A steady routine keeps a saltwater tank stable. It also prevents most algae and disease issues. Use this saltwater aquarium maintenance schedule as your baseline.
Daily checks (5 minutes)
Look at the animals first. Healthy fish swim with purpose. Corals show steady polyp extension. New hiding, flashing, or heavy breathing needs attention.
Confirm temperature and salinity stability. Aim for 77–79°F in most reef tanks. Keep salinity at 1.025–1.026 specific gravity. Use a calibrated refractometer for accuracy.
Feed small amounts and remove leftovers. Offer two small feedings for active fish. Example: pellets in the morning and frozen mysis at night. Rinse frozen foods to reduce phosphate.
Check equipment by sight and sound. Verify return flow and surface agitation. Make sure the skimmer is producing foam. Catching a stuck heater early prevents disasters.
- Top off evaporated water with RODI water only
- Confirm ATO reservoir has at least 2–3 days of water
- Wipe salt creep from rims to stop drips and rust
Need a baseline for stability targets? Review your reef tank water parameters and log results.
Weekly tasks (30–60 minutes)
Test the core parameters on a set day. For reefs, target alkalinity 7.5–9.0 dKH. Keep calcium at 400–450 ppm. Keep magnesium at 1250–1350 ppm. Track nitrate at 5–20 ppm and phosphate at 0.03–0.10 ppm.
Do a water change that matches your tank’s nutrient load. Many mixed reefs do well with 10% weekly. Heavy feeding may need 15% weekly. Match temperature and salinity before adding new water.
Clean for flow and light. Scrape glass and blow detritus off rocks. Use a turkey baster before the water change. This helps export waste through the filter and skimmer.
Service mechanical filtration. Rinse filter socks in hot water and air dry. Swap to a clean sock every 2–3 days if possible. If you use a fleece roller, check tension and advance rate.
- Mix saltwater for 12–24 hours with a powerhead
- Vacuum 25–50% of exposed sand each week
- Empty and wipe the skimmer cup to keep performance steady
If nutrients stay high, review your export plan in protein skimmer tuning guide. Small adjustments often fix big swings.
Monthly and quarterly deep maintenance
Deep clean pumps and powerheads every 4–8 weeks. Soak parts in a 1:1 vinegar and water mix for 30–60 minutes. Scrub off calcium buildup with a soft brush. Rinse well before reinstalling.
Check calibration and replace consumables on a schedule. Calibrate your refractometer monthly with 35 ppt fluid. Replace carbon every 2–4 weeks if you run it. Change GFO only when phosphate rises again.
Inspect safety and redundancy. Test heater controllers and high-temp alarms. Replace old heaters every 12–18 months. Clean ATO sensors and verify shutoff works. A stuck ATO can crash salinity fast.
Troubleshoot common problems with simple checks. If alkalinity drops fast, measure daily for three days. Then set dosing to match consumption. If cyano appears, reduce feeding by 10–20% and increase flow near the sand.
- Label test kits with open dates and replace at 12 months
- Log dosing changes in milliliters per day
- Quarantine new fish for 30 days before display
For a safer stocking routine, use our saltwater fish quarantine setup checklist.
Sources: Randy Holmes-Farley, “Reef Aquarium Water Parameters” (Reefkeeping Magazine); Eric Borneman, “Aquarium Corals”; Julian Sprung, “The Reef Aquarium” Vol. 1–3.
A schedule turns reefkeeping into simple habits. Start with daily observation and weekly consistency. Adjust the numbers to your bioload and coral demand over time.
By
