Whats your opinion on the tank of the month
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ajcanale
New member
It's a form of carbon dosing, similar to vodka or vinegar. In a nutshell the purpose is to sustain small bacterial blooms in the water column which consume nitrates/phosphates and are removed via skimming. It's documented that the bacteria can be a possible food source for certain corals (filter feeders/ SPS). There are also potential negative effects discussed especially with loss of coloration in SPS corals.
keaton
Actually keaton's mom
I have a dirty little secret...it reminds me of the joke my pastor told many years ago...What's the difference between a Baptist and a Presbyterian? A Presbyterian will say "Hi" when he runs into you at the liquor store, hahaha!! ...Here is my secret....I do infrequent, really infrequent, water changes GASP! There, I've said it, its out, and I feel better. :dance:
While there is no question that my tank is nowhere near as beautiful as Letter2No's TOTM, I do practice somewhat similar maintenance.
When we first moved the livestock from Keaton's 55 in his room to the 150 downstairs about four and a half years ago, I was a nervous wreck. I faithfully did water changes every two weeks. I tested my parameters at least weekly and tracked results on software my husband installed for me called "Aquarium Lab." In many, many months I rarely saw any changes unless I changed what I was doing. What follows is the routine that I have settled into.
I use filter socks (washed at least weekly) to catch the big trash when the water dumps into my sump, I have the typically oversized skimmer (cup cleaned at least weekly), and I periodically run carbon and usually use GFO. I blow detritus off rocks, zoas, and the sandbed using a turkey baster about weekly when I clean the algae that grows on and over the edge the "teeth" of my dual overflows. I have used purigen for about three years, though it never darkens much past a medium amber color and I recharge it about twice a year. I don't dose carbon or use probidio. I have chaeto in my sump but it barely grows.
Mine is a 150 gallon mixed reef, including sps, lps, and leathers. Daily I dose neuroslicer's calcium and baked baking soda that I buy in bulk from Sams Club. I have few fish, just three blue-green chromis, a young hippo and a very young yellow tang, a pair of clowns and a watchman goby. They are fed lightly on a nearly daily basis. I use a wide variety of foods, chopped frozen paella mix (from the grocery), Instant Ocean gel food, nori sheets and pelleted marine food. I often soak the food in selcon and what I feed usually depends on how much time I have. I have had a substantial cleanup crew, but over time it probably has reached the point of needing to be replenished. Now, here is the punch line...
I do a 25 gallon water change about twice a year.
Oh my, call the reef police!!!
My corals grow (most too fast for my liking), my chromis and clown fishes spawn constantly, and I don't have problems with algae...the factors commonly used as signs of successful reefkeeping...
All is not perfect...over the years I've lost a couple wrasses to jumping, an old yellow tang to old age?, and had a flame hawk just disappear. I did, once, about three years ago, have a hair algae outbreak. I thought maybe it was due to phosphates leaching out of the rock??? I don't know, but after several weeks I used Algaefix Marine for about three doses and have had no problems since. That was the only time I have ever used any type of chemical control for anything. I admit to being puzzled at times, for example, to me it doesn't make sense that I can grow sps with no problems...but often struggle with certain zoas. I had a ricordia that never grew and eventually just went away...I have come to the acceptance that some livestock like my practices and some do not.
I am saying that while I don't think most people could manage on a low to no water change schedule, it is absolutely possible. I don't think my success is due to my amazing skill or extensive knowledge, I do think it is because I have few fish in a fairly large system, I feed lightly, and am diligent with housekeeping. What I really share in common with Letter2No is that I practice simple, consistant maintenance. From my casual observation, most reefers are piddlers and tinkerers. They like to tweak and "fix" things. They love to acquire equipment and supplements and fish and coral. I try really hard to discipline myself from those things so that I can leave the tank on a sort of "autopilot" that seems to work. One day the whole thing might explode in the family room, the result of not doing frequent water changes...I know that is what the bulk of the reefing community thinks, LOL, but I am satisfied that what I am doing works, at least in my situation.
Hopefully this will provoke some thoughtful discussion. If you have never maintained a system for a relatively long period of time (but have managed to kept a pristine system) or if you have suffered from maladies like algae outbreaks (due to a lack of maintanance), PLEASE don't criticize my method as poor husbandry, I going to put myself out there and say you might not be, ummm, qualified to comment ...let your conscious be your guide on this one. :bigeyes: Chime in and come clean...do YOU do frequent water changes or are you in the closet, changing water infrequently and hoping that your friends NEVER, NEVER learn the truth? Inquiring minds want to know...
