Are you getting advice from AI on Reefing questions?

[charleydavis]

To be fair what I have said so far is very simplistic and entirely based on my own experiences, colored by my continued disappointment in how tech is employed by the masses. It sounds like we agree but you are far more invested lol.

FWIW I think there is great potential here, but the developers need to do at least 2 things to ease my concerns.

First, send this slop back to the kitchen, it isn’t done cooking yet.

Second, point the crawlers only to sources that are reliable. If we take nutrition as a subject, the internet is filled with millions of examples that range from useless to dangerous, however there are places where information can be trusted. Most people haven’t the time, education or interest to parse good data out of peer reviewed articles or studies. An AI though, this could grab all the facts proven and present an easy to read common language answer. Hopefully we are moving in that direction, but the cynical side of me says it is easier and more lucrative not to, at least in the short term, which is all anyone seems to care about anymore.

Well said.

 

[MnFish1]

The reason I am asking you is two-fold:
First, I am curious if you use AI and how it worked out for you. I have included below two examples of questions and responses, which I feel were pretty decent.
Second, how do reefers feel about their advice given freely to fellow reefers being commercialised by AI companies when they harvest this (and others) forum to train their AI and then sell the answers as their own?

My question
How can I reduce phosphates in my marine tank when I already have an algae scrubber that reduces nitrates sufficiently?

ChatGPT model 4o
To reduce phosphates in your marine tank when you already have an algae scrubber effectively managing nitrates, you can implement the following strategies:

### 1. **Use Phosphate-Removing Media**
- **Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO):** GFO is a highly effective phosphate-removing media. Place it in a media reactor or filter bag in a high-flow area of your sump. Replace it once it becomes saturated (indicated by rising phosphate levels).
- **Phosphate-Binding Resins:** Products like Rowaphos or PhosGuard can also be used in a similar manner to GFO.

### 2. **Increase Water Changes**
- Perform regular water changes with high-quality, phosphate-free saltwater. This dilutes phosphate levels and removes accumulated nutrients.

### 3. **Optimize Feeding Habits**
- Overfeeding is a common source of phosphates. Feed sparingly and ensure all food is consumed within a few minutes. Avoid phosphate-rich foods.
- Rinse frozen foods before feeding to remove excess phosphate-containing preservatives.

### 4. **Use a Refugium with Macroalgae**
- Add a refugium with macroalgae like *Chaetomorpha* or *Caulerpa*. Macroalgae absorb phosphates and compete with nuisance algae for nutrients.

### 5. **Enhance Protein Skimming**
- Ensure your protein skimmer is properly sized and functioning efficiently. A good skimmer removes organic compounds before they break down into phosphates.

### 6. **Limit Phosphate Sources**
- Test your source water (RO/DI) for phosphates. If present, ensure your filtration system is working properly or upgrade it.
- Avoid using phosphate-containing additives or supplements.

### 7. **Add a Phosphate Reactor**
- A dedicated phosphate reactor with GFO or other phosphate-removing media can provide targeted phosphate reduction.

### 8. **Monitor and Adjust**
- Regularly test phosphate levels using a reliable test kit. Adjust your approach based on the results and the needs of your tank.

### 9. **Consider Carbon Dosing (Carefully)**
- Carbon dosing (e.g., vodka, vinegar, or commercial products) can promote bacterial growth, which consumes phosphates. However, this method requires careful monitoring to avoid overloading the system.

### 10. **Clean Detritus**
- Regularly clean your substrate, rockwork, and equipment to remove detritus, which can release phosphates as it decomposes.

By combining these methods, you can effectively manage phosphate levels in your marine tank while maintaining a healthy environment for your inhabitants.

=======================

My question:
Can you give advice on Crinoids care in marine aquariums?

ChatGPT model 4o:
Crinoids (feather stars) are one of the most challenging marine invertebrates to keep in home aquariums. They are stunningly beautiful filter feeders but require specialized care, stable conditions, and a well-established, mature reef system. Here’s a detailed guide on their care:

1. Tank Requirements
• Mature System: At least 1–2 years old with stable parameters.
• Large Tank: Minimum 100 gallons to provide stable water conditions and ample space.
• Strong Flow: Moderate to high, as they are passive filter feeders relying on water currents to bring food.
• Lots of Live Rock: Provides attachment points for Crinoids to perch and extend their feeding arms.

