Support and Maintenance

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Call Développement Aqua and request technical support.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.