Amazing

SirRoadwolf · Dec 14, 2021

My aquarium is a about 4 years old now. But for the last 6 months or so I have totally neglected it. My self designed automation system has kept the water topped off. I havent even done a feeding in weeks. In fact I think it's been 2 months now since the last feeding.

My corals are still visibly growing. My few fish haven't died. But my Aptasia is shrinking down to nothing!

Yesterday tho I did notice my green star coral wasn't opening up and showing it's polyps. I hadn't done a water test since February... Maybe it was time to spend a moment on it.

Nitrate, Nitrite and phosphates were all close enough to 0 to not be a concern. Calcium was 540. Salinity, 1.027. Hmm not bad... KH was 7, and pH, 7.55.... hmm, 7.55. Seems bit low.

Checked my alkilinity buffer jug from the 2 part calcium additive system, and the tube inside the bottle was curled around and sticking up above the water line. It was just feeding air! That's the problem. Fixed that, and added about 3 Tablespoons of Borax. pH raised to 8.0 and green star started showing it's polyps. Woo.... back to normal. lol

davidcalgary29 · Dec 14, 2021

You really haven't fed your fish for months? You must have one heck of a 'pod population.

Well, let's see some pics, then.

ColoredRock · Dec 14, 2021

davidcalgary29 said:
Well, let's see some pics, then.

^

SirRoadwolf · Dec 14, 2021

Okay

Keep in mind that I haven't taken care of this aquarium for a while. lol

The last photo was taken just after correcting the issue and adding the Borax. The Star Polyp was even more closed up prior to that for much of the day.

Not many fish to feed tho

MaxTremors · Dec 14, 2021

That’s depressing. Why not just get rid of it if you can’t be bothered to properly care for it? The fact that you seem kind of pleased with yourself is kind of disturbing.

SirRoadwolf · Dec 14, 2021

The fact that the glass isn't cleaned has no bearing on the health of the aquarium. I am happy that the ecosystem is balanced enough to survive with minimal maintenance. It is more a testament to the fact that sometimes messing too much with an aquarium can be what causes the issues that develop.

The coral is healthy and growing. That doesn't happen if things aren't right as we all know.

Yes my neglect isn't great. But it isn't because I want to neglect it - and indeed I show it as it is, to prove my point - I am not proud of it, nor trying to depress anyone. Sometimes work and life changes take us away from the places our aquariums are set up, for longer periods than we like. I suppose I am just lucky that the aquarium can survive without my care for those extended periods. Can yours?

Pulling the plug on the aquarium when times are tough in my life, would mean those corals would die. The ecosystem would die. So to fully give up would be to get rid of it. I still pay for the power to run it - which isn't exactly cheap these days. I think that getting rid of it would be more depressing than to allow it to live and survive on it's own, as life will do, and has done.

Sure, maybe at some point there will be an imbalance that I will not catch straight away and it will collapse. But isn't anyone curious how long such a minimally maintained system can continue for?

Sean_B · Dec 14, 2021

SirRoadwolf said:
The fact that the glass isn't cleaned has no bearing on the health of the aquarium. I am happy that the ecosystem is balanced enough to survive with minimal maintenance. It is more a testament to the fact that sometimes messing too much with an aquarium can be what causes the issues that develop.

although you tested this without knowing what the end result would be

SirRoadwolf said:
Yes my neglect isn't great. But it isn't because I want to neglect it - and indeed I show it as it is, to prove my point - I am not proud of it, nor trying to depress anyone. Sometimes work and life changes take us away from the places our aquariums are set up, for longer periods than we like. I suppose I am just lucky that the aquarium can survive without my care for those extended periods.

unwarranted criticism would come from a few days, but 6 months................................

SirRoadwolf said:
Pulling the plug on the aquarium when times are tough in my life, would mean those corals would die. The ecosystem would die. So to fully give up would be to get rid of it. I still pay for the power to run it - which isn't exactly cheap these days. I think that getting rid of it would be more depressing than to allow it to live and survive on it's own, as life will do, and has done.

agreed, but feeding seems minimal

SirRoadwolf said:
Sure, maybe at some point there will be an imbalance that I will not catch straight away and it will collapse. But isn't anyone curious how long such a minimally maintained system can continue for?

by potentially starving your tank inhabitants? the Cold War is over #

Minnesota Starvation Experiment

ZoWhat · Dec 14, 2021

What's everyone so surprised about?

