Anyone else “not test”?

[Jon Fishman]

Copied from a reply I made on another post, and decided it may sound crazy, so wanted to know if anyone else runs a “lazy reef”. I know the “I don’t do water-changes” topic has been covered, as well as Triton method and ICP testing and eleborate dosing etc to maintain a reef, or ultra low nutrients etc etc. I was just wondering if anyone else just uses the corals as indicators. Some, like my Duncan or Devil’s hand are my “early to respond” specimens, so they are kinda my baseline.....


My tank has been doing awesome. I run this strategy currently:

Water-changes every 2-3 weeks, but 20% or so

Heavy filtration and low bio-load (Algae scrubber, Ozone, UV, 400g rated skimmer for 140g tank, filter socks, lots of rock, lots of flow, bare bottom

I don’t dose because I don’t test my water. If my corals don’t have the polyp extension I’m use to seeing, I do a water-change.

I tested Calcium one time this year, and it was 440-450 about a week after a water-change.

I had Kalkwasser in my ATO reservoir but saw no changes so I stopped using it.

I think there are “scientific” approaches to keeping a reef, as well as methods of using common practices and watching and taking a reactionary approach based on what the tank inhabitants do.

Am I alone on this?

 

[WVNed]

Yes you are.

 

[WVNed]

I am only messing with you. I only test when I want to know something and that is anywhere from every day when dialing in a doser to once a month for my salinity when I do a 20% water change.

I have 400 pounds of rock in a 400 gallon system and run a skimmer that was oversized but isn't now.

If you never do any at all then you are flying blind which works great until the mountain appears in the window.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I get that life can come at you fast, but given that I don’t add anything to my tank (in terms of dosing etc) my practical side tells me, that parameters do in fact change, but it’s a continuous and gradual change. If something begins to show signs of distress (my common indicator corals for instance) and I change water etc and it still goes south, then testing is in order I guess, but with no dosing or any “changes” to my tank, I don’t see a full-blown tank-crash just “happening” and then testing the water and seeing “oh, I guess my Magnesium was really low/high” etc....

Anything that would start mass die-off that isn’t a disease etc would have to be either introduced to the tank, or something suddenly and spontaneously consumed like Calcium etc.

I just don’t see throwing chemicals in a tank when it is looking good, but a test is telling you something is marginally high or low.

The proper levels that ideally should be maintained are usually not tank-specific as it is, so many people run levels at different target levels for different reasons...... so I just don’t see shooting at a target when I don’t even know if it’s in my best interest to hit the target.
If I tested now, my target would be to maintain exactly what my numbers are now, whatever those may be.... if my Calcium was 600 and people said “you should get that down” my response would be “apparently 600 is what works for me”

 

[piranhaman00]

My favorite part of reefing is the chemistry. I love testing the water and adjusting accordingly.

 

[WVNed]

I look at testing as a way to keep me going in the right direction and a validation that what I am doing is okay.
I do add some stuff to the tank now. I am making sure I am doing it right.

 

[KrisReef]

I am pretty lazy, but I do test and add new things to my tank now and again. The slow drift is what testing is supposed to catch if you have a relatively large system and only do minor changes with feeding and routine water changes it may be fine.

Remember that the ocean is a significantly larger system than any tank. Evaporation, minor differences in salt batches, contaminated food, or a careless cleaning person applying Windex or furniture polish can all contribute to changes in the reef tank that we may or may not be able to measure.

I like just doing water changes but doing tests help me minimize undetected changes that may happen over time or all at once. Nothing guarantees that my methods, tight or loose will prevent an undesired outcome. Have fun, do your best, and hope for the best are all valid approaches with remarkably similar results on a good day.

 

[lapin]

I only dose manually; iodide for Iodine replacement 10ML a month and 30ml vinegar-5ml vodka everyday. My tank is about 2 years old now. 10% water change per week. After testing the big 5 every week I have cut that back to Alk every 2 weeks and the others once a month. I do test salinity each week before a water change just in case my skimmer has removed an abnormal amount of salt water and it was replaced with fresh water.
I think visual can be a good indicator as long as you look at your tank a lot.
I dont count my fish or shrimp anymore. As long as I see some bare spots on my rock work once a week, I know my pencil urchin is still alive in there somewhere.

 

[krash7172]

You are not alone! I a 20% WC every 3 weeks and only test alk. I have been keeping fresh water tanks like this for decades. This is my first attempt at a reef and after 2 yrs I have found a balance between my willingness to do maintenance and what I can keep in the tank. It's modestly stocked with a variety of easy to keep fish and I have mostly soft corals. This approach obviously won't work for all.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Again. This tank was never tested or dosed.

 

[Bob Weigant]

The only thing I consistently test for is alk. Mag and Cal is pretty steady so I only test those 2 every now and then

 

[Earl Karl]

I test Alk. pretty much everyday. Not so much for others.

 

[Rick.45cal]

So I’m a lazy reefer, I admit it. I even planned for it, when I set up this tank. That being said, I don’t test as often as I should. But I learned something a LONG time ago, that the only thing worse (for me) than being super lazy and only testing occasionally is coming up against a major problem in my system with no frame of reference. In my opinion, (it’s worth what you are paying for it) that it is MORE important to test when things are happiest, that way you learn where things like it.

My system demand is far to high to get away with any less effort than I already put forth...I know, I’ve tried!!!

 

[MichaelReefer]

I also never test unless there seems to be a problem. My fish, coral and anemones are doing amazing. So I don't bother.

 

[tehmadreefer]

Ive caused way too many problems testing and dosing everyday to get "perfect" numbers.

 

[Earl Karl]

The reason why I test Alk. everyday is because I get maximum growth when keeping steady Alk. I just adjust my Calcium Reactor whenever I need to. Same thing with doser when I used to do two part throughout the day.

Also I never do water changes, so it is mandatory for me to test lol.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Ive caused way too many problems testing and dosing everyday to get "perfect" numbers.

This is the thing I’d fear.... People post a picture of a tiny frag they got 5 days ago, and say that’s dying and people jump on the “numbers” and what he/she should change. What else is in the tank? How are they doing? I have had new frags die...... it happens ..... Not going to rock the boat for one frag though!

For a hobby that demands “consistency” people love to tell people to change their parameters!