Successful Reefer Advice Post here

[snowmansnow]

I consider myself a fledgling reefer... someone who has had some success but can still learn a heck of a lot from more experienced reefers (aquarists NOT potheads).

So..

If you had to pick a something that you FINALLY got the hang of that really caused positive results in your tank what would it be?

me?

It would be when I started keeping my Ca lvls up and testing and maintaining ALK. That aspect, added to what I already was doing, seemed to take things to another level in my display.

Anyone else??

b

 

[enderg60]

Automation is the awesome.

 

[mojo]

Stability. Temperature, salinity, etc, etc. The more stable a system is, the more your tank will thrive.

 

[acroholic]

Chris is so right: consistency (stability, as he says).

I had the stability end down pretty well, but my colors weren't where they should be compared to other, what I would call "successful" reef tanks.

Then I got my lighting straightened out and got the kind of colors I wanted in my corals. The combination and use of CoralVue LumenBrite Reflectors (large or mini), CoralVue e-ballasts, and Radium bulbs (250 and 400) was a turning point for me. It gave me the colors I had only seen in magazines and pictures of TOTM type setups, and really made reefing more satisfying.

 

[grouper therapy]

mojo;564119 wrote: stability. Temperature, salinity, etc, etc. The more stable a system is, the more your tank will thrive.

Absolutely one of the most important things to strive for!!

 

[rskillz]

Honestly, it sounds simple but PATIENCE.

You have to have it. I know I was itching to dive in head first, but I'm glad I took my time.

Things move slow in this hobby, just have to accept it.

 

[cr500_af]

As stated, stability... the best money I have spent on this hobby is a controller. With it running the heaters and fans (and chiller when necessary), my 24 hr temp swing averages .4 degrees.

Other than that, it was pretty huge when I learned that API test kits are cheesy. Changing to quality kits made me realize that my alk had been low all along, though according to API it was great. Keeping the alk up made a huge difference in my corals' growth and general appearance.