Stable Parameters meaning?

[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?

[Hentz]

Stable parameters mean your parameters don't vary. If they do, it's very very little.

8-9dKH on my tank would have my Acropora protesting, "HELL NO, I WONT GROW!". So that to me is a pretty big swing.

A stable parameter in dKH for example, will not fluctuate. My tank is a consistent 7.8dKH and never higher or lower.

I'd say an acceptable swing is about .5 for Alkalinity.

Temp is the only biggest swing I have in the tank and that ranges from 79.5-80 degrees, which isn't a big swing.

And it is true, if you can keep stable parameters than your reef will thrive. I'm just about done fine-tuning my tank and it's pretty dang stable. To the point where I'm noticing growth every few days. Places where I cut my Acropora are already developing tissue and that was just 2 weeks ago.

[sde1500]

Stable, not changing. 8-9 is a big swing, and in no way I would call that stable.

[mcgyvr]

The more "stable" the better..
But some drifting is ok... 8-9dKH drift over 24-48 hours shouldn't cause a real problem but could..

Some tanks can consume 2dKH or more on a daily basis without any serious issues
And I really don't think there is a "generic" swing tolerance thats widely accepted anywhere..
So... keep it as stable as you can with the tools you have and adapt as needed..

[Sk8r]

Your salinity should not change much: this is the leeway in your ato. It's harder in small systems because of the lack of sensitivity of the ATO device. Pick a good one.
Your alkalinity should hold steady if your magnesium is above 1200: I pick 1350 as my mg number and that gives it a slow fall toward 1200. I pick 8.3 as my target alk. I try to keep calcium at 420, and this happens when I set the level, then put kalk in the ato. As long as the ro/di holds out and the kalk saturation continues at 2 tsp per gallon (which is what ro/di naturally dissolves, and nothing more) it will stay steady for me. The ato feeds in a steady dosage of kalked water, and everything stays steady ---I've been on the road for as long as a month and come back to a tank in balance.