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My Tank Thread
Where do you fall on the spectrum of more testing, automation, and “helicopter parenting” your tank? Reef and fish.
Personally, I don’t really test much, I’m pretty laid back and let “nature take its course.” I do my water changes, and that’s about it. I nitrate test and water change about once a month. Sometimes I dose two part, but as unscientific as my dosing is I figure I’m better off not doing anything. I overskim immensely (but also overstock my fish immensely). I have ample light, and check salinity once per month. Nothing is automated, not even ATO (but that may change soon).
Of course, I don’t keep difficult coral. Hammer, frogspawn, torch, zoanthid, other polyps, leathers like devils hand, cabbage coral, and toadstool, mushrooms, star polyps, yellow polyps, xenia, anthelia, candy cane, sometimes a monti cap or two, and at one time a bubble coral is really about it. I have kept clams for a good amount of time this way, and bubble tip anemones. So, I realize I’m not dabbling in “needy coral”, either.
As far as fish, I quarantine and prophylacticly treat everything properly.
I’d love to see tank pics by those that automate and test frequently, and those more like me!
So what’s better?
Personally, I don’t really test much, I’m pretty laid back and let “nature take its course.” I do my water changes, and that’s about it. I nitrate test and water change about once a month. Sometimes I dose two part, but as unscientific as my dosing is I figure I’m better off not doing anything. I overskim immensely (but also overstock my fish immensely). I have ample light, and check salinity once per month. Nothing is automated, not even ATO (but that may change soon).
Of course, I don’t keep difficult coral. Hammer, frogspawn, torch, zoanthid, other polyps, leathers like devils hand, cabbage coral, and toadstool, mushrooms, star polyps, yellow polyps, xenia, anthelia, candy cane, sometimes a monti cap or two, and at one time a bubble coral is really about it. I have kept clams for a good amount of time this way, and bubble tip anemones. So, I realize I’m not dabbling in “needy coral”, either.
As far as fish, I quarantine and prophylacticly treat everything properly.
I’d love to see tank pics by those that automate and test frequently, and those more like me!
So what’s better?