When does a reef start managing itself?

[danenelsen]

Hello everyone,

I've recently been thinking about when a reef starts to manage itself. The ocean is just a giant reef tank (kind of) and it balances all the chemicals for itself, so when does a reef aquarium start doing the same thing? 75 gallons? 200? 1000? 20000? Never?

 

[Ken101Ward]

Hello everyone,

I've recently been thinking about when a reef starts to manage itself. The ocean is just a giant reef tank (kind of) and it balances all the chemicals for itself, so when does a reef aquarium start doing the same thing? 75 gallons? 200? 1000? 20000? Never?

It never does!

 

[Stephen8169301]

Hello everyone,

I've recently been thinking about when a reef starts to manage itself. The ocean is just a giant reef tank (kind of) and it balances all the chemicals for itself, so when does a reef aquarium start doing the same thing? 75 gallons? 200? 1000? 20000? Never?

An ocean can replenish all the resources our reef tanks can’t hence why you see these apex systems dosing setups ect so I’d say never because even then we still have to create an environment for a safe place for pods

 

[Lavey29]

Once the tank has the proper biome and stability it does become much more balanced and predictable but never really runs on auto pilot all the time. This is part of the challenging fun of the hobby.

 

[billyocean]

I've let the reef manage itself before..lol...not good. Things get somewhat predictable but change with additions or explosions of growth. Having a lot of acros is the hardest thing to stay on top of so far.

 

[ReefEco]

Definitely never - too small of a water volume to ever be hands off. Even when I worked at the Steinhart Aquarium, the amount of maintenance and filtration on the 200,000+g reef was incredible...

 

[Evil1]

As mentioned above it never will. Gets a little easier but never self contained. I’m glad it won’t. I love the challenge. Yes we all strive to get everything perfect but in my opinion there is nothing more satisfying then admiring and being proud of a well maintained reef. Hard work YES. Frustrating at times YES but we’ll worth it. If it was easy everyone would do it.

 

[JaaxReef]

When it is plumbed into the ocean with constant 100% water exchange. Ha!

 

[Filipino Reefer]

Never

 

[Macdaddynick1]

When you give up!

 

[bushdoc]

When it is plumbed into the ocean with constant 100% water exchange. Ha!

Not such a ridiculous idea. I had a friend when i lived in South Africa, who did that.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Not such a ridiculous idea. I had a friend when i lived in South Africa, who did that.

Lol! I had thought about that awhile back, but hate to burst the bubble, you will still have to do work, just not as many test no water changes and no dosing.