2. Water Parameters
• Temperature: 22–26°C (72–79°F)
• Salinity: 1.024–1.026 (consistent is key)
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH
• Ammonia/Nitrites: 0 ppm (they are extremely sensitive to water quality)
• Nitrates: <5 ppm
• Phosphates: As low as possible

3. Feeding (The Biggest Challenge)
Crinoids are obligate filter feeders, meaning they consume only planktonic food. They require constant feeding, making them difficult to sustain in captivity.
• Live & Frozen Options: Rotifers, copepods, baby brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, phytoplankton, and zooplankton.
• Powdered Coral Foods: Such as Reef Roids, Reef Chili, or similar micro-particle foods.
• Automated Feeders & Frequent Feedings: Multiple small feedings throughout the day (at least 4–6 times) are essential.
• Broadcast Feeding vs. Target Feeding: Some aquarists have success with target feeding using a turkey baster, but broadcast feeding works best to mimic their natural feeding behavior.

4. Placement & Behavior
• Perching on Rocks or Coral Branches: Crinoids tend to attach themselves to stable points where currents deliver food.
• Movement: Some may move around looking for ideal feeding spots. Ensure they do not end up in pump intakes or areas of excessive turbulence.

5. Compatibility & Tankmates
• Reef-Safe: Crinoids won’t harm corals or fish.
• Beware of Predators: Avoid wrasses, butterflyfish, angelfish, crabs, and shrimps that may pick at them.
• Best Tankmates: Small, non-aggressive fish such as gobies, pipefish, and seahorses (if conditions allow).


6. Longevity & Challenges
• Survival Rate: Unfortunately, most Crinoids in captivity do not survive beyond a few months due to insufficient food intake.
• Signs of Malnutrition: Drooping arms, disintegration of limbs, and retracted feeding appendages.
• Best for Expert Reefers: Even experienced aquarists struggle to maintain them long-term.

Final Thoughts
Keeping Crinoids alive in an aquarium is incredibly difficult and requires a dedicated, advanced reefer with a specialized setup. If you’re passionate about them, consider setting up a plankton-rich refugium to help sustain a steady food supply. However, in most cases, it’s best to admire them in the wild or in public aquariums with large-scale filtration and feeding systems.
Are you considering getting one, or do you already have experience keeping them?

I don't think either answer is particularly good - the first one - is because it doesn't really imply or say if its ranking the various choices based on reasons - or whether its just a random list. The second one is certainly gathering information from articles - but - again there is no way to tell where that information has come from - and how valid it is (or the age of the information). I know that certain AI programs do provide references for their answers - which I think is better.

 

[mook1178]

I use AI for reef questions, but always ask it for it's references. It has been quite solid that way for me.

 

[MnFish1]

It took a while to get it to correctly calculate supplementation. It still makes errors.

It told me to dose 300 mL of magnesium today due to error in the ratio of increase per gallon to tank volume.

I responded saying something is wrong with your math and the way you’re calculating the ratio and it caught it’s error.

Not sure how someone inexperienced would know that. Also no way to guarantee no errors and not kill everything…

In one of your answers - you said you used it - but it was fraught with difficulty (at first) - paraphrased when programming the apex. Now it's making mistakes with simple calculations - it seems you're making arguments for the average reefer NOT to use it - as compared to using it.

 

[MnFish1]

I have a co-worker who loves AI and the major problem I’ve found is, AI doesn’t take into account the entire situation.

People say you have to be as specific as possible but you can’t always take into account minor details that experts at their job are able to account for without writing 20 paragraphs of background.

I use AI to locate some agency regulations that aren’t always easy to find and still it will miss the mark because of the language barrier, specifically, an Agency regulation may refer to set of regulations with different jargon than industry does.

