Rant time

[scotty333]

All you people that say “ keeps your hands out the tank, leave it do its thing” , it needs to mature for sps , nems etc”
You’ve all got $10s of thousands spent on equipment to run it for you .

Please bear in mind that for some of us with smaller tanks and less money to spend need to be that bit more hands on

Rant over

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

All you people that say “ keeps your hands out the tank, leave it do its thing” , it needs to mature for sps , nems etc”
You’ve all got $10s of thousands spent on equipment to run it for you .

Please bear in mind that for some of us with smaller tanks and less money to spend need to be that bit more hands on

Rant over

I think in most cases, they're not saying let the equipment do the work for you, they're saying that people usually do too much too fast with the tank and cause problems.

So, for example, some people may test and find that their tank has slightly high phosphates - in response, they may try to lower the phosphates and end up causing them to bottom out. In trying to fix the bottomed out phosphates, they may end up spiking the nutrients and wiping out some of the tank critters, etc.

It's basically saying that a lot of the time, monitoring the tank and making small adjustments as needed until the tank largely run itself (with only very mild adjustments - such as dosing of key elements or topping up evaporated water - by the aquarist) is going to serve the tank better than making big adjustments trying to fix everything that pops up even slightly out of line.


So, perhaps a better way to say it would be something like, "Only make big, fast changes during emergencies. If it's not an emergency, make small, slow changes as needed and let the tank do the rest."

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

When I think of a hands-off approach, my mind doesn't go to automated reef tanks. I'm thinking about 'don't make knee-jerk reactions and start messing with lighting, dosing, etc,' when things start going south.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

We run a hands-off approach with our tanks and don't have any automation besides an ATO. I believe doing hands-off is more based on not messing with your tank at the drop of a hat.

 

[landlubber]

All you people that say “ keeps your hands out the tank, leave it do its thing” , it needs to mature for sps , nems etc”
You’ve all got $10s of thousands spent on equipment to run it for you .

Please bear in mind that for some of us with smaller tanks and less money to spend need to be that bit more hands on

Rant over

not true at all.
The main goal in keeping water for your fish to live in is stability. constantly fiddling means an adjustment has to be made in your tanks chemistry or biology.
adding fish, adding coral, aquascaping are all practices that might cause your tank to sort itself out and get itself back on track to the stability you are fighting to achieve.

 

[exnisstech]

I think your misunderstanding.
I have 3 tanks running. No automation except ato. I dose manually. Run no skimmers so I have very budget friendly tanks. I say keep your hands out and let the tank mature. Money spent on equipment doesn't make a tank succesful. It's the reefer along with a lot of patience and a little luck that brings success in the hobby.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

it needs to mature for sps , nems etc”

You are starting your own ecosystem. In the beggining it is unstable. Adding organisms that are used to an extremely stable enviorment (the entire ocean) to an extremely unstable enviorment will likely be the end of that organism. It's just how it is. People who are telling you this are right. There may be a few exceptions, but your ecosystem needs to mature before adding these sensitive organisms.

 

[Uncle99]

All you people that say “ keeps your hands out the tank, leave it do its thing” , it needs to mature for sps , nems etc”
You’ve all got $10s of thousands spent on equipment to run it for you .

Please bear in mind that for some of us with smaller tanks and less money to spend need to be that bit more hands on

Rant over

Best tanks I’ve ever seen had no “automation” at all.

Just a glass box with light and flow.

Ever system different!

 

[fish farmer]

I think in most cases, they're not saying let the equipment do the work for you, they're saying that people usually do too much too fast with the tank and cause problems.

So, for example, some people may test and find that their tank has slightly high phosphates - in response, they may try to lower the phosphates and end up causing them to bottom out. In trying to fix the bottomed out phosphates, they may end up spiking the nutrients and wiping out some of the tank critters, etc.

It's basically saying that a lot of the time, monitoring the tank and making small adjustments as needed until the tank largely run itself (with only very mild adjustments - such as dosing of key elements or topping up evaporated water - by the aquarist) is going to serve the tank better than making big adjustments trying to fix everything that pops up even slightly out of line.


