith]

Didn’t know that about salt creep

[@MadHattersReef]

Salt creep is an indicator of a few things :)

[@Eric-ho9uf]

I rarely dust off my lights also

[@reeferreborn3245]

Cleaning glass and blowing off the Rocks with a Baster go hand in hand.

[@big9ersr814]

I just can't keep up with water changes

[@MadHattersReef]

Is your tank somewhat established?

[@siargaokid8007]

Refractometer please :O

[@eddieramos1450]

Changing filter socks

[@MadHattersReef]

Yup...

[@mikelask4106]

I hate the anxiety of cleaning what I forgot to clean!!!!!!!!

[@JyB818]

I'm terrible about testing water parameters. Just lazy I guess

[@jerryebner7582]

Have to be changing socks. I try every 3 days but it has been many past at times because I forget

[@MadHattersReef]

I'm horrible about changing socks...

[@Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez]

I hate you! I want a beard like that one! xD

[@MadHattersReef]

A gray one?

[@Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez]

stuffed macho style one :'(

[@MadHattersReef]

weathered...

[@Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez]

Trying, man :'(