Hi Richard
I have no beef with you and I understand the scientific method you are proposing, however, for a stronger statistical power we would require a minimum number of replicates here (it's good to see there is a control in place), something a home study like mine just can't accomplish. The end goal would be to publish this research in a journal would it not, otherwise what would be the point. If not published, then it would be just as valid for me to put my little study across in my thread as valid.
Do you think I have a beef with you? I don't.
I did not propose a scientific study, I proposed a side by side which would be the easy next step to the anecdote presented about bubbling (or anything for that matter). The end goal is to determine if this method has any impact on coral growth - right now it appears it doesn't have a negative effect which is great. Providing some evidence that it has a positive effect on growth would be even greater.
I'm not selling anything nor claiming to sell anything. Neither am I claiming that it is THE method to anything. What I am saying though is, the results I'm getting are really working for me and the animals in my tank, I'm sharing my experiences,using my tank as a testing ground (for detriment or not) and I strongly urge people to try this methodology for the cost of a morning latte or two. You did the same when talking about your tank surviving and thriving with high PO4 levels.
I know, and I am confused as to why you think I think you are saying this is THE method for anything or why you think I am saying anything negative about sharing your experiences. People get the same kinds of results without bubbling, so I am trying to determine if there is any actual benefit to coral growth by bubbling. There are a million things people do because they feel it helps, but so often, people stop doing them after a time and report little difference - which was the experience I had with GFO which is what prompted me to do further study and eventually put together an article.
I spent significantly more than the cost of a latte or two on what I reported and spent a whole lot of time writing it up and collecting data from other tanks - and urged people not to do it in their own tanks.
We are a wild-eyed bunch of enthusiastic home amateurs and our numbers are growing.
I think you don't know my background! :D
A quote from the PO4 article that seems appropriate:
"In no way are we saying that everyone should run out and run reefs at high PO43- levels. We are simply not sure what is going on in these reefs with higher than ‘normal’ PO43- levels and any methodological changes need more understanding and support before they can be recommended. What we are saying is how wonderful it is that observations from aquairsts can make us take a long hard look at what we previously accepted as ‘figured out’. It may turn out that higher PO43- levels are not much of a big deal at all, or it may turn out that we will come to understand some previously unknown process in aquariums. Only time will tell, and it sure seems fantastic to be part of a living, breathing, changing scientific effort where skeptical thinking informs all sides of the process."
Perhaps one day when my lab is free I will do those experiments and perhaps I will ask you to peer review my paper too, but until then, you have nothing to lose much to gain :)
And generating evidence that bubbling has a positive effect on coral growth would be really helpful. I am so confused as to why you and others seem to think there is no middle ground between anecdote and peer reviewed publishing. :D