St.Michael's (Pisces Crises)

The Basics

• Employee

  Select Nicolás Ed Abi Bruce Monty Marcus Janai Hadyn

  • Nicolás
  • Ed
  • Abi
  • Bruce
  • Monty
  • Marcus
  • Janai
  • Hadyn

• Date

  Date

• Time Started

  Date

Setup

• Open LOUVRE WINDOWS in corner for DRAINING. Remove FRONT COVER-GLASS and place in sink for washing

Observations

FISH

• Photos Before. 1-2 OVERALL. 2-3 CLOSEUPS on PLANTS

• Ramirezis & Tetras

  Select Great; vibrant, eager for food some individuals not right. sulky, sluggish, isolated from group Bad (deaths/strange behaviour/cloudy water

  • Great; vibrant, eager for food
  • some individuals not right.
  • sulky, sluggish, isolated from group
  • Bad (deaths/strange behaviour/cloudy water

• Unwell? Take photos of individuals and check for causes. Questions: 1. Is it just an individual or many affected? 2. Check for uneaten food, levels of ammonia or nitrite. 3. Filter or heater stopped or malfunctioning?

• Anything on BODY? <br>WHITE SPOTS?<br>FUNGUS?<br>WOUNDS?

  YES

  NO

• Take PHOTO of cases and NOTE down details.

• CONTACT BRUCE IMMEDIATELY

• Take PHOTO where possible and NOTE down details.

• Looking good? Place a pinch of TETRABITS in and observe how they eat.

The Workers: SUCKING CATS & FLYING FOXES

• Sucking cats

  

• SUCKING CAT/s sighted? (1-2)

  YES

  NO

• Siamese Flying Fox

  

• SIAMESE FLYING FOX/es sighted? (2-3)

  YES

  NO

• How's the algae levels on GLASS & PLANTS?

  Select Lots of soft brown/green dust Very clear. A few spots on glass and old leaves Furry black algae growing on old leaves, pump, glass dark green spots on glass

  • Lots of soft brown/green dust
  • Very clear. A few spots on glass and old leaves
  • Furry black algae growing on old leaves, pump, glass
  • dark green spots on glass

• This is an indication that there are no or low numbers of SIAMESE FLYING FOX. Mention in notes.

  

• This is an indication that there are no SUCKING CATS. Mention in notes.

  

• Check light TIMER and nitrate levels.

PLANTS

• BLUE STRYCTA

  

• How are they looking?

  Select Healthy light green new growth, good size stems getting close to surface new growth a little pale, yellowish, maturing prematurely, smaller than old growth lots of old discoloured leaves, holes in them curled new growth

  • Healthy light green new growth, good size
  • stems getting close to surface
  • new growth a little pale, yellowish, maturing prematurely, smaller than old growth
  • lots of old discoloured leaves, holes in them
  • curled new growth

• Remove all old and ageing leaves from base CAREFUL that you have the right one!

• May have to review K dosage levels. Check NITRATE and PHOS and check with BRUCE by SMS.

• Great. Remove any old, ageing leaves from stem. CAREFUL that you don't snap the stem!

• Possibly low in NITRATE and/or POTASSIUM (K) CHECK levels. (Section 4). 10ppm or more with still poor growth possibly means therefore not enough K and thus they are being starved. Contact Bruce for further instructions.

• CUT approx in half and, If healthy, reduce HEADLESS STALK by a further 50% and replant heads on front to hide the stalk.

• CRYPTS

• How are they looking?

  Select great. shiny vibrant leaves discolouration, prematurely old and yellowing leaves curled deformed leaves, lots of dark spotted algae on leaves

  • great. shiny vibrant leaves
  • discolouration, prematurely old and yellowing leaves
  • curled deformed leaves, lots of dark spotted algae on leaves

• PEEL AWAY any old and ageing leaves from base

• POGOSTOMON STELLATA and ROTALA

• How are they looking?

  Select great, health light feathery green new growth, pink in the growth head stems getting close to surface stunted or malformed small new growth, old leaves look eaten

  • great, health light feathery green new growth, pink in the growth head
  • stems getting close to surface
  • stunted or malformed small new growth, old leaves look eaten

• CUT approx in half and, If healthy, reduce HEADLESS STALK by a further 50% and replant heads on front to hide the stalk.

• Great. Be sure to SHORTEN DOWN any that are getting too close to the surface.

• Possibly low in NITRATE and/or POTASSIUM (K) CHECK levels. (Section 4). 10ppm or more with still poor growth possibly means therefore not enough K and thus they are being starved. Contact Bruce for further instructions.