Rudolph
New member
Pam: Thanks for coming out of the water closet. I slipped off my every two weeks water change and I am now dealing with some algae. I change my socks, have good skimmer, carbon, gfo, few fish, etc. so you have my attention. You have peaked my interest and I will reexamine my aquarium husbandry approach.
Still not doing SPS, but my zoas and rics are doing great.
Tell us about your lighting. What kind and how long do you leave them on?
What do you mean by consistant maintenance? It sounds like you do very little (socks and skimmer once a week, basically no water change), so can you expand on that? thx
Still not doing SPS, but my zoas and rics are doing great.
Tell us about your lighting. What kind and how long do you leave them on?
What do you mean by consistant maintenance? It sounds like you do very little (socks and skimmer once a week, basically no water change), so can you expand on that? thx
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keaton
Actually keaton's mom
I have 2 vho actinics, running 12 hours per day and 2 250w 20k metal halide that are on about 8 or 9 hours. You didn't ask, but I maintain my temps with 2 ice cap fans that operate on a thermostat.
You nailed it, I DON'T do much maintenance at all but I DO do it consistantly. And for the most part, its always the same. I keep a dosing schedule and keep socks and skimmer cup clean. I used to maintain them twice a week, but for the past 6 months, I've been on a weekly schedule and haven't noticed any difference. The turkey baster removing detritus might make a less hospitable environment for algae to grow. I do think the cleanup crew helps and more than anything I think it is the combination of ALL of the 'layers' of filtration/nutrient export. Chaeto, Purigen, high quality carbon, quite a bit of rock (much of which by the way is inexpensive and porous tufa), a decent skimmer...
The other key, I think, is light feeding. The fish are doing well (spawning to boot) so they don't seem to suffer from it.
In retrospect, my comment about not being qualified to criticize wasn't well worded. I really meant to express is that (1) I believe that a fairly new system REQUIRES water changes as it cycles...and (2) if one doesn't adhere to a good maintenance schedule, then water changes certainly will compensate for that.
You nailed it, I DON'T do much maintenance at all but I DO do it consistantly. And for the most part, its always the same. I keep a dosing schedule and keep socks and skimmer cup clean. I used to maintain them twice a week, but for the past 6 months, I've been on a weekly schedule and haven't noticed any difference. The turkey baster removing detritus might make a less hospitable environment for algae to grow. I do think the cleanup crew helps and more than anything I think it is the combination of ALL of the 'layers' of filtration/nutrient export. Chaeto, Purigen, high quality carbon, quite a bit of rock (much of which by the way is inexpensive and porous tufa), a decent skimmer...
The other key, I think, is light feeding. The fish are doing well (spawning to boot) so they don't seem to suffer from it.
In retrospect, my comment about not being qualified to criticize wasn't well worded. I really meant to express is that (1) I believe that a fairly new system REQUIRES water changes as it cycles...and (2) if one doesn't adhere to a good maintenance schedule, then water changes certainly will compensate for that.
Well Pam I'm Tristan and I couldn't agree with you more I just upgraded to this 225gal. tank and I have only done one water change in the past 2 1/2 to 3 months.
I also just got me a rodi unit a few weeks back. Before I got the current tank that I have now I had a 125 and a 55 before that and never used rodi water just tap with prime and never really had a problem I think and it's just my opinion that a lot of folks are into the whole chemistry part of this hobby and that's fine. I just try to keep it simple I rarely test my water and everything seems to be doing just fine. I have a few fish and a few different corals that seem to be growing well too I also dose a&b and some Mag. I too also am very consistent with my upkeep as far as cleaning everything I do it on a daily basis and that's about it. Hell I just got me a frag of sps about two weeks ago and when I put it in the tank one of my rocks fell and broke the frag into three pieces witch sucked might I add. I just made me the frags from it and they seem to be doing just fine now all healed up and opening My opinion is that the ocean is in a constant change on a day to day basis and everything just adapts that's just my 2 pennies :bum:
I also just got me a rodi unit a few weeks back. Before I got the current tank that I have now I had a 125 and a 55 before that and never used rodi water just tap with prime and never really had a problem I think and it's just my opinion that a lot of folks are into the whole chemistry part of this hobby and that's fine. I just try to keep it simple I rarely test my water and everything seems to be doing just fine. I have a few fish and a few different corals that seem to be growing well too I also dose a&b and some Mag. I too also am very consistent with my upkeep as far as cleaning everything I do it on a daily basis and that's about it. Hell I just got me a frag of sps about two weeks ago and when I put it in the tank one of my rocks fell and broke the frag into three pieces witch sucked might I add. I just made me the frags from it and they seem to be doing just fine now all healed up and opening My opinion is that the ocean is in a constant change on a day to day basis and everything just adapts that's just my 2 pennies :bum:
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ducklabdad
New member
This thread is a great example of the great diversity of nature and its adaptabillity. We as keepers of our own little biospheres that we keep in our home, are all challenged to do the best for the animals that we keep. That being said, what is known about our hobby has changed drastically over the years and what has been "proven" has often been disproven by other methods and practices.
