What's your most hated reef chore?

[Sherita]

Let's hear it! What one chore related to your tank do you hate more than anything else? And while your at it, if you have any tips or techniques to make things easier, let's hear them :)

My most hated tank chore is cleaning powerheads and pumps. I gotta drag out the buckets, find the muriatic acid and then fret because my precious corals don't have the water flow they are used to. I used to use vinegar, but I've found that muriatic acid takes the crusties off a lot faster. You still have to scrub them down afterwards, but the gunk just falls right off.

Ok, your turn.

[350gt]

Cleaned my pump today and your right its not fun... But it's something that should be done, cause mine was nasty. My power heads are not that bad cause you just have to pull off the wet sides on the mp 40s and you can leave the motor and cable hanging on the tank..... Very simple.

Mine is water changes, only cause my lower back isn't so good.... I envy ppl that have there water changes and top offs automated.... One day I will sell the motorcycle in my garage and I will make everything automated...... One day.

[reefreak]

I agree with the pump cleaning but the worst chore i think is water changes because i usually get yelled at by my parents for making a mess.

[CoryDude]

Am I a freak if I said I like doing maintenance on my tank? I like cleaning pumps, changing water, washing the skimmer, changing gfo and carbon. I guess if I had to choose one thing it would be aquascaping. I'm way too picky for my own good when it comes to the rock layout and coral placement.

[Reefer head]

I agree aquascaping is a pain in the *** before u get it juuuust right, but at the moment I'm just waiting for these dreaded diatoms to fade away, the only reason there is any is cause my 55 leaked like crazy, huge mess ,flooded my room(I wasn't home when it started spewing either)

[CoryDude]

I agree aquascaping is a pain in the *** before u get it juuuust right, but at the moment I'm just waiting for these dreaded diatoms to fade away, the only reason there is any is cause my 55 leaked like crazy, huge mess ,flooded my room(I wasn't home when it started spewing either)

Ok, now I know what I really hate...battling nuisance algae and diatoms can be the worst. Using a turkey baster to suck up the excess bacterial slime, limiting your photo period, doing a large water change only to see that snot return in lss than 3 days. Yeah, diatoms are the worst.

[allan]

One day I will sell the motorcycle in my garage and I will make everything automated...... One day.

Noooooooo, figure something out. Just don't sell the ride.

My hated chore (there are two) is cleaning the Coraline growth off the glass when I've let it go too long.

The other is mopping up the occasional overflow of water. Especially if I'm attempting to do it quietly so the wife doesn't know.

[Texreefer]

Dragging water around for water changes... I need an RO unit!

[Big_Pun]

I hate water changes !!!

[Cammed_02]

Definetely cleaning powerheads. Soaking in vinegar, scrubbing them down then having to run the wires back down to the powerstrip neatly is a PITA.

[kkiel02]

Feeding all my chalices. I have get my whole arm wet then fend of my shrimp from stealing the food. I wish they would just eat faster. Haha. It usually takes a good 20-30 minutes. I can't wait to separate all my corals to different tanks for their needs.

[KING]

i would say the glass..i have to clean every day..and i clean the sump..some ppl dont care what it may look like but i cant stand it..

[350gt]

You mean the Miracle mud allows algae to accumulate on the glass and doesn't gobble everything up in the sump? ;)

[cowboy572]

For me there are the three already mentioned. First is pump cleaning. I had an instance earlier this week where my pump driving my Bullet 1 skimmer decided to get clogged with cheato at 930 at night. Second are the little spots of coraline that appear on the front side of the tank, and normally out of reach. Then third and last is aquascaping. When a blue leg or turbo decides it doesn't like where you glue or wedge a frag in, they decide it looks better at the bottom on the sand bed.

[Mr Cob]

picking up orders from the airport. Hate it and will even pay 30%-40% more through FedEx just so I don't have to go to the airport. Hate it, hate it and hate it.


hate it

[hobogato]

fragging zoas/palys. i have been sick from the palytoxin twice now and that is no fun!

[allan]

fragging zoas/palys. i have been sick from the palytoxin twice now and that is no fun!

You know I would have never thought of that. But fragging 30 individual palys was a royal PITA.

[tebstan]

You're supposed to clean power heads? :blushing: jk... sorta


Cleaning the back wall is my least favorite task.

My tank is deep, on a tall stand with an awkward canopy, and I'm short. I have to climb up on a step stool and pull a contortionist maneuver to get under the canopy. I'm always trying to avoid dipping my upper body in the tank, but to really get the back wall scraped all the way at the bottom, I'm going to get wet.

[Mr Cob]

fragging zoas/palys. i have been sick from the palytoxin twice now and that is no fun!

same here dude, got extremely sick once...the last time I did a major frag session. I haven't fragged since.

[rrasco]

same here dude, got extremely sick once...the last time I did a major frag session. I haven't fragged since.

I think I have some of those frags. IIRC it was not too long before the last frag swap when you got sick, and I picked up some palys/zoas from you at the swap. Yeah, I tell people you got sick fragging those.

I hate water changes. I'm working on designing my automated system to make it as easy as turning valves and flipping switches. I'm just messy and I have to fend my cats off all my equipment while I'm working. I also have 8-10 tanks running right now. Yeah, I hate water changes.

[Mr Cob]

lol, thanks, that's funny, I should have charged more haha

[Sherita]

Ok, I have a new one......


building screen tops! Grrrrr.........

But not building is not an option, since there is a gymnothorax melatremus in the tank. That would be one mighty expensive cat toy if it hit the floor.

[Reefer madness92]

Dude I have lids made of cardboard and shrink wrap lol w\e works

[CoryDude]

Had to do it this weekend and it took me almost an hour to complete. Scraping coralline algae off all 4 walls of th tank. Even with a kent pro scaper it was a pain in the tuckus.

[Sherita]

Dude I have lids made of cardboard and shrink wrap lol w\e works

I'm running heavy on metal halides and t12's on this tank. I would cook it if I used shrink wrap :)

[Reefer madness92]

I'm running heavy on metal halides and t12's on this tank. I would cook it if I used shrink wrap :)

Eek no kidding that's a lot of heat