Lobster tank

Support and Maintenance

Welcome to our Support and Maintenance section. At Développement Aqua Inc., we understand that a well-functioning lobster tank is essential to ensure the quality and freshness of your products. That’s why we provide a dedicated space for the installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of your tank. Our practical guides, instructional videos, and expert advice will help you maintain a healthy and stable environment for your lobsters while extending the lifespan of your equipment.

Common Problems

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Call us
(514) 952-5534

Maintenance & Installation Videos

Easily access our step-by-step video tutorials on Youtube to guide you, whether it’s for:

Install a new tank or reconnect an existing system
Perform the annual maintenance of your lobster tank
Perform simplified maintenance on your lobster tank

Common Problems, Causes, and Solutions

Having an issue? This section helps you identify the most common problems, their causes, how to fix them, and how to prevent them from happening again. You can also check the FAQ section for quick answers.

The water in my lobster tank becomes dirty quickly

Possible Cause

The lobsters are not
properly purged and are placed directly into the tank upon arrival.

#1

Solution

Purge the lobsters properly. Before transferring them into the tank, place them in a container of salted water for about 20 minutes. This allows them to expel their waste and excrement in the container rather than in the tank.

Explanation

Transporting lobsters by truck to the grocery store or business causes them significant stress. Once placed in water— their natural environment— they relax… and release waste. This is why it is essential not to put them directly into the tank: their waste releases ammonia, which makes the water toxic. Since a tank operates in a closed-loop system, this would quickly endanger their health.

Possible Cause

The tank’s filtration system is clogged with debris and dirt.

#2

Solution

Perform a full annual maintenance of the tank, including replacing or cleaning the filtration components.

Explanation

A lobster tank becomes dirty much faster than a fish aquarium. Due to their biology, lobsters are messier and produce a lot of waste, which directly impacts water quality.

It is therefore crucial to monitor the condition of the filtration system and perform regular maintenance. Here are the main actions to take during maintenance:

Filter wool: Replace it as soon as it turns brown, a sign that it is saturated with particles.
Coral (biological substrate): Rinse annually with clean water using a strainer until the water runs clear. Coral can be used for up to 5 years before needing replacement.
Activated carbon: Completely replace it, as it loses its effectiveness after one year.

A clean filtration system ensures healthy water, reduces the risk of ammonia buildup, and extends the lifespan of your lobsters.

Possible cause

Presence of algae in the lobster tank.

#3

Solution

Ensure the Lexan covers are properly installed over the tank. When cleaning the plexiglass, avoid using abrasive brushes and perform the cleaning when the section is empty of water.

Explanation

Algae appear when there is a combination of water, light, and oxygen—an ideal environment for their growth. The Lexan covers act as a natural UV filter, preventing light from promoting algae growth. When the covers are not in place, the water quickly becomes a breeding ground for these microorganisms.

To clean algae, it is essential to turn off the pumps and drain the section being cleaned. If cleaning is done while the water is still circulating, algae particles disperse invisibly and can settle and multiply elsewhere in the system.

Cooling System Malfunctioning

Possible cause

The compressor is plugged into the pump outlet instead of the designated outlet for the compressor. Therefore, the water is too cold.

#1

Solution

Unplug the compressor from the pump outlet and plug it into the outlet reserved for the compressor.

Explanation

The compressor must be connected to its dedicated outlet, as it is controlled by a thermostat. This allows the water temperature to be automatically regulated.

If it is plugged into the pump outlet, the compressor will run continuously without stopping. As a result, the water can become too cold, potentially forming ice in the tank. Ice buildup severely disrupts the proper functioning of the system, and in extreme cases, it can damage the motor or cause the compressor to fail.

Possible cause

The thermostat is defective or improperly set.

#2

Solution

Call Développement Aqua and request technical support.

Explanation

If the thermostat is simply misconfigured, a member of our technical team can guide you over the phone to reprogram it correctly and get the system running quickly.

However, if the thermostat is defective, a technician will need to visit on-site to replace it.

In both cases, it is important not to let the system operate outside the proper temperature range, as this could compromise the lobsters’ health and damage the equipment over time.

Possible cause

The compressor is low on refrigerant.

#3

Solution

Contact Développement Aqua or your refrigeration technician so that a certified technician can add refrigerant.

Explanation

Sometimes the cooling system develops a micro-leak, often imperceptible, through which refrigerant slowly escapes over time. After a few years, the remaining amount in the system may become insufficient to effectively cool the tank water.

A certified technician will need to:

Check the refrigerant level.
Add refrigerant, if necessary.
Seal the micro-leak to prevent the problem from recurring.

Lobsters Have Died

Possible cause

The salt level in the tank water is not adequate.

#1

Solution

Use a working hydrometer to measure the salt (salinity) level in the tank water.

If the salinity is too low, gradually add marine salt.
If it is too high, drain part of the tank water and replace it with fresh water using a hose until a stable level is reached.

Explanation

Lobsters are marine species sensitive to changes in salinity, especially in a closed system like a tank. An inadequate salt level—whether too low or too high—can have serious effects, up to and including the death of the lobsters.

Possible cause

There is an excessive concentration of ammonia in the tank.

#2

Solution

Perform an ammonia test to confirm that it is the cause of the deaths.

If the level is high, partially or completely drain the tank and replace the water with clean water.
You can also use a treatment like ClorAm-X to quickly neutralize the ammonia in the water.
Ensure the tank is not overcrowded, as too high a density of lobsters can quickly destabilize the tank’s biological balance.

Explanation

Ammonia is highly toxic to lobsters, even at low concentrations. It can accumulate rapidly in a closed system if proper precautions are not taken.

To prevent ammonia buildup:

Never use cleaning products in the tank,
Make sure lobsters are properly purged before placing them in the water,
Introduce lobsters gradually, allowing time for beneficial bacteria in the system (nitrogen cycle) to stabilize.
Regular monitoring of water quality is essential to prevent this type of critical situation.

Possible Cause

The lobsters received at the store were already weak or dead upon delivery.

#3

Solution

To check if a lobster is still healthy, hold it by the body while it is in the water and observe its reactions.

A healthy lobster will visibly lift its tail and claws.

Explanation

If a lobster shows no movement, it is either very weak or already dead.

Placing a dead lobster in the tank is extremely risky, as it will begin to decompose quickly, releasing ammonia into the water. This contamination can poison the other lobsters and result in multiple losses.

The Compressor Is Making a Strange Noise

Possible Cause

The radiator is clogged—either too much dust has accumulated on the fins, or the tank is placed too close to a wall, preventing the hot air released by the compressor from escaping properly.

#1

Solution

Use a small brush and a vacuum to remove the dust buildup that is causing the motor to overheat.

Explanation

Dust buildup is often an overlooked cause, but it is important to check a few times a year to ensure the compressor is clear and that nothing is blocking the airflow in and out of the tank. Neglecting this can be critical for the equipment and may lead to serious damage.

Possible Cause

The compressor is defective and needs to be replaced.

#2

Solution

Contact your store’s refrigeration technician to obtain a complete report on the parts that need to be replaced in the refrigeration unit. You may also contact the Développement Aqua Inc. team for a second opinion on the situation.

Explanation

It is possible for the refrigeration unit to fail after a certain number of years, without being able to know exactly when or why. Most of the time, this is due to poor maintenance, which causes leaks and salt buildup inside the compressor box. A well-maintained lobster tank can keep its original refrigeration unit running for its entire service life.