It is also very interesting to be in a conversation with someone on the phone or web-meeting when they’ve relied on AI for an argument and when you start parsing it out and are argue to validate the point, the AI user is quickly at a disadvantage as they do not have the base line foundation to know they AI response is actual valid or invalid.

Or as Randy has proven. AI is not built to challenge experts and can be wrong when their is unknown variables at play.

In a Perfect Simulation with all known facts and the ability to scour millions of data sources, AI in theory should be accurate and powerful but Perfect doesn’t exist in a Saltwater Tank or situation that require a certain level of intuition, experience, and common sense.

Do you not think AI is merely as good as a search engine? If you don't type exactly what you need to search, you will get mis-matched advice compared to what you were searching for. The google results (for me) - often leave out chunks of the article that are directly Germaine to what I was searching.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Have you tried asking it whether bolus dosing is better than kalkwasser? lol

"is bolus dosing bicarbonate better than kalkwasser in terms of old tank syndrome and also pH increase"

Bolus dosing bicarbonate and using kalkwasser serve different roles in managing Old Tank Syndrome (OTS) and pH stability.

Old Tank Syndrome (OTS)​

• Bolus Dosing Bicarbonate
  • Helps replenish alkalinity but does not remove excess CO₂.
  • Does not counteract the slow acidification that occurs in OTS as organics break down.
  • Requires balancing with calcium dosing (e.g., 2-part or calcium reactor).
• Kalkwasser (Calcium Hydroxide)
  • Consumes CO₂, actively countering acidification, which helps mitigate OTS.
  • Provides both calcium and alkalinity in a balanced ratio.
  • Precipitates some phosphate, indirectly helping to prevent long-term nutrient buildup.
  • Helps maintain ionic balance better than isolated bicarbonate dosing.

pH Increase​

• Bolus Dosing Bicarbonate
  • Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) actually lowers pH slightly.
  • Sodium carbonate (soda ash) raises pH but is still limited in CO₂ removal.
• Kalkwasser
  • Strongly raises pH by consuming CO₂, making it the better option for pH management.
  • Helps maintain higher oxygen levels and counteracts CO₂ buildup from respiration.

Verdict​

• If the goal is to mitigate Old Tank Syndrome, kalkwasser is superior due to its CO₂ consumption and buffering effects.
• If the goal is pH stability, kalkwasser is also superior because it actively raises pH and prevents CO₂ accumulation.
• If alkalinity dosing must be done separately, sodium carbonate is preferable to bicarbonate for pH stability, but it still doesn’t have the long-term benefits of kalkwasser.

Kalkwasser, however, has dosing limitations due to its solubility and must be carefully managed to avoid precipitation issues.



"So what about Fauna Marin's claims that kalk causes OTS and Bolus prevents it, as well as creating an overall pH increase via magic latent crystals and biofilm mechanisms."

ChatGPT said:​

Fauna Marin's claims that kalkwasser causes Old Tank Syndrome (OTS) while bolus dosing prevents it—along with their assertion of a "magic latent crystal" and biofilm mechanism for pH increase—are unfounded and lack empirical support.

Breaking Down the Claims​

1. "Kalk Causes Old Tank Syndrome"
   • OTS is characterized by rising nutrients, ionic imbalance, and acidification over time.
   • Kalkwasser does the opposite—it consumes CO₂, prevents acid buildup, and maintains ionic balance when used correctly.
   • If improperly dosed (e.g., overdosing or allowing excessive precipitation), kalkwasser could cause calcium carbonate precipitation, which can deplete alkalinity. But this is a dosing issue, not an inherent flaw of kalkwasser.
2. "Bolus Dosing Prevents OTS"
   • Bolus dosing bicarbonate only replenishes alkalinity and has no mechanism to prevent OTS beyond keeping alkalinity stable.
   • It does not remove CO₂ or counteract acidification.
   • If anything, sodium bicarbonate dosing can cause a gradual pH drop, especially if organic buildup and CO₂ accumulation are not addressed.
3. "Magic Latent Crystals and Biofilm Mechanisms Raise pH"
   • There is no chemical basis for a latent crystal effect that stores and releases alkalinity or pH buffer over time.
   • The biofilm claim is vague at best. Bacteria do influence carbonate cycling, but their effect on reef tank pH is minor compared to gas exchange, CO₂ removal, and direct alkalinity dosing.
   • The biggest factor in sustained high pH is CO₂ reduction, which kalkwasser directly facilitates but bicarbonate dosing does not.

