Free tool · print & stick it by the tank
Reef care scheduler
Pick your tank type and get its daily / weekly / monthly rhythm — top-off, testing, water changes, and cleaning — tuned to how demanding your setup actually is. Print it and stick it by the tank.
Coralkinhonest saltwater & reef care · coralkin.comSoft & LPS reef — care routine
Softies and large-polyp stony corals — the beginner-friendly reef.
Every day
- Feed the fish lightly and remove uneaten food; feed corals as your plan calls for.
- Top off evaporation with plain RO/DI water (an auto top-off keeps salinity steady); check temperature.
- A quick look — polyps out, corals happy, nothing stinging a neighbour?
Weekly
- Test salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate and phosphate; log the trend.
- Do a water change (commonly 10–20%) with matched saltwater — for a soft/LPS tank this often covers your dosing.
- Clean the glass and rinse mechanical media; scrape any coralline off the front pane.
Monthly
- Clean the skimmer and pumps; baste detritus off the rock and out of dead spots.
- Check powerhead flow and reposition if needed; inspect corals up close for pests.
Every few months
- Replace worn media (carbon/GFO if used) and check/replace filter socks.
- Calibrate your refractometer and test kits; replace T5 bulbs (~yearly) if you run them.
⚠️ The one thing to watch
Chasing a perfect number does more harm than a steady slightly-off one — hold alkalinity stable above all. If water changes stop keeping alk steady as corals grow, that is your cue to start light, careful dosing.
Log your parameters →Dosing calculator →Water test checker →
A sensible starting routine, not a rigid rule — adjust to your own tank, livestock and test results. The rhythm is standard reef husbandry; specific dosing amounts and parameter targets live in thedosing calculator andparameter chart. Your pick is remembered on this device only — no account, nothing sent anywhere.
Quick answers
What daily, weekly and monthly maintenance does a reef tank need?
Daily: top off evaporation, feed lightly and remove uneaten food, and check temperature and flow. Weekly: test your parameters, do a water change (commonly 10–20%), and clean the glass and mechanical media. Monthly: clean the skimmer and pumps and blow detritus off the rock. The exact rhythm shifts with your tank type — a fish-only tank is forgiving, an SPS reef needs frequent testing and dosing. This tool lays out your version so you can print it and stick it by the tank.
How often should I do a water change on a reef tank?
A common, sensible default is 10–20% weekly or every two weeks with matched-salinity, matched-temperature saltwater. What matters more than the exact percentage is consistency — regular smaller changes keep parameters far steadier than occasional big ones. Smaller and nano tanks often benefit from a slightly larger, very consistent schedule because they drift faster.
How often should I test my reef water?
It scales with what you keep. A fish-only or soft-coral tank can test weekly; a mixed or SPS-dominant reef benefits from testing alkalinity every day or two because stony corals draw it down quickly and stability is critical. Always test salinity and, on a young tank, ammonia and nitrite until it is fully cycled. Logging your results catches a slow drift long before it becomes a crash.
Does this scheduler tell me how much to dose?
No — and on purpose. Dosing amounts depend on your exact water volume, test results and consumption, so the scheduler points you to the reef dosing calculator, which works the dose out from real chemistry. The scheduler covers the care rhythm (when to test, change water, clean and review), not tunable numbers that could mislead if generalised.
Parameter tracker ·Cycling tracker ·Water-change guide ·All tools