how do you know....

[dadstank]

A quick question for the long-termers-

How do you know if you are doing a good job taking care of your reef tank?

 

[bradl.]

Post a photo and we'll tell you. What are youre parameters?

 

[Garry thomas]

Your tank will show you if it's doing well or not.

 

[Anonymous]

everything in my tank is happy, and growing.

B

 

[wyw]

If everything except algee is growing and multiplying then I'm happy.

 

[Anonymous]

Over time you'll see when things do not look well. I can tell just about right away when something is not right. I rarely if ever test anything anymore.

 

[dadstank]

my parameters are:
salinity = 1.022
ph = 8.0-8.1
nitrate = 0
nitrite = 0
ammonia = 0.0
phosphates = 1.0 have been slowly on the rise
calcium = 345 (as of last night)

current live-ins:
convict goby (about nine inches)
bi-color pheusdo
blue damsel
several small and large snails
several red legged hermit crabs
large leather coral
several red mushrooms
one/two green mushrooms
large mass of green polips
a few other assorted little things here and there....

i recently had to move the tank from my mother's house to my apartment in NYC. i lost one peice of soft coral, and a christmas blenny that has been with the tank for years. i have been most concerned because i have not yet seen any purple algae starting to grow. the coral line algae on the front glass has slowly turned to white.

The reason i ask how do you know if everything is alright is, i can't seem to get comfortable with the idea that as long as water parameters are good, you don't have to worry about anything....

i will post a photo when i can. i am not allowed to upload from work terminal.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Polyps open and expand right... fish are vibrant.. color in corals are correct.. everything eats right... algae blooms are rare

B

 

[dadstank]

That leads to another question-

how do you know what everyone eats? is there a large data base anyone can recommend?

 

[Len]

The reason i ask how do you know if everything is alright is, i can't seem to get comfortable with the idea that as long as water parameters are good, you don't have to worry about anything....

Good man I find one of the biggest mental hurdles for new hobbyists is to not be so fixated by ideal values.

My tank is doing well when everything is growing and all the organisms are behaving as they should be.

As for diet, there isn't a single database. It's collective knowledge found all over. I'm completely confident if you ask here, someone will have an answer for you.

 

[Anonymous]

One word of advice is to resist the urge to be "additive happy."

Careful neglect is a term that's been used to describe successful monitoring and maintenance. Do just what you need to do, when you need to do it more or less.

Nothing happens quickly in a reef tank, well, except for disaster.

 

[dadstank]

i posted a few (and one the same) in an another topic "my reef tank":

please ask questions, as they are the only way to learn....

 

[Anonymous]

I see evidence of very healthy leathers, dead Goniopora, dead plate coral, excellent coralline growth.

 

[dadstank]

what you are seeing as the coral line algea, has turned white since i moved the tank

 

[Anonymous]

Your calcium and SG are a little low for my tastes, but still within normal parameters, imo. The coralline algae will come back...just be patient.

 

[dadstank]

i would like to see a 385-400 for calcium