What Fauna Marin is Likely Doing​

• This sounds like marketing spin designed to make their bolus dosing method seem superior by reframing natural biological and chemical processes with vague, unverifiable terms.
• Their approach relies on anecdotal observations rather than chemistry-backed evidence.

The Real Science​

• Kalkwasser actively combats OTS by consuming CO₂ and buffering against acidification.
• Bicarbonate does not inherently "prevent" OTS—it just replenishes alkalinity.
• The "crystal" and "biofilm" mechanisms are not recognized concepts in reef chemistry.

If Fauna Marin wants to prove these claims, they need measurable, peer-reviewed data, not vague hand-waving about latent mechanisms that contradict known chemistry.


Broken clocks?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

"is bolus dosing bicarbonate better than kalkwasser in terms of old tank syndrome and also pH increase"

Bolus dosing bicarbonate and using kalkwasser serve different roles in managing Old Tank Syndrome (OTS) and pH stability.

Old Tank Syndrome (OTS)​

• Bolus Dosing Bicarbonate
  • Helps replenish alkalinity but does not remove excess CO₂.
  • Does not counteract the slow acidification that occurs in OTS as organics break down.
  • Requires balancing with calcium dosing (e.g., 2-part or calcium reactor).
• Kalkwasser (Calcium Hydroxide)
  • Consumes CO₂, actively countering acidification, which helps mitigate OTS.
  • Provides both calcium and alkalinity in a balanced ratio.
  • Precipitates some phosphate, indirectly helping to prevent long-term nutrient buildup.
  • Helps maintain ionic balance better than isolated bicarbonate dosing.

pH Increase​

• Bolus Dosing Bicarbonate
  • Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) actually lowers pH slightly.
  • Sodium carbonate (soda ash) raises pH but is still limited in CO₂ removal.
• Kalkwasser
  • Strongly raises pH by consuming CO₂, making it the better option for pH management.
  • Helps maintain higher oxygen levels and counteracts CO₂ buildup from respiration.

Verdict​

• If the goal is to mitigate Old Tank Syndrome, kalkwasser is superior due to its CO₂ consumption and buffering effects.
• If the goal is pH stability, kalkwasser is also superior because it actively raises pH and prevents CO₂ accumulation.
• If alkalinity dosing must be done separately, sodium carbonate is preferable to bicarbonate for pH stability, but it still doesn’t have the long-term benefits of kalkwasser.

Kalkwasser, however, has dosing limitations due to its solubility and must be carefully managed to avoid precipitation issues.



"So what about Fauna Marin's claims that kalk causes OTS and Bolus prevents it, as well as creating an overall pH increase via magic latent crystals and biofilm mechanisms."

ChatGPT said:​

Fauna Marin's claims that kalkwasser causes Old Tank Syndrome (OTS) while bolus dosing prevents it—along with their assertion of a "magic latent crystal" and biofilm mechanism for pH increase—are unfounded and lack empirical support.

