What exactly does stable parameters mean?

[fernalfer]

Ok i always hear that if your water parameters can be kept stable your reef will thrive......

So what actually is considered stable?

Example#1- is a steady 8.5 dkh with absolutely no change from day to day considered stable?

Example#2-is a dkh that fluctuates between 8dkh-9dkh also considered stable because the swing isn't all that big?

I guess my true question is what range do you guys believe to be stable? Or within what ranges do you believe is considered stable?

 

[drawman]

Swings happen but it would be best to keep it to example 1 and monitor routinely. This is true especially for SPS.

 

[Jason mack]

As close too natural sea water as possible , but every tank is different , some want a higher alk some not .. you need too look at your corals and see how they are doing for you ..

 

[saltyhog]

8.0 to 9.0 would not be what I consider to be stable. Obviously the less change the better but mine is usually within 0.2 dKH from day to day. Most often it's much less variable than that.

 

[fernalfer]

Now is everyone keeping theirs stable via Kalkwasser or dosing?

 

[Labridaedicted]

Stability: not likely to change or fail; firmly established

I would recommend finding a level your particular system thrives on and maintain as close to that number as possible. Small swings (.2 or less in your dkh example) are ok, but always shoot for a target number.

Dosing pumps and regular testing will go a long way in maintaining stability.

 

[saltyhog]

Now is everyone keeping theirs stable via Kalkwasser or dosing?

I dose via Apex with 24 doses per day at the top of each hour for alkalinity and the bottom of the hour for calcium. I manually dose magnesium as needed (not very often).

 

[happyhourhero]

I go up and down .5 dkh every day and consider it stable. I believe everything adapts within reason.

 

[beaslbob]

Ok i always hear that if your water parameters can be kept stable your reef will thrive......

So what actually is considered stable?

Example#1- is a steady 8.5 dkh with absolutely no change from day to day considered stable?

Example#2-is a dkh that fluctuates between 8dkh-9dkh also considered stable because the swing isn't all that big?

I guess my true question is what range do you guys believe to be stable? Or within what ranges do you believe is considered stable?

You hit one of my pet peeves.

Going back to basics and looking a definitions.

Constant means unchanging.

Stable means the system has a balanced steady state it is running at. And when it deviates from the steady state it tends to return to that state.

Unstable means it deviates further from the steady state.

Neutral stability means it just stays at the deviated state.

(obviously (?) there is a "number" for stability where you have all values. Positive is stable and more positive mean more rapid return to steady state. neutral is 0. negative in unstable with higher negative numbers meaning more rapid deviation from steady state)

So in example #1 where pH is constant, it says nothing about stable. if the pH goes down and tends to return to the original value then it is stable. If it stays at the new value it is neutrally stable. if it deviates further it is unstable.

Same thing for #2 with a daily pH fluctuation. again nothing stated about the system should that fluctuation change. If the system returns to that fluctuation then it is stable. But no information is given about the system behavior.


I emphasize stability over constant. Especially with algae in the system to balance out and stabilize operation.

For instance, if something goes bump in the night and results in an ammonia increase, algae will consume that ammonia directly helping to return the system back to the previous steady state and preventing dangerous parameter cycles.

but that's just me and my .02 from an old engineer.