Recently, I came across a thread related to an Anemone’s appearance and suggested the lack of tank maturity as one of a few possibilities. I was surprised to learn that some perceived this point of view as a “canned answer”. And the response left me to think; just because an answer is canned, does that make it bad advice?
We all started out as newbies in this hobby. And the spectrum of skills those of us who participate in the hobby have is a broad one. Personally, I would rate myself as and advanced beginner to low intermediate.
During the ten or twelve years I’ve been in the hobby, I’ve accepted certain rules. I like to think of them as the “laws of reefing”.
One of those laws is that a tank must be a minimum of twelve months old before it is considered “mature”. I’ve come to accept that to mean: a tank’s ability to operate with minimal fluctuation to water chemistry.
Another law I have accepted is that there are certain inhabitants that should not be added to a tank that isn’t adequately matured. And Anemones can be counted among them.
I view Anemones as the meteorologist of the reef tank, and find that they respond to subtle changes in water quality. This allows us to identify unfavorable water quality trends before they become a problem, and I think every reef tank should have one.
Unlike fish, inverts and other inhabitants that move through the water column, Anemones become one with the water.
As I observe my Anemones, I watch them wring themselves out of all water and deflate down to the point where they look like chewed bubblegum wads. And as the lights begin coming on, they inflate themselves with fresh tank water, topping off to full inflation late in the afternoon. In my opinion, taking on water internally is what makes them so sensitive to its quality.
In conclusion, while “canned”, I don’t believe providing such feedback is bad or unhelpful, particularly where people who are new to the hobby are concerned.
Thank you,
Dom
We all started out as newbies in this hobby. And the spectrum of skills those of us who participate in the hobby have is a broad one. Personally, I would rate myself as and advanced beginner to low intermediate.
During the ten or twelve years I’ve been in the hobby, I’ve accepted certain rules. I like to think of them as the “laws of reefing”.
One of those laws is that a tank must be a minimum of twelve months old before it is considered “mature”. I’ve come to accept that to mean: a tank’s ability to operate with minimal fluctuation to water chemistry.
Another law I have accepted is that there are certain inhabitants that should not be added to a tank that isn’t adequately matured. And Anemones can be counted among them.
I view Anemones as the meteorologist of the reef tank, and find that they respond to subtle changes in water quality. This allows us to identify unfavorable water quality trends before they become a problem, and I think every reef tank should have one.
Unlike fish, inverts and other inhabitants that move through the water column, Anemones become one with the water.
As I observe my Anemones, I watch them wring themselves out of all water and deflate down to the point where they look like chewed bubblegum wads. And as the lights begin coming on, they inflate themselves with fresh tank water, topping off to full inflation late in the afternoon. In my opinion, taking on water internally is what makes them so sensitive to its quality.
In conclusion, while “canned”, I don’t believe providing such feedback is bad or unhelpful, particularly where people who are new to the hobby are concerned.
Thank you,
Dom