Steve Wright's SPS takeover

Couldn't agree more, Steve.

I'm really not trying to reopen this debate, but in my mind there are two kinds of reef tanks. There's the reef tank that crashes soon, and then the reef tank that lasts for years before crashing. From what I've read, it seems that eventually, tanks crash. Of course, diligent maintenance and proactivity can delay this, but like death itself--all good things eventually come to an end.

This might open a can of worms, and garner some harsh criticism, but I feel many of the people touting the "water changes are just not necessary" line have not had a reef tank for more than 5 years with zero issues, and are currently riding the wave while things slowly go awry with no visible symptoms until it's too late.

When I hear of someone who has maintained an SPS dominated tank for 5 years without a single water change, with amazing growth--then I'll retract my comments and change my habits. Until then, I'll continue on my regular water change program.

My rule of thumb has always been to go with the popular sentiment. I'm not talking Jerry Springer sentiment either. I'm referring to the measures I've seen mentioned time and time again. I take to heart those things that I've read 100 times or more. It's repeated for a reason. All those people can't be mistaken. Books state it, and many sucessful reefkeepers say the same thing: that water quality will seriously degrade over time if pollutants are allowed to accumulate. The best skimmer in the world combined with diligent media swap-outs in phosphate reactors simply won't keep up with the fact that every fish tank is a cesspool waiting to happen if we don't intervene. We can remove phosphates and dissolved organics all day. We can add trace elements and dose calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium too. However, I feel if we don't dilute pollution, we contribute to our own tank's demise.

No two ways about it. I believe firmly that a thriving reef tank involves water changes.

 

that sums it up for me, I also consider one other aspect and that is the list of minor and trace elements in a bag of salt ,what about the ones they dont produce test kits to measure? maybe they are not important? maybe the corals dont need them? but if these things are there in nature, they must be there for a purpose IMO. so I continue changing water irrespective of my levels or parameters , for this reason also

Steve

 

well 4 weeks passed almost without adding any new corals
a shopping trip today for some live rock for my 5 gallon nano project, changed that

this piece seemed to call out to me



its almost a perfect oval shape Monti about 5 x 3 inches in size

Steve

 

Very nice looking monti cap..good score..

 

thanks Jkat21

had to make a minor adjustment with one of my K clones as I had the coral in a great spot , half way up the rock work and with good space 360 degrees around it for growth

but I noticed sediment was settling into the slight recesses on the coral surface
PH moved up slightly and aimed across the top of it and everything cleared within a few seconds

nothing else reacted adversely as yet to the change, so Ill monitor and adjust if needs be.

Steve

 

quick update

Zoanthids are starting to spread nicely and Ill be fragging some of these for my nano

Elegance still holding its own in the increased flow ( shame I cant say the same for my SSB)

but I might be looking for new home for the 2 x Sinularia corals I have extreme right and left of photo below, so these might be joining my GSP and Anthellia in the 60, to free up some more SPS real estate



Steve

 

You got some great growth on those Zoas, and I love the new monti cap, Makes me hope mine come in shaped like that!

+k for a monti to drool over

 

what do you keep your params at (alk, ca, mg)?

 

thank you Red Gambit , yes that one knew my name and called it from a great distance, I was not there shopping for the reef and I was lucky to have spotted this piece IMHO

Steve

 

Hi tatted4ever

Using Tropic marin , Mag and Calc test kit
I use Red Sea Coral pro salt

SG- 1.026
calc - 460 - 468 ( No additives required as yet, 5% weekly water changes maintaining that）
Mag - 1530 - again, not started supplementing as yet
DKH - using Red Sea test kit = 10

I have purchased Seachem suppliments, September, when I got my 1st SPS , but still not had to supplement any of them as yet

As these start to grow, then that situation will change

Steve