Smithrz
Active Member
I’m about 6 months into my marine journey, and I just feel like there’s always something wrong in my little ecosystem, and I wondered … is it me, or is this just normal for most people?
I honestly can’t remember a time where every coral looked happy at the same time.
Right now I have 3 Goniapora looking really happy and extended, an apparently “difficult to keep” coral, yet my kryptonite candy cane is all shrivelled up, while 2 other candy canes are fine, and one colony of Zoas really closed up, yet the two adjacent colonies of different Zoas totally thriving (been this way for weeks). I also have 3 chalice frags that just refuse to grow and are lacking colour, and finally a snail or two that just look weak, lazy and discoloured, often found lying on their backs in the sand.
I feed ReefRoids 2-3 times a week, dose AllForReef via my ATO, all my parameters are within acceptable/suggested ranges apart from phosphates, which have been high, and I’ve recently added Roaphos to get those back in check (and ordered a Hanna phosphate tester for more accurate readings). I don’t have any major algae or bacteria bloom issues, etc… and generally my fish are all healthy (minor signs of white spot at times, but my UV seems to be keeping that at manageable levels).
I’m not a “chasing numbers” person, I test the water maybe once a week or every 2 weeks, I’m vigilant with 10% weekly water changes (never missed one), and I’d only number chase if something was well off (such as high phosphates).
So is this just it? Is this the hobby? At any given time, there’s something looking unhealthy/sick/dying, and you just accept it? Or am I doing something wrong?? I’m always worried that if something is dying, then others will follow, on the assumption that something is wrong.
“Get a fish tank, it’ll be relaxing” hahahaha!
Tank pic attached.
I honestly can’t remember a time where every coral looked happy at the same time.
Right now I have 3 Goniapora looking really happy and extended, an apparently “difficult to keep” coral, yet my kryptonite candy cane is all shrivelled up, while 2 other candy canes are fine, and one colony of Zoas really closed up, yet the two adjacent colonies of different Zoas totally thriving (been this way for weeks). I also have 3 chalice frags that just refuse to grow and are lacking colour, and finally a snail or two that just look weak, lazy and discoloured, often found lying on their backs in the sand.
I feed ReefRoids 2-3 times a week, dose AllForReef via my ATO, all my parameters are within acceptable/suggested ranges apart from phosphates, which have been high, and I’ve recently added Roaphos to get those back in check (and ordered a Hanna phosphate tester for more accurate readings). I don’t have any major algae or bacteria bloom issues, etc… and generally my fish are all healthy (minor signs of white spot at times, but my UV seems to be keeping that at manageable levels).
I’m not a “chasing numbers” person, I test the water maybe once a week or every 2 weeks, I’m vigilant with 10% weekly water changes (never missed one), and I’d only number chase if something was well off (such as high phosphates).
So is this just it? Is this the hobby? At any given time, there’s something looking unhealthy/sick/dying, and you just accept it? Or am I doing something wrong?? I’m always worried that if something is dying, then others will follow, on the assumption that something is wrong.
“Get a fish tank, it’ll be relaxing” hahahaha!
Tank pic attached.
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Owning a reef tank is only relaxing for the people not responsible for it lol.
