How stable do you consider your tank?

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
96,423
Reaction score
214,575
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
Often we hear the term stable and stability. We have discussed this in the past,,, and with many new tanks and members this year, what do you consider as "Stable" ?

Is it the lower need for water changes, better test results, Ability to keep fish and coral thriving or ?????
 

paragrouper

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 9, 2023
Messages
1,665
Reaction score
7,307
Location
Shady Shores, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My goal is the tank inhabitants to thrive. Right now everyone is doing okay.

I still do a weekly water change (old habits). I also test, and I do dose AFR to maintain water parameters. My alkalinity stays around 8.4 DKH and Calcium between 420-440. Magnesium is ~1300.

My phosphates run a bit high, between .1 and .2, and my Nitrates stay around 15. Specific gravity is 1.025 @ 77 degrees.
 
OP
OP
vetteguy53081

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
96,423
Reaction score
214,575
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
My goal is the tank inhabitants to thrive. Right now everyone is doing okay.

I still do a weekly water change (old habits). I also test, and I do dose AFR to maintain water parameters. My alkalinity stays around 8.4 DKH and Calcium between 420-440. Magnesium is ~1300.

My phosphates run a bit high, between .1 and .2, and my Nitrates stay around 15. Specific gravity is 1.025 @ 77 degrees.
Do you consider age as a means of stability or the regimen you describe such as stable numbers
 

Slocke

I’m pedantic, ignore me
View Badges
Joined
Feb 3, 2022
Messages
8,479
Reaction score
29,819
Location
Atlanta
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Scared Season 4 GIF by The Simpsons
 

Ron Reefman

Lets Go Snorkeling!
View Badges
Joined
Aug 12, 2012
Messages
9,353
Reaction score
21,064
Location
SW Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I consider it stable when the Ca and alk tests are the same week after week and there isn't anymore algae growth.
 

SimbaAnto

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 9, 2020
Messages
551
Reaction score
301
Location
Jacksonville
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Healthy Fish, Encristing Acros, Growing LPS means stable means Stable


Alk Swings - less than 0.5dkh
Temp Salinity in Range
No changes to Light/Flow

These 3 are vital for me consider it to be stable
 

Reefer Matt

Reef Cave Dweller
View Badges
Joined
May 15, 2021
Messages
6,862
Reaction score
31,055
Location
Michigan
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Stability to me means that I control my tank and know what I can and can’t get away with. As long as I pay attention, do the maintenance, and not tinker unnecessarily, it will likely continue to thrive (though bad days do happen sometimes). Basically the same routine everyday. It may seem boring, but the goal for me is a thriving reef, not something to fidget with.
 

bakbay

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 1, 2022
Messages
1,857
Reaction score
2,262
Location
Orange County
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Stability to me -- SPS & fish growing, little algae, and Alk is "stable" between 8-9. Recently, my Alk plummeted from 8ish to 7ish since I ran out of CO2. Other than that, autopilot = stability
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0417.jpeg
    IMG_0417.jpeg
    84.4 KB · Views: 20

Sophie"s mom

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 25, 2023
Messages
2,206
Reaction score
3,231
Location
Va.
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I consider stability when all inhabitants are not just surviving, but thriving, growing, eating. Also when calcium and alk stay put for the most part. I feel like nitrates and phosphates will always move to a degree, but as long as they stay within range, and the tank looks good. Stability can be a relative term of course, but at the end of the day, it is a self defining word.
 

paragrouper

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 9, 2023
Messages
1,665
Reaction score
7,307
Location
Shady Shores, TX
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Do you consider age as a means of stability or the regimen you describe such as stable numbers
To an extent, yes. The tank is now 19 months old, so it’s had time to develop and this certainly contributes to stability. That being said, half of my rock work came from Tampa Bay live rock and, IMO, that helped get things moving at a faster pace.
 

Sophie"s mom

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 25, 2023
Messages
2,206
Reaction score
3,231
Location
Va.
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
To an extent, yes. The tank is now 19 months old, so it’s had time to develop and this certainly contributes to stability. That being said, half of my rock work came from Tampa Bay live rock and, IMO, that helped get things moving at a faster pace.
I 100% agree! Live rock not only speeds things up, but aid greatly with stability!
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

HOW ARE YOUR CORALS DOING TODAY? HONEST ANSWERS ONLY!

  • Everything seems to be doing great!

    Votes: 43 20.9%
  • Almost everything is doing good!

    Votes: 67 32.5%
  • Some are doing good, others not so much...

    Votes: 50 24.3%
  • They're okay, I guess.

    Votes: 21 10.2%
  • They're not doing too well right now.

    Votes: 15 7.3%
  • Not good at all...

    Votes: 3 1.5%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 7 3.4%
Back
Top