The #1 key to any Reef is THE PASSAGE OF TIME.

4yrs has been long enough for all.kinds of good bacteria strains to develop

Tim McLellan · Dec 14, 2021

Kudos to you for having the balls to show a neglected tank that is surviving. Not everyone's tank is a pristine picture perfect aquarium.

SirRoadwolf · Dec 17, 2021

I cleaned up the glass. I noticed that a sea squirt had developed and was living on the side of one of my rocks. I also noticed what might possibly be a colony of torch coral which appeared on it's own. I poked at it softly and it didn't really react all that quickly, so I am guessing it is coral.

And the Aptasia is for sure dying down, and shrinking.

Dbichler · Dec 17, 2021

Anyone who hasn’t neglected their tank is either really new to reefing or has no other life. Not saying you shouldn’t feed your fish more however your chromis is fat so it’s not starving meaning there’s plenty of food in there. I go on week vacations often and do not feed or have anyone take care of my tank during this time. Haven’t lost a fish in 7 years. Don’t feel ashamed by those who judge others from a keyboard. Life happens.

NY_Sea · Dec 17, 2021

Just goes to Show you can have a reef eco system survive without being OCD.

Dom · Dec 18, 2021

Sean_B said:
by potentially starving your tank inhabitants? the Cold War is over #

Is it?

davidcalgary29 · Dec 18, 2021

Okay, now can we see some pics after the algae's been scraped off the front so we can see inside?

MaxTremors · Dec 18, 2021

SirRoadwolf said:
The fact that the glass isn't cleaned has no bearing on the health of the aquarium. I am happy that the ecosystem is balanced enough to survive with minimal maintenance. It is more a testament to the fact that sometimes messing too much with an aquarium can be what causes the issues that develop.

The coral is healthy and growing. That doesn't happen if things aren't right as we all know.

Yes my neglect isn't great. But it isn't because I want to neglect it - and indeed I show it as it is, to prove my point - I am not proud of it, nor trying to depress anyone. Sometimes work and life changes take us away from the places our aquariums are set up, for longer periods than we like. I suppose I am just lucky that the aquarium can survive without my care for those extended periods. Can yours?

Pulling the plug on the aquarium when times are tough in my life, would mean those corals would die. The ecosystem would die. So to fully give up would be to get rid of it. I still pay for the power to run it - which isn't exactly cheap these days. I think that getting rid of it would be more depressing than to allow it to live and survive on it's own, as life will do, and has done.

Sure, maybe at some point there will be an imbalance that I will not catch straight away and it will collapse. But isn't anyone curious how long such a minimally maintained system can continue for?

I don’t find the not cleaning the glass part depressing, I find the part about not feeding your fish for 2 months (and feeding them at this frequency for 6 months) depressing. It’s like having a cat and not feeding it for months and saying ‘oh well, it catches some mice and birds out in the neighborhood occasionally’, it’s neglect, plain and simple.

Dbichler said:
Anyone who hasn’t neglected their tank is either really new to reefing or has no other life. Not saying you shouldn’t feed your fish more however your chromis is fat so it’s not starving meaning there’s plenty of food in there. I go on week vacations often and do not feed or have anyone take care of my tank during this time. Haven’t lost a fish in 7 years. Don’t feel ashamed by those who judge others from a keyboard. Life happens.

I’ve kept tanks for over twenty years, and there have certainly been times where I haven’t kept up with maintenance as well as I could have, but this is full-on neglect. Not feeding your fish for two months (and feeding at that frequency for 6 months) is beyond letting some tank maintenance slip. This idea that it’s okay to not feed or let the upkeep of the animals in your care slip for months because they’re aquatic animals is gross. If this were any other type of animal you could be charged with animal abuse/neglect for not feeding them. I stand by the statement that if you can’t be bothered to feed your fish more than a few times or do any maintenance for a six month period, you probably shouldn’t be keeping the tank.

Dkmoo · Dec 18, 2021

Tell you what. At least this makes me a bit less nervous about going on 2 week vacations since my tank is also 5+ years and I have the basic critical needs (dosing, ato, temperature) automated and I even can slap on an autofeeder.