reeffirstaid
Active Member
Could it be true, that the way we have kept reef aquariums, since their very inception, has been totally wrong? All the methodologies, starting as far back as Lee Chin Eng’s natural system, are a flawed attempt at keeping marine organisms alive? The idea that it’s necessary to replace trace elements by flushing nutrients with water changes, is not only wrong, but risky? In the UK, an entirely different method of reef keeping is starting to gain traction. For a while now, we’ve read some about triton systems, or Dutch synthetic reefs (DSR). At first, details were scarce, the entire process seemed like something too good to be true. No water changes, and aquarium water that precisely mimics natural seawater. How much of this is true, and how does the triton system of reef keeping work, or does it work?
What is triton?
The triton system, is actually the name of a company that specializes in implementing this new approach to reef keeping. They conduct advanced water analysis, and provide solutions for long term water quality. Using this approach, they coined the triton method, which has spurred offshoots which are similar, such as DSR. At it’s core, the triton system utilizes advanced water analysis, to create water in the aquarium that is a mirror image of natural seawater. By utilizing over 100 elements, the first step in this system is to turn your aquarium’s water, into what triton calls, the status quo. At this point, the goal is to maintain a constant chemistry, equal to that status quo, with lack of water changes as part of that process. It shares some concepts found in zeovit systems, some concepts found in low nutrient systems, even a few things similar to the balling reef keeping method.
Altogether though, the triton system is something entirely new. Like the balling method, it involves carefully calculating the amount of trace elements, used by animals within your tank. Unlike the balling method, it incorporates precision water measuring, and elements such as boron, and dozens of others, that we normally don’t pay close attention to. Also, unlike the balling method, the triton system aims at creating supplements that are specifically formulated for individual systems.
If asked to give one word that emphasizes the triton system, I would say consistency.
Triton claims to have cracked the code, to long term reef aquarium success, without any water changes.
How do you start, what’s the process?
You start by sending a water sample to triton labs. At the time of this writing, I don’t know whether or not triton services are available in the U.S. Still, there are a few reef aquarium water testing labs, which offer precise aquarium water analysis. A picture is painted of your water chemistry, and compared to a baseline, which is basically natural seawater. Triton can then create a supplement to bring your water up to baseline, or it may be possible to establish baseline, using your own supplements. Once supplements are added, the tank is left to run on its own, for about a month. No water changes, no additives, nothing. After that period, another water sample is sent in. Now, it’s possible to calculate a precise average of how many elements your aquarium utilizes, on a month to month, or week to week basis.
Once calculated, the aquarist implements daily home testing and supplementation, to maintain base line water quality. Sounds easy enough, right?
While water testing is nothing new, triton looks at over 100 elements.
The theory behind triton:
I’ve been in touch with triton systems, with some questions regarding their approach, but have yet to hear from them. One question that comes to mind, what about nutrients? In various literature on triton, or DSR, it suggests that nutrient values, such as nitrate or phosphate, or even specific element composition, such as magnesium levels, are not the area of concern in reef aquaria. Triton suggests that consistency, is a far more important factor. They point to aquariums, two of which may have different water chemistry compositions, but both produce beautiful coral. This would make one question if specific target values of nitrate, phosphate, calcium, etc, are the key to success. According to triton, their not, consistency is.
Triton points out, that water changes alone cannot keep reef aquarium water constant. We turn to dosing, with calcium supplements, trace elements, etc. We risk either dosing too much, or too little, and thus employ water changes to restore balance. According to triton, water changes themselves, are inherently risky, as residual dosing elements remain, and water changes are not entirely precise, and create fluctuating water chemistry. The goal behind the system is creating baseline water, and keeping it that way, with no water changes, ever.
One thing is for sure, reefs using the triton system, sure aren't ugly
Some possible short comings:
The problem I see, how does the aquarist keep nutrients low, without water changes or disturbing other aspects of the triton system. Zeovit is an option, yet zeovit employs its own system of supplements, dosing, ammino acids, etc. A bio-pellet reactor, or biological de-nitrator, also uses its own system of dosing, and media. Either of these options, would likely conflict with the consistency triton is trying to establish. An up-flow algae scrubber is an option, but algae scrubbers modify water chemistry, absorbing co2, releasing oxygen, and burrowing trace elements from the water. Even a protein skimmer, can perform differently due to time or conditions, altering the consistency of water chemistry. Triton seems to suggest that worrying about nutrient values is un-necessary, but we all know that high levels of phosphate, nitrate and other compounds, have an effect on our reef systems, and nearly any form of biological or mechanical nutrient removal, will have some impact on water chemistry. They recommend a refugium, or lagoon, of macroalgae at least 20% the aquarium's water capacity, but we all know, at times, refugiums alone are not enough to prevent nutrient overload.
Also, what happens when new animals are added to the aquarium? You grab a couple of frags at a swap, or order some nice colonies online, is it back to the drawing board with another water test, waiting, and calculating your tank’s new dosing regimen?
Final thoughts:
Since information is limited on the triton system, or how it operates entirely, it’s hard to say how it functions, when implemented properly. I will say, triton is correct in saying that current supplements are very broad, simply using aquarium volume as a measurement of how much to use. All species of corals, even fish, utilize and require different compounds, so a one size fits all approach, seems like a bad idea. Triton is also correct that water changes are sort of a soft reset for our tanks, flushing out nutrients while restoring the correct balance of trace elements. It’s imperfect, but workable.
