[Froggie]

Summary:
I loved how Fenner begins this chapter by introducing "nutrient cycling." Commonly known as just "cycling" to us in the reef community. It's quite appropriately for Fenner to do since it's such a necessary concept...

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[LeslieS]

Quote: its obviously not the same as keeping a hamster

LOL

Did anyone use the ladder approach?

Also, are there any other nano people in the book club or just reading this thread? Did you start with larger tanks or go straight to nano? What did you think of this section of the chapter?

Steven aka TimberTDI will be starting the thread for Part 1 Chapter 2 next Sunday the 25th.

[Froggie]

Quote: *for the nano tank people - do you usually use a sump with the nano tank? I would expect that the extra water volume would help with your parameters. If not, how do you keep from having big shifts in your levels?

I didn't do things right. It worked for me, but if I could do it again, things would be a little more automated. I did not have a sump. I had huge shifts in water temperature, especially. Ranging from 72-80 degrees b/w day and night. I manually topped off evaporation. Did 30-40% water changes on a weekly or biweekly basis. All this goes against the idea of stability in a reef environment. My tanks were also jammed pack, in terms of bioload, and just specimens. I had a dwarf angel in a 7g. I'm first to admit I didn't do things correctly, was one of the people that said "Ahhh, I'll give it a go" not being considerate of livestock. I had a fan that turned on with my lights, and the heater that turned on after the lights went out. It's a bit alarming considering the type of gamble I was taking but it worked...certainly don't recommend it and would go about it differently if I'm to do it again. Worst off, I almost never tested for anything! Knowing my tendency to over-react. Had a problem? Did water changes. Something looks off? Did water changes. My livestock got use to such swings and thrived. However, my tank was only up for a few months, hardly enough time to evaluate its "success." However, I was scrupulous in monitoring my tank. I knew the in and outs of every crevice. The fluctuations happened when I was at work or away from home. When I was home, I made sure to keep things as stable as possible (adjusting temperature especially). My point was that I wasn't being negligent, just not as considerate as I could be. Also due to my tanks' inconsistency, I staye away from harder to keep corals like SPS, and clams...even when I upgraded to T-5's. For that reason and others, I don't have a tank now. I want to do things right if I'm to start again. Sorry to give a long answer to your question.

Quote: So, in your experience, how does a FW tank prepare a person for reefkeeping? What skills do you feel you've learned keeping freshwater fish that you employ in keeping saltwater? (Not an accusation - I'm genuinely curious)

Basically, what Harif mentioned. For me at least, it was mixing salt to the equation was the big difference. I was really forced to be more informed when keeping a reef tank, then when I kept FW tanks.

[ellebelle]

Long answers are the best answers to questions.

[ellebelle]

in case anyone else has anything to add in the next couple of days, before we start the next chapter.