What must I do to maintain my aquarium properly?

• Perform a water change of 20% per month or 10% every two weeks.
• Keep the aquarium glass free of algae using a scrub pad, cleaning magnets, and/or scraper.
• Clean, or replace, your filter pads every one to two weeks.
• Empty the collection cup from your protein skimmer whenever it becomes full- usually once a week.
• Stir the sand bed every week to make the water cloudy and allow the filter to catch the extra dirt.
• Create a storm. Using your hand, blow jets of water against the rock and behind the rocks. Make the water as cloudy as possible. Allow the filter to catch the extra dirt. This simulates a storm and flushes dirt out of your aquarium.
• Test your aquarium water at least once per month for established aquariums, and once a week for new aquariums.
• Feed all of your fish, coral, and invertebrates.
• Add trace elements such as iodine, strontium, calcium, etc to maintain proper water chemistry.
• Use pH buffers to adjust the pH if necessary.
• Replace the carbon every 2-3 months.

What cleaning tools do you recommend?

• Use Aqua Gloves to save yourself from getting stung by toxic corals.
  - It is definitely worth protecting yourself.
  - Some people are more allergic to corals than others; however, it is also possible to become allergic to a coral over time.
• Use cleaning magnets to clean the aquarium glass, or acrylic.
  - Do not drag the magnets too close to the sand.
  - If they catch a piece of sand between them and the acrylic they will scratch your aquarium.
• Instead, use a long handle scraper to clean the bottom two inches of the aquarium just above the sand. This method will dramatically reduce the chances of scratching your aquarium.
• Use a short scraper to clean hard algae off of the glass, or acrylic.
• Use your hand and a turkey baster to blow jets of water against the rocks.

How can I prevent scratches when I am cleaning?

• Always checking your scrub pads and cleaning magnets for even the smallest piece of sand that may have become stuck on them. The one time you rush and don’t take the time to check them carefully is the time you will scratch your aquarium.
• Never ever use cleaning magnets, or scrub pads, near the surface of the sand.
  - Always keep at least 1-2 inches above the top of the sand and go slowly above the sand so you don’t stir up the sand.
• Use a long handle scrapper to clean the bottom few inches to the aquarium just above the sand.
  - Scrap downwards into the sand bed then move the scraper away from the glass to let any sand fall away from it and again scrap downwards. Repeat this all the way around the visible part of the aquarium.