question about native coral deapth/pressures

[mfp4073]

I see so much written and said that corals and such have to be just like the ocean. To the point that some people are doing moonlights on a cycle, wavemakers, "darkout" days, etc. Someone said the other day that heat swings are good because they are part of the tidal cycle. But I have never once found anyone saying anything about the fact that most corals live further down than 4 feet, the deepest home tank I have seen. If most fish/coral live at at least 1-2 atmospheres (33-66 feet) or more, then how can we justify them being properly cared for?

 

[chrisstie]

I am going to venture a guess for at least the soft corals- they don't have a skeleton and I guess most\all corals are "inverts" since they don't have a backbone and that sort of biology...

I'd think when they are harvested they would be brought up at the same speed of the diver and be able to adjust for that pressure and are more than likely within 1-2 atmospheres... and that they become acclimated on their way up?

Just a big guess out there but I think it also depends on the coral and location too - especially some critters that are more cold water or lower light etc.

I think the way we do reef tanks is to simulate as close as possible a habitat that can accomodate a general range of animals.

Also there are things like the nautilis that I believe is generally more of a deep sea dweller but comes up into shallow waters to feed. I'm sure there's a lot of physics too it but the logic\common sensical approach in my head tells me corals also sort of work along similar lines.

It's also been a very very long day so feel free to ignore my babbling

 

[mfp4073]

well the same could be said about lighting, SG, and a ton of other things in the hobby that many people believe must be adhered to infinately. I think my point was those that get so crazy about the finite rules, never mention this fact. Mainly because there is no way we could do anything about it. Just have read a few posts by people who were way too full of their amazing knowledge and that no one else was doing anything right. (no one around here)

 

[chrisstie]

To me personally the idea is to emulate a clean well established saltwater reef situation. What a coral needs to live and thrive versus what we can give them overlap.

I think that there are also products in this hobby that are much more for marketing that cool high tech gadget or OCD type person but there are others that definitely stand out as necessary for any kind of reef tank.

When it gets right down to it, does emulating the entire environment of corals (light cycles, seasons, location, pressure, etc) help them do better in our tanks versus the wild? Well you can easily keep a reef on the bare necessities, but does doing all the other stuff *really* help? I think we're at a point where our technology and understanding of reefs can finally start to do tests and measure whether or not it does help or not.

A big fat inconclusive sticker gets stamped on that question for me - but then again I like cool tech gadgety things sometimes so as long as I don't see anything hurting my tanks well, an expensive hobby for me it can be

 

[Me No Nemo]

Wow, what a thought provoker! In coral based tanks, I think we have corals from many depths..some shallow, some deep, so I think it's impossible to setup a tank that would accomodate every one of their natural environs. I think the best we can do is emulate those under our control. I've done a lot of experimenting over the years and have found that there really are several ways of doing things..some work better than others. I think we also have to realize that for some in this hobby, just like most others, there are levels of hobbyist enthusiasm. Some just want pretty fish...others pretty corals...and some take it on for the challenges it presents: that of creating the "ultimate" environment within their tanks. The same levels can be found from model builders to puzzle builders, remote control cars...airplanes...etc. Some restoring a car would be happy to just have it look great, while others would need every detail back to the original! So, while there may be easier, less detailed ways to keep a tank, it's also very challenging to try to emulate the natural environments the creatures come from for many and that adds an additional "depth" to the hobby.

 

[mfp4073]

I think one of my biggest "complaints"...and kinda where I was going with this, is those folks that say you cannot do this and cannot do that and have to do this and then get very damning and condescending about "abuse of animals" and other such when they are ignoring things that contradict their "rules". I dont too often see people who build model cars and planes get condescending with people who make puzzles. But my god the talking down to I got several times when I told people I was using tap water at my old house. The way they described it my tank was getting ready to have an atomic meltdown and take the whole block with me. I would even show pics of my tank and they would tell me it was getting ready to crash at any moment (although they would say it looks great). Of course it had been up and running 9 months... but NOOOOOO it was going to kill my tank and every other SW tank in 5 miles! You CANNOT reuse sand from a dsb, you HAVE to run a skimmer and/or do weekly water changes, old bulbs will KILL YOUR CORAL AND TANK AND ALGAE AND THE NEIGHBORS DOG.

Ok, so I am a little out of control. But you get the point. I have gotten some really great results doing "poor mans tanks" and a little trading. Heck, my 5 gal bowfront, that I found along side the road gets a water change about 1 time a month and still has the original PC bulb I found with it. That was more than a year ago now and the only problem I am having with it is the coralline growth on the glass and having to constantly scrub it! I dont even dose it with anything.

 

[Me No Nemo]

Hey, I understand! I have to laugh sometimes (and shudder other times) at some of the comments I read on here. But, I see now what your original point was and yes, there is a lot of nasty negativity! It's one thing to have an opinion, but another to crucify someone if they don't agree with it!

 

[mfp4073]

hence why my occupation is listed as reef rebel! I went through the same thing with my planted tank.

 

[chrisstie]

When it comes to to tanks I think we're all going to do it our own way- if it works for you then hey it works for you and thats freaking awesome...

For me the damning and dos and donts come down to when it really is crucial for an animal to survive- like, hey, treated tap water can definitely have fish in it.. for how well or how long, who knows, but putting a"nemo" into a goldfish bowl you got on the way home- there are definitely extremes where I draw the line.

I feel I'm involved in the hobby not just in participating and meeting others who do it but researching and finding what I feel works best and I'm definitely open to opinions and advice. I welcome other peoples thoughts but it never feels good to be told what to do when you didn't ask for it.

I guess some people just forget that their way isn't the only way - but hey if you have a rockin budget nano, who can scoff at that you know? I think its great if you can get it to work

 

[cschweitzer]

My theory is if I can live here or in Denver, one mile in the sky, 50+' of water should n't too bad. Yes, water is much more dense and the pressure rises much faster than it decreases by going uphill, but the song remains the same. It may take a few woozy days for the corals to adjust, but I wouldn't think that to be a huge issue.

My philosophy is this: "Nothing in reefcaretaking is right...it's what's right for you." Every tank is different, every coral is different, every collection location is different. Having one thing that is someone's prized possession and centerpiece could be the piece that kills every coral in your tank. Because it works and has found some equilibrium in someone else's tank does not mean it is suited for your tank. Because a salinity of 30 works for one person where a salinity of 38 works for another. Because a temp of 73 works for one person and a temp of 84 works for another. Because a flow of 100GPH works for one person and 1000GPH for another. People speak in absolutes and in reefcaretaking at our early stages of development and growth as a hobby, absolute itsself is a very vague definition.

The only two guarantees are death and taxes (I believe this was Ben Franklin)