Tests part 1

• TEMPERATURE test (ideal 24-26 C)

• Temperature

• A bit too cool. Is heater functioning/plugged in?

  YES

  NOT PLUGGED IN

  NOT WORKING

• Replaced?

  YES

  NO, to be delivered later

• Increase THERMOSTAT (clockwise) and make note of how much.

• Increased THERMOSTAT by:

• Is THERMOSTAT functioning?

  YES

  NO

• Decrease THERMOSTAT (anticlockwise) and note by how much.

• Decreased THERMOSTAT by:

• HEATER Replaced?

  YES

  NO, to be delivered later

• Good. Refill with HEATER or KETTLES OF BOILED WATER in COLD months.

• Rinse 4 TEST VIALS in tank water: pH (square vial) and GH (large round vial) NITRATE & PHOS (small glass) MEASURE 5ml in each and SET ASIDE for later. Tip: use SQUARE VIAL or a SYRINGE to measure an accurate 5ml for the GH.

The Drain (50%)

• Unplug PUMPS & HEATER from power.

GRAVEL VACUUM

• Be sure the TWO SUCTION CUPS on the HOSE are secure to FRONT of GLASS. (HINT: WETTING improves their suction)

• Fit VACUUM HEAD to DRAIN HOSE. HOSE END out the WINDOW

• How dirty was it?

  Light

  Medium

  Heavy

FAST DRAIN

• Cover tank-end of HOSE with BASKET STRAINER

• Remove VACUUM HEAD & place HOSE inside front glass at the DESIRED HEIGHT of water change. (standard for this tank is 50%)

• % Size of Water Change

The Refill

• Orientate tank-end HOSE to be HORIZONTAL and Remove BASKET STRAINER and replace in kit.

• If not FAST DRAINED, then first remove VACUUM HEAD and position hose outlet HORIZONTALLY.

• Bring end out of window to LAB TAP

• Turn on LAB TAP to FLUSH out old water and set the suitable RATE of flow. After 5 seconds fit hose to TAP OUTLET.

• SOUP HEATER in COLD months. (alternatively 2-3 kettles of boiled water) REMEMBER: always plug into WALL OUTLET. Try to find OPEN SPACE, away from plants.

Things To Do During Refill

• CLEAN GLASS; easiest at LOW WATER LEVELS. SOFT ALGAE lightly with sponge. DARK GREEN spots: best with SCRAPER.

• PUMP SERVICE?

  YES

  NO

• FLOW CONTROL

  

• INTAKE SHEATH

  

• WALL MOUNT

  

• INSTRUCTIONS:
  
  Slide PUMP upwards out of its WALL MOUNT. Can rest on TOP GLASS.
  
  TURN bottom half to be 90 DEGREES to top half to UNLOCK AND PULL APART.
  
  Remove and clean IMPELLER, the MAGNET BODY is the priority.
  
  If TOOTHBRUSH too large to get around IMPELLER SHAFT, use small amount of paper towel.
  
  REMOVE RUBBER INTAKE SHEATH.
  CLEAN INTAKE BASKET STRAINER with TOOTHBRUSH.
  
  RE-ASSEMBLE.
  
  Make sure FLOW CONTROL is set to MAX.
  
  OUTAKE should be angled approx 45 degrees from base so as to move water from the BACK to the FRONT as well as from LEFT to RIGHT.
  
  Unit should SLIDE EASILY into the WALL MOUNT.
  
  INTAKE is offset to adjust distance from WALL to RISER STEM PIPE; be sure the pipe is straight when viewed from the SIDE.

• Water level high enough? Turn FILTER PUMP and HEATER ON.

Tests (continued)

• pH Test? 3 drops in 5ml. (ideal range 7-7.1)

• pH

• ADD approx 🍏 tsp CORAL SAND.

• ADD approx 🍎🍎 tsp CORAL SAND

• ADD approx 🍎🍎🍎 tsp CORAL SAND

• Is this expected? Been a recent large dose of coral sand last time?

  YES

  NO

• Rinse test tube thoroughly and retest. (Any traces of ammonia or GH tester solution will give a false alkaline reading)

• WOAH! Unlikely! Rinse test tube thoroughly and retest. (Any traces of AMMONIA TEST or GH TEST solutions will give a false alkaline reading) If still high then we must assume that there has been an excess amount of coral sand and all we can do is water change. It will eventually come down as the coral sand dissolves.

