30 Minute Makeover - 6 Tips To Transform Your Tank In A Hurry
Have you ever found yourself in a pinch, needing to impress last-minute visitors with your saltwater reef aquarium? We've all been there. We've compiled this quick list of "6 Tips To Transform Your Tank In A Hurry". Whether you're expecting friends, family, or just want to showcase your stunning saltwater fish and corals, these quick and effective tips will have your tank looking its best in no time. From simple cleanups to strategic enhancements, get ready to make your aquarium shine and leave your guests in awe.
1. Remove Algae From Tank Walls
Perhaps the most obvious task that none of us do as often as we should - use your algae magnet or scraper to clean the viewing panes. Ideally, the algae isn't more than a few swipes of the magnetic cleaner can handle but either way, this will make the biggest impact. Even to the unfamiliar eye, an aquarium with algae on the glass just looks dirty, regardless of the health of the animals.
2. Wipe The Glass, Dust & Remove Salt Creep
This task may not be so obvious but can really help turn your tank from good to great! Using some aquarium-safe glass cleaner, wipe down the outside glass viewing panes, the rim of the tank, the tank stand, and anywhere else that tends to collect watermarks or salt creep. Don't forget to dust your light fixture too!
3. Tidy Up Storage & Tank Stand
It's easy to let your fish food, additives, and test kit supplies become unorganized. For many of us, these items tend to get left out or carelessly thrown under the tank. Take a moment to put away food containers, additives, tongs, test kits, or any other supplies lying around your tank.
Additionally, evaluate your wires and cord situation. While the modern era of reef-keepers tends to take pride in their "cord management" skills, it's a good idea to double-check that your wires are safely secured and not in plain sight. Nobody wants to see an ugly "bird's nest" of wires that just looks like a hazard.
4. Drop A Bag Of Activated Carbon
Activated carbon will remove odors, coloration, and a variety of contaminants from your aquarium water and generally speaking, it works very quickly. If you have it on hand, fill a fresh bag of activated carbon and drop it into your sump or filtration to give your tank water a little extra sparkle and improve clarity.
5. Prepare For Photos
Now that your tank walls and water clarity have been improved, take a moment to prepare your lights and pumps for a prime photo op. It might also be smart to hold off on feeding your tank until your guests arrive because that is usually the first thing they want to see.
- Be prepared to adjust the color spectrum of your LED lights. You might want a heavy violet and blue setting to show off your coral's fluorescence or reduce the blue channels for the best cell phone photos!
- Reduce the internal flow by turning off your powerheads
6. Grab A Coral Viewer and Phone Lens
Most folks not involved in the aquarium hobby have never even seen corals close up. Why not give them that opportunity with a top-down coral viewer? Additionally, you can offer a clip-on lens for their cell phones to take better photos while viewing your tank.
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