Common Misconceptions In the Hobby

[davidryder]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10611761#post10611761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miwoodar
Amen brother. I don't know why people think salinity would be less stable in a smaller tank but I hear it all the time. Maybe they assume larger tanks always include an ATO system? Without an ATO system one could argue a larger tank would have high evap rates due to the increased lighting and fans.

Salinity is more likely to be unstable in a smaller tank because of evaporation. Granted, if you have ATO it wouldn't make a difference... but few people with larger tanks don't have a top-off system. Not necessarily a misconception, just a generality with a caveat.

 

[tonyf]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10591744#post10591744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
What if the common wisdom is incorrect?

Then it is clearly not wisdom. What is important is that there is a reference point around which to work.

Really, all you need is nothing more than a tub of saltwater (NSW or ASW) in the sun and a paddle to keep the water going around. ROTFLMAO

Tone

 

[C-Water]

Paul B - Thank you. I agree with those points. It's amazing those "LFS theories".

I will add: the use of bleach to clean corals/decorations.

You can use a bleach solution in a bucket to clean corals/decorations. Rinse with running water, dry in the sun and then place it in your tank. I have done hundreds of times and never had a loss (even with delicate species and inverts)

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10614958#post10614958 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davidryder
Salinity is more likely to be unstable in a smaller tank because of evaporation. Granted, if you have ATO it wouldn't make a difference... but few people with larger tanks don't have a top-off system. Not necessarily a misconception, just a generality with a caveat.

Not really. My 7g bow evaporates a couple ounces a day. My 72g bow evaporates 3 to 4 gallons a day. The salinity swings way more on the 72 than the 7.

Salinity is directly related to evaporation. The assumption that evaporation % is higher in a smaller tank is flat out false.

 

[Peter Eichler]

Salinty if NOT measured in numbers such as 1.025, that is specific gravity. Salinity is measured in parts per thousand (ppt) or practical salinity units (psu). If you want to tell us what your salinity it it should look like something in the area of 35 ppt.

 

[Peter Eichler]

Misconception: Amino Acids are known to be a beneficial supplement to reef aquariums.

The little research that has been done in this area suggests that dosing amino acids might only be beneficial in an aquarium almost devoid of other nitrogen sources, which is not that case with nearly every reef aquarium in existence. Also, it is believed that many corals synthesize their own amino acids, so providing it for them seems a little redundant. It has not even been shown that all corals are capable of absorbing amino acids from the water column, and those that do only do so at very low rates. Lastly it's quite possible, considering the slow uptake of amino acids by corals, that a protein skimmer and tiny organisms would eliminate a large percentage of any dosed amino acids.

Every time you feed your tank you're essentially dosing with amino acids, you're just doing so in a way that we know many of our corals can utilize.

Conclusion: This one could apply to a lot of additives that have at one time been popular. Things such as Iodine, Molybdenum, Strontium, Iron, Mixed Trace Elements, and a wide variety of mystery all encompassing supplements. When it comes down to it amino acids nor any of the afformentioned supplements are needed in order to have a spectacular reef aquarium. The chances of them making a tiny bit of difference is certainly possible. However, the risk of that difference being against you rather than in your favor seems to suggest it's best to keep things simple and rely on good old waterchanges and food.

 

[davidryder]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10616012#post10616012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Not really. My 7g bow evaporates a couple ounces a day. My 72g bow evaporates 3 to 4 gallons a day. The salinity swings way more on the 72 than the 7.

Salinity is directly related to evaporation. The assumption that evaporation % is higher in a smaller tank is flat out false.

I think you misunderstood - I'm not saying evaporation rates are higher in small tanks. However, there are a lot of factors that affect that such as surface turbidity, surface area, flow, temp, cover type, lights, etc. It makes sense that the 72 evaporates more based on all those factors... you probably have a sump which adds to the surface area also.

If your 7g bow evaporates a couple of ounces a day that means that you only have to replace a gallon of water from evaporation every 64 days. Even 5 ounces a day means you replace a gallon of water every 25 day. That's pretty low...

Anyway, my point was that relative to large tanks, small tanks seem to be affected greater by evaporation. I also said smaller tanks don't <i>normally</i> have ATO. This means that top-off relies on the owner and naturally more variation occurs (sometimes I go a couple of weeks w/o topping off my nano). The same thing can occur in large tanks w/o ATO but for example the section of my sump where the water level goes down can't get low enough to affect salinity at all in my big tank. 3 gallons (2.3% tank volume) of evaporation isn't going to make a measurable change with 130 gallons of water. However if I let 1 gallon (8.3% tank volume) of water evaporate from my nano that's almost 4 times percentage of the large tank.