Breaking Down the Claims​

1. "Kalk Causes Old Tank Syndrome"
   • OTS is characterized by rising nutrients, ionic imbalance, and acidification over time.
   • Kalkwasser does the opposite—it consumes CO₂, prevents acid buildup, and maintains ionic balance when used correctly.
   • If improperly dosed (e.g., overdosing or allowing excessive precipitation), kalkwasser could cause calcium carbonate precipitation, which can deplete alkalinity. But this is a dosing issue, not an inherent flaw of kalkwasser.
2. "Bolus Dosing Prevents OTS"
   • Bolus dosing bicarbonate only replenishes alkalinity and has no mechanism to prevent OTS beyond keeping alkalinity stable.
   • It does not remove CO₂ or counteract acidification.
   • If anything, sodium bicarbonate dosing can cause a gradual pH drop, especially if organic buildup and CO₂ accumulation are not addressed.
3. "Magic Latent Crystals and Biofilm Mechanisms Raise pH"
   • There is no chemical basis for a latent crystal effect that stores and releases alkalinity or pH buffer over time.
   • The biofilm claim is vague at best. Bacteria do influence carbonate cycling, but their effect on reef tank pH is minor compared to gas exchange, CO₂ removal, and direct alkalinity dosing.
   • The biggest factor in sustained high pH is CO₂ reduction, which kalkwasser directly facilitates but bicarbonate dosing does not.

What Fauna Marin is Likely Doing​

• This sounds like marketing spin designed to make their bolus dosing method seem superior by reframing natural biological and chemical processes with vague, unverifiable terms.
• Their approach relies on anecdotal observations rather than chemistry-backed evidence.

The Real Science​

• Kalkwasser actively combats OTS by consuming CO₂ and buffering against acidification.
• Bicarbonate does not inherently "prevent" OTS—it just replenishes alkalinity.
• The "crystal" and "biofilm" mechanisms are not recognized concepts in reef chemistry.

If Fauna Marin wants to prove these claims, they need measurable, peer-reviewed data, not vague hand-waving about latent mechanisms that contradict known chemistry.


Broken clocks?

I was about to say that I liked the pH increase section, and its bolus info overall, until I got to the O2 comment below. lol

pH Increase​

• Bolus Dosing Bicarbonate
  • Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) actually lowers pH slightly.
  • Sodium carbonate (soda ash) raises pH but is still limited in CO₂ removal.
• Kalkwasser
  • Strongly raises pH by consuming CO₂, making it the better option for pH management.
  • Helps maintain higher oxygen levels and counteracts CO₂ buildup from respiration.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would also say that it's entire premise that old tank syndrome is caused by organics and acidification seems rather unexpected. lol

 

[seths]

If you have to do the maths yourself and correct it, then it's a useless time wasting tool.

You may as well do it yourself correctly to start with, and if that means picking up a text book and actually learning something for yourself, well that's a good thing.

Meh, it's machine learning - if you use the same thread later, it can learn from prior mistakes... Also the claimed reason Elon still hasn't gotten a car to self drive across the country - they're still collecting and compiling data. Using it in theory does help improve - especially with the realization that it's not going away - so we can be hopefully for constant improvement.

I mean also.... if working through it on GPT saves me 2-3 mins, thats more time I can doom scroll on reef2reef....

Do you not think AI is merely as good as a search engine? If you don't type exactly what you need to search, you will get mis-matched advice compared to what you were searching for. The google results (for me) - often leave out chunks of the article that are directly Germaine to what I was searching.

Interesting take, I guess for me I've been doing this for so long, I know a lot of the fundamentals, sometimes I have to think outside of the box to realize things.... I.e. my last tank reboot I had too much bio media that was stripping nitrates and I at first thought didn't think about having the blocks in my sump because it's just something I've always done.

Another scenario is just to have an outlet for brain storming. I'm really trying right now to get my system to be able to self maintain for at least a week at the time. Apex AFS feeding was really causing swings. I entertained backing down feeding amounts (had coral and freeze dried mixed into the drum) a little and doing towards supplement dosing. Stuff that in the past I would have held until I went to my LFS to talk through.

Like you said though, leaving out chunks.... I do feel like if you know what you're fishing for.... You can ask back questions and get more info. You can also tell it to cite sources or to further analyze a single source.

Scrubbing video transcripts is something I'm also getting further into.

 

[BryanM]

Apparently I am in the unpopular Yes, All the time camp.

And I don't just go to chatgpt or anything, you get ai summary results at the top of the page on most google searches.

