Well it's that time of the year in the Brox and Val houshold to do the old spring clean and when I say spring clean I mean it with a controled thermo nuclear explosion of a spring clean (well maybe not that bad) but starting at the top of our setup working our way down to the bottom.

Thoroughly cleaning the gravel with the Adapted external filter which is used as a Vacuum cleaner ,also cleaning large rocks of any alge that has built up over the year, remembering to check undergravel filter for any breaks (coming up on five yearly change).

Check all electric leads that are in the setup as we don't want to plug ourselves in at a later date (something that once almost happened) but was thankfully avoided when Val spotted a small puff of smoke as water hit the lead Lucky for me lol

Taking in all pipes , jubilee grips, venturie's, etc checking connections, cleaning all, then glass, removing and checking any pipework holders, and stickers for signs of going hard.

Working on down to the gravel and a thorough gravel clean (hard to do with disabilities), not really when you've had over twenty years to work out a routine that doesn't involve a visit from (MR PAIN),by the way I don't eat Snickers can't stand them they tend to hurt when they hit you lol.

Rest stops are a must and are taken once every fifteen minutes (estimated time)and with breaks the entire spring clean runs to an estimate of around four hours for a total clean.

Then we have a go at all the electrical appliances including the airtec 60 cleaning it's filter,

remembering to change the U/V as per yearly change , replace prefilter, moving on to a check of last years medicines removing any used and taking a stock check on the rest peplacing any used, I just wish company's would put a use by date on things don't you ?

Re-set electronic reminders so that in a months time we are back to our normal maintenance scedule

Last but not least a half water change adding helpful bacteria at the end,remembering of course to put one's feet up and relax in the knowledge of a job well done and treating the koi to their favorite meal for being very understanding of the days disruption to their normal routine.