• GH TEST. number of drops to turn from ORANGE to GREEN

• GH (ideal range 6-8)

• SIZE of water change:

  50%

  80%

  25%

  none changed

• ADD 🍐 TSP SALTS

• ADD 🍐🍐 TSP SALTS

• SIZE of water change:

  50%

  80%

  25%

  none changed

• ADD up to 🍐TSP SALTS

• ADD up to 🍐🍐 TSP SALTS

• ADD up to 🍐🍐🍐 TSP SALTS

• Depending on SIZE of WATER CHANGE, add NO SALTS and let WC reduce the GH.

• NITRATE TEST

• Nitrate level (ppm)

• Depending on state of plants, this is POSSIBLY grounds for increase in BASIC-GRO dose. Contact Bruce for further instructions.

• GENERALLY this is the OPTIMUM RANGE. HOWEVER if there is POOR PLANT GROWTH observed then possibly means therefore not enough K and thus they are being starved. Contact Bruce for further instructions.

• Almost certainly and LACK of POTASSIUM. Inform Bruce after service.

• PHOSPHATE TEST

• Phosphate level (ppm)

Additives

• Salts added? (Low GH)

  YES

  NO

• How many teaspoons?

  1 teaspoon

  2 teaspoons

  3 teaspoons

• NOTE: NO SALTS DIRECTLY ON PLANTS!! - The methylene blue in this salt stains. Either MIX in by hand, or premix in cup of HOT WATER.

• Coral sand added? (Low pH)

  YES

  NO

• How many teaspoons?

  1 teaspoon

  2 teaspoons

  3 teaspoons

• BASIC-GRO dose (3 caps/ 15ml usual)

  YES

  NO

  N/A

• How much?

  1 Blue Cap (5ml)

  2 Blue Caps (10ml)

  3 Blue Caps (15ml)

SUPPLIES ; in OFFICE, by PRINTER. ANY REFILLING IN SINK OR OUTSIDE!

• SALTS refill?

  YES

  NO, NOT NEEDED.

  NO BUT WILL NEED SOME NEXT TIME

• FOOD REPLACE/ REFILL?

  YES

  NO

• WHICH KIND?

  Select TETRABITS SPIRULINA FLAKES SPIRULINA TABLETS DISCUS PELLETS None

  • TETRABITS
  • SPIRULINA FLAKES
  • SPIRULINA TABLETS
  • DISCUS PELLETS
  • None

• Will any need replacing next month?

  Select TETRABITS SPIRULINA FLAKES SPIRULINA TABLETS DISCUS PELLETS None

  • TETRABITS
  • SPIRULINA FLAKES
  • SPIRULINA TABLETS
  • DISCUS PELLETS
  • None

• BASIC-GRO refill? <br>NOTE: only WE use this.

  YES

  NO

• HOW MUCH IS LEFT?

  75% or more

  50%

  25%

  less than 10%

• DAILY-GRO refill? (If wishing to replace but still a small amount remains in CURRENT BOTTLE, swap over and leave OLD BOTTLE behind and can pour in rest into the new bottle at a later date)

  YES

  NO

• HOW MUCH IS LEFT?

  75% or more

  50%

  25%

  less than 10%

• POTASSIUM supply refill? <br> (If wishing to replace but still a small amount remains in CURRENT BOTTLE, swap over and leave OLD BOTTLE behind and can pour in rest into the new bottle at a later date)<br>

  YES

  NO

• HOW MUCH IS LEFT?

  75% or more

  50%

  25%

  less than 10%

• Can put in a small pinch of TETRABITS as departing treat :)

Equipment Check

• TIMER on CLOCK SYMBOL?

• Timer on the correct time?

  YES

  slight adjust

  faulty (out by 2 hours or more)

• Replacement Installed?

  YES

  NO, to be delivered later

• IMPORTANT! Remove and notify the lab staff. They will have to MANUALLY turn on and off until a new one is sourced. Leave a note in LAB PREP ROOM saying so. Leave old timer there so they can match the settings if they have to get one themselves

• DOSING PUMPS tested? "M" button for manual operation. Any AIRLOCKS to bleed out?

• LIGHTS: Both tubes working?

  YES

  NO

  N/A

• Details

• Return LIGHT slightly FORWARD of centre.

• Notes

FINAL CHECKS

• HEATER and FILTER PUMPS ON and functioning?

• OUTSIDE GLASS, CABINETRY etc CLEAN & DRY?

• Got your: BASKET STRAINER? TOOOTH BRUSH? TEASPOON?

• Photos After. 1 x OVERALL. CLOSEUPS of any REARRANGED PLANT.

• Time Finished

  Date