When can we say a saltwater setup is successful?

[johanasu]

I think there will be a poll attached to this thread...if I figure it out correctly.

I'm curious what people consider a timeframe for success on keeping a fish or coral in a given set of circumstances (tank, tankmates, lighting, etc).

This by no means indicates we should generalize that the same setup will work for everyone, but simply that a fish/coral is healthy and happy.

 

[AntiSatan]

If a fish doesnt live at least 10 years you where not successful.
1 year is like saying I got a puppy and kept it alive for 1 year I did good.
Most saltwater fish can live a good 20 years.

 

[johanasu]

Interesting. So should every hobbyist who has less than 10 years in the hobby never feel successful during that time?

 

[sharkboy99999]

I say if it's alive then your success full

 

[82ndengineer]

I would say that when 80-90 % of your livestock has made it through a year in your care. There is always something that will happen( torch or acan falling on another coral, fish aggression) but if the greater percent of the life you have in your system is healthy and growing after a full year I would say you are doing good. The trick is to not get complacent and rest on your laurels. If you can keep your stuff for ten years that is even better. But if we used 10 years as a bench mark most people wouldn't even qualify.

 

[mic209]

IMO, it's when you yourself is 100% content with your system. Can't really put a time frame on what makes your tank successful.

 

[AntiSatan]

I'm curious what people consider a timeframe for success on keeping a fish or coral in a given set of circumstances.

According to the question it was asking keeping a fish or a coral not your complete system. My response your suscussful when a fish dies of old age and alot of salt water fish live plus or minus 20 years.

Now you want to mesure succuss of your whole system then yes 1 year and its stable and growing is a good bench mark to start messuring success.
That is my opionion on for me and reef and fish care.

 

[Mael]

I somewhat agree with Antisatan,but I divide it more on the animal though, for fish I think true success is at least 5-10 years if not closer to that species' expected life span. For coral and when considering the system as a whole I think a year is definitely a good benchmark....but only if its considered the first one.

Random occurrences and things out of our control can happen occasionally, but barring anything out of the ordinary, it comes down to good reef keeping practices, and continually looking to expand your knowledge.

 

[dotcommer]

I feel the measure of success is when things are thriving, parameters are stable, fish are healthy and you have things, somewhat on autopilot. True success in terms of longevity, is keeping things that way for many years. There are many successful tanks out there that have thrived for years, then crash suddenly even though the owners are very educated reefers that have been in the hobby for 15+ years. Doesn't mean they were unsuccessful, maybe unfortunate is a better word. Then those TOTM's in Florida that were lost in the hurricane's after certain cities didn't have power for weeks, weren't unsuccessful IMO, just unfortunate circumstances beyond their control. Anyway, just my 2 cents.

 

[tcamos]

Success will look differently for each of us depending on what we are trying to accomplish with our tank. Success is, "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose."

My aim changes from time to time. Sometimes it's more difficult fish, sometimes more difficult corals. And other times it's just letting the tank do what it wants with what's in it and seeing how things progress.

In all cases keeping things alive is a measure of my success. How long? Anytime something in my tank dies before what it's commonly accepted captive lifespan I've failed.

A wrasse on the floor...my fault...fail!
A coral kills another...I placed it wrong or didn't trim it away...my fault...fail!
Etc. you get the idea. I measure success and failure each day. I've not had any deaths in a while now so...I'm currently happy.

 

[AntiSatan]

Well said all.