Doesn't it make sense....

[ZoWhat]

Doesn't it make more sense to LOOK at your corals and discover what parameter numbers makes them look happy and thriving...

...rather than forcing parameter numbers that everyone tells you you should have?

Open discussion...

.

 

[ZoWhat]

My zoas look way happier with:

PO4 at 0.4 than 0.1 or less
NO3 at 15 than 5 or less

 

[Lavey29]

Every tank is different and keep in mind corals typically deteriorate from the inside out so a coral can be struggling for weeks or months before it suddenly shows outward signs of distress and dies. But you are right, the common phrase don't chase numbers would be applicable and if your corals are flourishing then stay the course.

 

[billyocean]

I agree with the eyeball test and all tanks are different to a degree. I also agree that there is a range to shoot for as a basis to go on and pay attention from there for what works. Why would I add a protein skimmer to my tank if I don't need it? Why would I use a calcium reactor when my sps does fine? It's definately a tank to tank thing. If I battled high nutrients I would add what was necessary. Point is, your right that your eyes tell you more than any numbers you chase. Knowing your numbers is good simply because when it's working, you want to stay there and knowing what numbers that happens to be allows you to get back there when it's off and the eyeball tells you something is wrong.

 

[fish farmer]

Most of my corals looked and grew great at undetectable nitrate and phosphate (salifert), except one, then I fed more and lost another.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I guess yes to the extent of not chasing the magic unicorn. One kinda needs some baseline reference to get started and go from there. For example starting at a salinity of 1.002 might not give your eyes enough time to figure out what happened.

 

[Duffer]

I agree also with you. Did the par test 2 yrs ago and where it was low I have more growth on spa than the higher par…so now my eyes tell me where to put corals

 

[GHOSTLY]

Every tanks different. My buddys tank has better success with sky high nutrients than I have had with close to perfect parameters. Lighting is weak in his tank but they're doing ok. As long as the coral do good I think parameters don't matter. Although, some are more ideal. Love the discussion question