So, perhaps a better way to say it would be something like, "Only make big, fast changes during emergencies. If it's not an emergency, make small, slow changes as needed and let the tank do the rest."

My 29 gallon is still growing coral, not a tank of the month by any means.

I haven't tested params in a couple weeks. Yesterday was 380 calcium, alk maybe 7, mag 1380. I noticed the last time I checked, numbers were similar. Kalk doser running low last night.....hope I have enough for today. I expect my alk test is off...on the dregs of a salifert kit. Amazon should have me a new one soon.

I should do a WC, but been socked with covid all weekend....glad I don't keep sticks, I assume they would all be dead.

YMMV.

 

[Uncle99]

Wish you well!

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

I haven't tested params in a couple weeks.

I can't remember the last time I tested my parameters. Every time I tested them, I found myself scrambling to dump chemicals in my tank. But now that I've left it alone, it's thriving. Corals are growing, the anemone is super happy, I got some cute filter feeders, and coralline just started. I'm 100% an advocate of "get your hands out of the tank!"

 

[fish farmer]

I can't remember the last time I tested my parameters. Every time I tested them, I found myself scrambling to dump chemicals in my tank. But now that I've left it alone, it's thriving. Corals are growing, the anemone is super happy, I got some cute filter feeders, and coralline just started. I'm 100% an advocate of "get your hands out of the tank!"

I really question test kits, so many times when I get a new kits the numbers don't match the old. I was using a salifert mag kit forever, still within expiry date, low numbers rarely over 1300. I'm trying a different company kit, similar method....pegged to 1500 for weeks.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I really question test kits, so many times when I get a new kits the numbers don't match the old. I was using a salifert mag kit forever, still within expiry date, low numbers rarely over 1300. I'm trying a different company kit, similar method....pegged to 1500 for weeks.

We question our test kits all the time, haha. That's why we don't test as much.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

After you gain enough experience you can visually see whether your parameters are off (most really experienced reefers id expect to agree). I dont think many experienced reefers would start a new tank and start adding delicate, expensive corals without testing until they felt theyd achieved stability though. Nothing is wrong with testing, just dont chase magic numbers or make too many changes too quickly as was mentioned earlier.
If youre not already experienced and starting a new tank or have a relatively new tank, i do feel testing is highly beneficial to guide you and help you learn what a tank with acceptable parameters look like. I think most would agree.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Can we hear your examples of why you think this? I keep many nano tanks and would not agree.

 

[Thunderrap]

I can't remember the last time I tested my parameters. Every time I tested them, I found myself scrambling to dump chemicals in my tank. But now that I've left it alone, it's thriving. Corals are growing, the anemone is super happy, I got some cute filter feeders, and coralline just started. I'm 100% an advocate of "get your hands out of the tank!"

Mind if I ask if you run any chemical filtration (GFO, carbon, etc.)

 

[UMALUM]

I never understood the phrase " keep your hands out of the tank ". Are there really people just splashing around for fun and not trying to accomplish a task? Just another lazy term adopted by the hobby that could be interpreted 100 different ways. I mean if someone really has to take the time to explain what the phrase means to them should they really be using it?

 

[PapaFishRocks]

But if I keep my hands out of the tank, how else will my clowns get the thrill of attacking me?!

I swear I hear them laugh after they bite me.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

I don’t believe you need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to run a successful reef. I have an auto top off and a doser for my all-for-reef that cost me $200, not “cheap” but absolutely worth the small investment for me personally, if I had the time, I wouldn’t have even gotten a doser. don’t over complicate and best of luck in the hobby, I’m sure you will have a thriving and beautiful tank one day if you stick with it (if you don’t already) if you do, i’d love to see some pics!

 

[eliaslikesfish]

But if I keep my hands out of the tank, how else will my clowns get the thrill of attacking me?!

I swear I hear them laugh after they bite me.

lol, my clowns used to be sweethearts, discovered their anemone, and now just a finger tip on the surface will get attacked by both of them relentlessly