Either way its just a starting point, get you in the general area, etc. I still further research things after I get the initial result, and most of that information comes from this forum

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

I kind of want to setup a 20g tank and have AI make all the decisions on how to maintain it and see what happens.. tell it the parameters like "you have a 20g aquarium, you can spend x amount of money on these things, I'll test water parameters, you decide where to keep them, and how to adjust them" etc and see what happens... would I get a beautiful reef? Or a rancid tank of water?

 

[Nor'easter Reefer]

Apparently I am in the unpopular Yes, All the time camp.

And I don't just go to chatgpt or anything, you get ai summary results at the top of the page on most google searches.

Either way its just a starting point, get you in the general area, etc. I still further research things after I get the initial result, and most of that information comes from this forum

I use it in the ai overview manner but only if I think I know the answer and ai overview confirms. Anything beyond that, I like to understand why so I read into the answer so I understand the why and other nuances

 

[MnFish1]

Meh, it's machine learning - if you use the same thread later, it can learn from prior mistakes... Also the claimed reason Elon still hasn't gotten a car to self drive across the country - they're still collecting and compiling data. Using it in theory does help improve - especially with the realization that it's not going away - so we can be hopefully for constant improvement.

I mean also.... if working through it on GPT saves me 2-3 mins, thats more time I can doom scroll on reef2reef....



Interesting take, I guess for me I've been doing this for so long, I know a lot of the fundamentals, sometimes I have to think outside of the box to realize things.... I.e. my last tank reboot I had too much bio media that was stripping nitrates and I at first thought didn't think about having the blocks in my sump because it's just something I've always done.

Another scenario is just to have an outlet for brain storming. I'm really trying right now to get my system to be able to self maintain for at least a week at the time. Apex AFS feeding was really causing swings. I entertained backing down feeding amounts (had coral and freeze dried mixed into the drum) a little and doing towards supplement dosing. Stuff that in the past I would have held until I went to my LFS to talk through.

Like you said though, leaving out chunks.... I do feel like if you know what you're fishing for.... You can ask back questions and get more info. You can also tell it to cite sources or to further analyze a single source.

Scrubbing video transcripts is something I'm also getting further into.

I will just caution you - every time I've had a problem with my aquarium - its been while I've been on vacation - this is a bit off the AI topic - but having someone look at it - or webcams that allow you to see if everything is working is important - Apex may not always alert correctly - even if programming is correct.

 

[seths]

AI cannot distinguish what is trustworthy and what is not. The human has to do that part. AI can summarize a lot of information very quickly and can be helpful, but the human has to make the decisions.

Trustworth in terms of trends and opinion but if you base it on factual data, it's less likely to be misleading... But yeah, I get some wonky answers sometimes for sure.

I.e. with my list of on hand supplements, food, and bioload, how can I push in increase nitrates without dosing nitrate directly. But I guess I would have to know the elements that impact the ask to know what info I need to give it.

It responds with breakdowns of on hand foods and their impact towards PO - such saying to push the more meaty and pure sources to raise nitrates through fish output without spiking PO. Really saying to lead with frozen.

For updating Neptune Apex advanced logic.... It can be both a godsend and a nightmare at the same time. I fought a lot of incorrect uses of the defer and min time statements.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I would also say that it's entire premise that old tank syndrome is caused by organics and acidification seems rather unexpected. lol

Yeah - that it decided what the definition was, given all of the various definitions are that are out there, was odd.

 

[Faurek]

AI will be the next reason why begginers to fail hard. Bet this discussion will come up in the future since a lot of people trust AI.

 

[drewzaun]

Do you not think AI is merely as good as a search engine? If you don't type exactly what you need to search, you will get mis-matched advice compared to what you were searching for

No, at this point I do not believe it is as good or as useful as a search engine.

A Google search will simply list web pages for you to go to, and leave up to you to decide whether the information is current, accurate or the person behind the page is trustworthy. In an analog world it’s like a library, the card catalogue lists all the books on a given subject, you pick your poison.

AI gives you the data presented as fact without, that Ive seen so far, a listing of where it’s pulled that data. Kind of like Wikipedia without sources.

Often a search result will give you a page that contains not just the information you seek, but a lot of supporting information and sometimes conflicting data, and if you desire, you can learn more than you thought you needed to.