Yeah if you have ATO on the nano OR replace the exact same amount of water every day at the same time the variation will be unmeasurable. It might seem salinity is more affected in small tanks due to evaporation but it's just a product of the top-off method and discipline of the tank owner. Maybe it's a "misconception" but in reality that's probably how it is in the majority.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10623926#post10623926 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davidryder

Anyway, my point was that relative to large tanks, small tanks seem to be affected greater by evaporation.

I know thats what you meant, and I disagree.


One thing to note, is that salinity DOES swing rapidly on the wild reef, so this whole argument may be entirely silly

 

[davidryder]

Oh oh oh I have one:

Misconception: You need the reef central search function to find info on a thread that has already been posted 1,001 times.

There is a very easy way to search reef central. At google.com if you type in "algae problems site:reefcentral.com" it will return results from RC only. Even searching for "algae problems saltwater" will give you all the information you ever needed.

Conclusion: while it is convenient to use "the search function doesn't work" cop-out, it is a flat out misconception.

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10623991#post10623991 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davidryder
Oh oh oh I have one:

Misconception: You need the reef central search function to find info on a thread that has already been posted 1,001 times.

There is a very easy way to search reef central. At google.com if you type in "algae problems site:reefcentral.com" it will return results from RC only. Even searching for "algae problems saltwater" will give you all the information you ever needed.

Conclusion: while it is convenient to use "the search function doesn't work" cop-out, it is a flat out misconception.

Brilliant I'm glad you added that to this list. I just wish more would search for the info rather then waiting for some one else to do the leg, er, keyboard work :lol:

 

[Aquarist007]

I second that---absolutely a great tip--oops gotta go and try this one out

 

[MiddletonMark]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10622735#post10622735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
Also, it is believed that many corals synthesize their own amino acids, so providing it for them seems a little redundant. It has not even been shown that all corals are capable of absorbing amino acids from the water column, and those that do only do so at very low rates. Lastly it's quite possible, considering the slow uptake of amino acids by corals, that a protein skimmer and tiny organisms would eliminate a large percentage of any dosed amino acids.

You know, I'm normally not a big fan of amino-dosing, but I think you're missing a bit here.

First off, it has been shown that quite a few corals can uptake various aminos via studies ... and few such abilities in nature exist [or are kept around] if of no benefit to the organism. They're not doing it to expend energy - while you are correct that quite a few aminos can be synthesized by corals, I don't think it's been proven that all are. And, if I remember that study right, not all corals did this to the same extent. [some probably have more external demand than others]

You're right that perhaps most might first be consumed by bacteria [IMO probably the #1 consumer of aminos in most aquaria] .... but that ignores the fact that bacterial detritus/bacteria can significantly contribute to the diet of our corals - which could be considered to be `gut loaded' with aminos, the same as we do for many of our foods.

And, it sure seems like it has be conclusively shown that many corals can uptake aminos. Has it been conclusively shown in a scientific study that they consume and utilize cyclops-eeze or other aquarium-market foods?

Just throwing it out there

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10625374#post10625374 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MiddletonMark
You know, I'm normally not a big fan of amino-dosing, but I think you're missing a bit here.

First off, it has been shown that quite a few corals can uptake various aminos via studies ... and few such abilities in nature exist [or are kept around] if of no benefit to the organism. They're not doing it to expend energy - while you are correct that quite a few aminos can be synthesized by corals, I don't think it's been proven that all are. And, if I remember that study right, not all corals did this to the same extent. [some probably have more external demand than others]

Mark, but none of the studies have any way of discerning whether or not theyre uptaking them as aminos, or breaking them down first.

IE, theres no way to tell whether or not theyre any different than just fish food.

 

[RichConley]

Heres another myth:


Freshly hatchd brine shrimp Nauplii should be enriched/gutloaded with phyto and selcon.


They dont even develope a mouth until the instar II stage, which doesnt occur until 36 hours after feeding.

 

[cayars]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10596238#post10596238 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by virginiadiver69
cayars, Do you have any pics of your system? Sounds really interesting.

http://www.saltylivestock.com

Just started working on it the other day. I need to finish populating my fish (about 2/3 done) and need to put some more pics up including all my corals)

Carlo

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10625374#post10625374 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MiddletonMark
You know, I'm normally not a big fan of amino-dosing, but I think you're missing a bit here.