This hobby is far from an exact science, and what works for one person and what they feel is a wonderful "success" may to someone else, be a total disaster in what is that individuals opinion. It is not a matter of right or wrong but what works for you with the specifc system that you are maintaining. Water changes of very large % of volume "was" considered to be the only way to keep a saltwater system for years, then the newer filter systems, skimmers, lighting types, chemical suplements etc.. have come along. Things have changed dramatically in just the last 5 to 10 years.
I know of several systems that do little of no water changes and others that do 50% weekly.
This is a hobby of extremes in "opinions" of what is the "only way" to make something work, when the reality, is what works for one person, does not always work for another, as there are "always variables" depending on what you keep in your aquarium, each of us has to work with what makes us happy and what we want in an aquarium and what we need to do to make that work. Yes some of the species that we keep, can withstand a "crashed system" some can not. WE as a group, owe it to what we keep to do the best we can to keep them as happy and lively as possible. Water changes, or chemical supplementation by whatever means we choose, if it works for you thats great, there are lots of publications out there (and lots more information on the web) written by so called experts that directly contradict each other.
Enjoy the hobby and all that you can get out of it, and sharing what works for each of us is great, but just because I have a 5.5 gallon nano tank, that I have to swap out an remove the corals from it each month they grow so quickly, does not mean that it will work that way for everyone, but it does for me. Thanks all for sharing, and those that have not seen Pams aquarium, sorry Keaton but its your Moms for sure, and it is beautiful.
This hobby is far from an exact science, and what works for one person and what they feel is a wonderful "success" may to someone else, be a total disaster in what is that individuals opinion. It is not a matter of right or wrong but what works for you with the specifc system that you are maintaining. Water changes of very large % of volume "was" considered to be the only way to keep a saltwater system for years, then the newer filter systems, skimmers, lighting types, chemical suplements etc.. have come along. Things have changed dramatically in just the last 5 to 10 years.
I know of several systems that do little of no water changes and others that do 50% weekly.
This is a hobby of extremes in "opinions" of what is the "only way" to make something work, when the reality, is what works for one person, does not always work for another, as there are "always variables" depending on what you keep in your aquarium, each of us has to work with what makes us happy and what we want in an aquarium and what we need to do to make that work. Yes some of the species that we keep, can withstand a "crashed system" some can not. WE as a group, owe it to what we keep to do the best we can to keep them as happy and lively as possible. Water changes, or chemical supplementation by whatever means we choose, if it works for you thats great, there are lots of publications out there (and lots more information on the web) written by so called experts that directly contradict each other.
Enjoy the hobby and all that you can get out of it, and sharing what works for each of us is great, but just because I have a 5.5 gallon nano tank, that I have to swap out an remove the corals from it each month they grow so quickly, does not mean that it will work that way for everyone, but it does for me. Thanks all for sharing, and those that have not seen Pams aquarium, sorry Keaton but its your Moms for sure, and it is beautiful.
SaltwaterGoby
New member
I have not done a water change since i set my 125 up in October, it could use one i guess but things are stable but i would like to do a small water change.
But life threw me a curve on 06/16/2012 I fractured my T7 after jumping into a pool so lifting things is out of the question for a while. About the best I can do right now is feed the fish.
As for the fracture today is a good day I have only needed one pain pill but sitting around is getting old there is only so much you can do before you go crazy,
But life threw me a curve on 06/16/2012 I fractured my T7 after jumping into a pool so lifting things is out of the question for a while. About the best I can do right now is feed the fish.
As for the fracture today is a good day I have only needed one pain pill but sitting around is getting old there is only so much you can do before you go crazy,