Is the triton system, or DSR, a sea change (no pun intended) in how we keep reef aquariums? For now, only time will tell.
A huge thank you to McDonalds workers everywhere, you are beautiful!
What is triton?
The triton system, is actually the name of a company that specializes in implementing this new approach to reef keeping. They conduct advanced water analysis, and provide solutions for long term water quality. Using this approach, they coined the triton method, which has spurred offshoots which are similar, such as DSR. At it’s core, the triton system utilizes advanced water analysis, to create water in the aquarium that is a mirror image of natural seawater. By utilizing over 100 elements, the first step in this system is to turn your aquarium’s water, into what triton calls, the status quo. At this point, the goal is to maintain a constant chemistry, equal to that status quo, with lack of water changes as part of that process. It shares some concepts found in zeovit systems, some concepts found in low nutrient systems, even a few things similar to the balling reef keeping method.
Altogether though, the triton system is something entirely new. Like the balling method, it involves carefully calculating the amount of trace elements, used by animals within your tank. Unlike the balling method, it incorporates precision water measuring, and elements such as boron, and dozens of others, that we normally don’t pay close attention to. Also, unlike the balling method, the triton system aims at creating supplements that are specifically formulated for individual systems.
If asked to give one word that emphasizes the triton system, I would say consistency.
Triton claims to have cracked the code, to long term reef aquarium success, without any water changes.
How do you start, what’s the process?
You start by sending a water sample to triton labs. At the time of this writing, I don’t know whether or not triton services are available in the U.S. Still, there are a few reef aquarium water testing labs, which offer precise aquarium water analysis. A picture is painted of your water chemistry, and compared to a baseline, which is basically natural seawater. Triton can then create a supplement to bring your water up to baseline, or it may be possible to establish baseline, using your own supplements. Once supplements are added, the tank is left to run on its own, for about a month. No water changes, no additives, nothing. After that period, another water sample is sent in. Now, it’s possible to calculate a precise average of how many elements your aquarium utilizes, on a month to month, or week to week basis.
Once calculated, the aquarist implements daily home testing and supplementation, to maintain base line water quality. Sounds easy enough, right?
While water testing is nothing new, triton looks at over 100 elements.
The theory behind triton:
I’ve been in touch with triton systems, with some questions regarding their approach, but have yet to hear from them. One question that comes to mind, what about nutrients? In various literature on triton, or DSR, it suggests that nutrient values, such as nitrate or phosphate, or even specific element composition, such as magnesium levels, are not the area of concern in reef aquaria. Triton suggests that consistency, is a far more important factor. They point to aquariums, two of which may have different water chemistry compositions, but both produce beautiful coral. This would make one question if specific target values of nitrate, phosphate, calcium, etc, are the key to success. According to triton, their not, consistency is.
Triton points out, that water changes alone cannot keep reef aquarium water constant. We turn to dosing, with calcium supplements, trace elements, etc. We risk either dosing too much, or too little, and thus employ water changes to restore balance. According to triton, water changes themselves, are inherently risky, as residual dosing elements remain, and water changes are not entirely precise, and create fluctuating water chemistry. The goal behind the system is creating baseline water, and keeping it that way, with no water changes, ever.
One thing is for sure, reefs using the triton system, sure aren't ugly
Some possible short comings:
The problem I see, how does the aquarist keep nutrients low, without water changes or disturbing other aspects of the triton system. Zeovit is an option, yet zeovit employs its own system of supplements, dosing, ammino acids, etc. A bio-pellet reactor, or biological de-nitrator, also uses its own system of dosing, and media. Either of these options, would likely conflict with the consistency triton is trying to establish. An up-flow algae scrubber is an option, but algae scrubbers modify water chemistry, absorbing co2, releasing oxygen, and burrowing trace elements from the water. Even a protein skimmer, can perform differently due to time or conditions, altering the consistency of water chemistry. Triton seems to suggest that worrying about nutrient values is un-necessary, but we all know that high levels of phosphate, nitrate and other compounds, have an effect on our reef systems, and nearly any form of biological or mechanical nutrient removal, will have some impact on water chemistry. They recommend a refugium, or lagoon, of macroalgae at least 20% the aquarium's water capacity, but we all know, at times, refugiums alone are not enough to prevent nutrient overload.
Also, what happens when new animals are added to the aquarium? You grab a couple of frags at a swap, or order some nice colonies online, is it back to the drawing board with another water test, waiting, and calculating your tank’s new dosing regimen?
Final thoughts:
Since information is limited on the triton system, or how it operates entirely, it’s hard to say how it functions, when implemented properly. I will say, triton is correct in saying that current supplements are very broad, simply using aquarium volume as a measurement of how much to use. All species of corals, even fish, utilize and require different compounds, so a one size fits all approach, seems like a bad idea. Triton is also correct that water changes are sort of a soft reset for our tanks, flushing out nutrients while restoring the correct balance of trace elements. It’s imperfect, but workable.
Is the triton system, or DSR, a sea change (no pun intended) in how we keep reef aquariums? For now, only time will tell.
A huge thank you to McDonalds workers everywhere, you are beautiful!