First off, it has been shown that quite a few corals can uptake various aminos via studies ... and few such abilities in nature exist [or are kept around] if of no benefit to the organism. They're not doing it to expend energy - while you are correct that quite a few aminos can be synthesized by corals, I don't think it's been proven that all are. And, if I remember that study right, not all corals did this to the same extent. [some probably have more external demand than others]

You're right that perhaps most might first be consumed by bacteria [IMO probably the #1 consumer of aminos in most aquaria] .... but that ignores the fact that bacterial detritus/bacteria can significantly contribute to the diet of our corals - which could be considered to be `gut loaded' with aminos, the same as we do for many of our foods.

And, it sure seems like it has be conclusively shown that many corals can uptake aminos. Has it been conclusively shown in a scientific study that they consume and utilize cyclops-eeze or other aquarium-market foods?

Just throwing it out there

You say many corals can uptake amino acids, I say we don't fully know what corals can and can't. I guess the wording on that one just depends on what side you want to argue for Perhaps it hasn't been proven that all amino acids can be synthesized by corals, I don't ever expect it to be because I HIGHLY doubt they can. Mainly because the studies that I've seen suggest that a limited amount of amino acids appear to be of benefit.

There are a lot of things that can be consumed by bacteria, such as ammonium. It has been shown that the uptake of ammonium greatly outpaces amino acids as a nitrogen source for corals and that the even in areas with the highest concentration of amino acids those amino acids were only shown to contribute a very small percentage of the nitrogen demand of the corals. Seems like peeing in our aquariums would be of more benefit to our corals than dosing amino acids. However, I wouldn't suggest dosing urine or amino acids

Even if there has been no scientific study showing that certain corals utilize cyclopeeze it seems even if they don't that the breakdown of various foods in the aquarium would provide more nutrition than an expensive bottle of fancy amino acids.

 

[miwoodar]

myth - You can learn everything you need to know on a website.

RC is fantastic. The web in general is fantastic. However, thread chatter is not a complete body of information. It's good to supplement with books and articles from well respected authors. Sprung, Delbeek, Tullock, Riddle, Borneman, Theil, Adey, Paletta, Fenner, Calfo, Moe, where to stop?

I know people who have been reefing for a very long time that wouldn't even recognize a single name on this list. Reading the authors who started the discussions that we continue to chat about on a daily basis would not only help our personal pursuits as reefers but also the entire reefing community on the whole.

 

[HBtank]

Calfo? You're telling me an overflow wrote a book?

 

[miwoodar]

The overflow actually didn't write anything. The co-author wrote it all!

 

[amphirion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10582567#post10582567 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
Our hobby is a very very real threat to reefs. The Philippines are a perfect example of this. Our hobby is certainly not the only factor that contributed to the destruction of the reefs there, but it's was a significant factor. Thing is, collection of corals isn't nearly as destructive to reefs as improper fish collection is.

Once there was this question "Fish Rap" in Aquarium Fish Magasine that was: What is the responsability of the reefkeeping hobby towards natural coral reefs? I answered that question and my answer did appear in the February 2007 edition of the Aquarium Fish Magasine.

What I think is that our hobby isn't that much of a pain for coral reefs because I'm sure that in a few years species that are gone in the sea because of weather changes or overfishing will still thrive in our tanks because we can control temperature, flow, predation and water quality and these are some things that can we can't control in nature. Some species will be saved from extinction because some people decided to take a few specimens from the reefs and to keep them in aquariums. That's the way I see it.


And I really wanted to say something else.. Another myth: You have to quarantine EVERYTHING before putting into your main tank.

Well, I never quarantined any fish invertebrate or coral before putting into the main tank and I never saw an animal die because of that. That is the same case for all my friends. The thing to remember is to buy only healthy specimems that eats in front of your eyes at the fish store. And you should not buy a fish that just arrived at the lfs. Wait one week, them come to see it; if it's a fat healthy fish that eats and is disease free, I personally don't see the need to quarantine such fish. A one hour acclimatation to my tank has always been successful for any coral, fish or invertebrate.

What I just said on quarantine doesn't apply on fish that you buy online. These should be quarantined until you are sure they are disease free and are eating prior adding them to your display.

My 2 cents