clean the tank regularly and change the water. All debris such as food, waste, and dead fish should be removed as soon as possible. There is no substitute for regular cleaning and water changes. See Appendix D for a description of the nitrogen cycle and Chapter 6 for guidance on cleaning the tank and changing the water. Can I use AmQuel Plus or ammonia removal grains to prevent ammonia spikes? They may be used only in a dire emergency and if a large water change doesn’t reduce the ammonia. These chemicals tie up the ammonia in the water, rendering it harmless to the fish. However, by tying up the ammonia, it deprives your biological filter (the bacteria) of the food it needs to “good” live and grow. So in the long run, while you have reduced your ammonia, you are killing off your long-term ammonia reducer (your biological filter). Please consult your TIC volunteer or coordinator before adding any other media to the tank or filter. If water tests indicate that ammonia levels are excessive and fish are exhibiting signs of ammonia stress a large water change is recommended. This is generally necessary only in extreme cases. POWER FAILURE What happens if there is a power failure? How much time do I have? It is important for the fish to have as stable a water temperature as possible and proper filtration and oxygen. Short downtimes of an hour or two probably will not harm the fish or change tank temperatures or other parameters significantly. However, loss of power over a weekend or even worse, over a long vacation, will likely be fatal to the fish. What should I do if the power must be turned off? The custodians who are authorized to turn the power on and off should be informed that the trout system needs constant power. If constant power is not possible, see if you can cycle the power. This means running the chiller for two hours on, then two hours off. This is better than simply letting the tank sit all day without power. It is best to prevent any such problems and carefully maintain the tank environment. The priority in an emergency is getting the tank environment back to normal. No emergency procedure can replace the stability of a working tank. TANK What tools are needed for tank installation?
clean the tank regularly and change the water. All debris such as food, waste, and dead fish should be removed as soon as possible. There is no substitute for regular cleaning and water changes. See Appendix D for a description of the nitrogen cycle and Chapter 6 for guidance on cleaning the tank and changing the water. Can I use AmQuel Plus or ammonia removal grains to prevent ammonia spikes? They may be used only in a dire emergency and if a large water change doesn’t reduce the ammonia. These chemicals tie up the ammonia in the water, rendering it harmless to the fish. However, by tying up the ammonia, it deprives your biological filter (the “good” bacteria) of the food it needs to live and grow. So in the long run, while you have reduced your ammonia, you are killing off your long-term ammonia reducer (your biological filter). Please consult your TIC volunteer or coordinator before adding any other media to the tank or filter. If water tests indicate that ammonia levels are excessive and fish are exhibiting signs of ammonia stress a large water change is recommended. This is generally necessary only in extreme cases. POWER FAILURE What happens if there is a power failure? How much time do I have? It is important for the fish to have as stable a water temperature as possible and proper filtration and oxygen. Short downtimes of an hour or two probably will not harm the fish or change tank temperatures or other parameters significantly. However, loss of power over a weekend or even worse, over a long vacation, will likely be fatal to the fish. What should I do if the power must be turned off? The custodians who are authorized to turn the power on and off should be informed that the trout system needs constant power. If constant power is not possible, see if you can cycle the power. This means running the chiller for two hours on, then two hours off. This is better than simply letting the tank sit all day without power. It is best to prevent any such problems and carefully maintain the tank environment. The priority in an emergency is getting the tank environment back to normal. No emergency procedure can replace the stability of a working tank. TANK What tools are needed for tank installation?
TIC-Manual-4th-Edition-FINAL.docx