How stable do you consider your tank?

[vetteguy53081]

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]

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.

 

[vetteguy53081]

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]

 

[Ron Reefman]

I consider it stable when the Ca and alk tests are the same week after week and there isn't anymore algae growth.

 

[lil sumpin]

I’d like to think growth is correlated to stability, the life we keep in our tanks cannot make it without certain preliminary requirements

 

[Gumbies R Us]

It has been stable ever since I stopped messing with it!

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Ability to keep fish and coral thriving

This!

 

[SimbaAnto]

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]

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.

 

[backbayreef]

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

 

[SimbaAnto]

I credit my stablity to Alkatronics for keeping alk between 8 to 8.1

 

[Uncle99]

When all major parameters are in the traditional slots and remain virtually unchanged, day to day, week to week for at least 6 months.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

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]

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]

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!