Or not…but that is up to you. AI just gives what it believes is the answer to your question and moves on. Whether it is factual or not you have to investigate further, and then you are going outside it anyway so don’t see it as anything more than a waste of time.

I do see great potential, especially if coupled with “personal assistants” like Siri, and if we can get them to learn us individually and how to only get good data as a source? What a resource that would be.

We’re not there yet.

 

[Jimbo327]

When I use chatGPT , sure sounds convincing...but tells you everything about current state of AI:

Steady Chem 2025 is a product introduced by Reef 2Ready, a fish and coral store, as discussed on Reef2Reef.

It is a combination of three products designed to maintain trace elements in aquariums at concentrations similar to those found at a depth of 5 meters off Green Island in the Great Barrier Reef. The product is priced starting at $27 per pound, with discounts available through subscription services. Additionally, Reef 2Ready is developing a calculator to help aquarium owners determine the appropriate amount of Steady Chem 2025 needed for their specific setups.

Steady Chem 2025 is designed for maintaining trace elements in saltwater aquariums, particularly for reef tanks. Here's how to use it effectively:

1. Determine Your Tank’s Needs:
   
   • Check the water parameters of your aquarium, especially for trace elements, using a reliable test kit.
   • Steady Chem 2025 helps maintain concentrations of these elements at optimal levels, similar to those found in the Great Barrier Reef at a depth of 5 meters.
2. Consult the Calculator:
   
   • Reef 2Ready is developing a calculator to assist aquarium owners in determining how much Steady Chem 2025 to use based on the size of the tank and water conditions. Once it’s available, this tool will make dosing easier.
3. Initial Dosing:
   
   • Follow the dosing instructions provided on the product packaging or the calculator’s recommendations.
   • Typically, the product is added directly to the aquarium water. You may be asked to dose a specific amount per day or week based on your tank size.
4. Regular Monitoring:
   
   • After the initial dosing, regularly test the water to monitor how the trace elements are staying in balance.
   • Adjust the dosing as necessary based on the results.
5. Subscription and Replenishment:
   
   • Consider subscribing for automatic refills to maintain a consistent supply of Steady Chem 2025.

Always start with smaller doses to prevent over-concentration of elements. Ensure that you're regularly testing and adjusting your dosing routine as needed to avoid fluctuations in your water's chemistry.

 

[BryanM]

No, at this point I do not believe it is as good or as useful as a search engine.

A Google search will simply list web pages for you to go to, and leave up to you to decide whether the information is current, accurate or the person behind the page is trustworthy. In an analog world it’s like a library, the card catalogue lists all the books on a given subject, you pick your poison.

AI gives you the data presented as fact without, that Ive seen so far, a listing of where it’s pulled that data. Kind of like Wikipedia without sources.

Often a search result will give you a page that contains not just the information you seek, but a lot of supporting information and sometimes conflicting data, and if you desire, you can learn more than you thought you needed to.

Or not…but that is up to you. AI just gives what it believes is the answer to your question and moves on. Whether it is factual or not you have to investigate further, and then you are going outside it anyway so don’t see it as anything more than a waste of time.

I do see great potential, especially if coupled with “personal assistants” like Siri, and if we can get them to learn us individually and how to only get good data as a source? What a resource that would be.

We’re not there yet.

There are AI bots that give source info, like Perplexity.

 

[IceNein]

I use the AI search to find things I cannot locate in a normal search, but I always double check to see if it properly understood the original reference (which it sometimes did not).

From a Reef Chemistry standpoint, ChatGPT is not reliable enough to accept the answers.

IMO, at this point in time, AI does a really good job of fooling non experts that it knows what it's talking about.

For every topic that I have a smattering of expertise, it provides results that are obviously garbage, but I could see how they would sound good if you didn't know anything about the topic. I have asked it questions on music theory and electronics, both of which I know enough to be dangerous, and in both instances, it was junk.

Specifically, if anyone is a guitarist, ask AI how the circle of fifths can be applied to playing and practicing guitar.