Absolutes in Reef Keeping? Very Few!!

Stolireef · 05/10/2012, 08:46 PM

I've been reef keeping on and off since about 2003. That said, I still consider myself a newbie in many ways considering how this hobby advances. One thing I've noticed is that comments on RC often run to the 'absolute'. eg.

1. You must do X% H20 changes every Xfrequency.
2. You should never/always have a DSB.
3. It is impossible/easy to keep ... (fill in the blank)
4. Mg, Ca, Kh, SG must be kept at 1300, 420, 8.5, 1.026.
5. You must run a skimmer
6. You must/must not use mechanical filter media
6. You must dip corals
7. You must/must not use a drip method for acclimating fish

I'm sure we've all heard lots of other examples. Other than Ammonia and Nitrite must be at 0, SG above say 1.020 and less than 1.027 and that overfeeding results in a build up of nutients in a system, I'm trying to think of what I would consider absolutes. I know the methods I use and they seem successful but I've seen beautiful, long term successful tanks that are run using completely different methods.

So, what are your absolutes?

05/10/2012, 08:46 PM	#1
Stolireef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scottsdale AZ Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 5	Absolutes in Reef Keeping? Very Few!! I've been reef keeping on and off since about 2003. That said, I still consider myself a newbie in many ways considering how this hobby advances. One thing I've noticed is that comments on RC often run to the 'absolute'. eg. 1. You must do X% H20 changes every Xfrequency. 2. You should never/always have a DSB. 3. It is impossible/easy to keep ... (fill in the blank) 4. Mg, Ca, Kh, SG must be kept at 1300, 420, 8.5, 1.026. 5. You must run a skimmer 6. You must/must not use mechanical filter media 6. You must dip corals 7. You must/must not use a drip method for acclimating fish I'm sure we've all heard lots of other examples. Other than Ammonia and Nitrite must be at 0, SG above say 1.020 and less than 1.027 and that overfeeding results in a build up of nutients in a system, I'm trying to think of what I would consider absolutes. I know the methods I use and they seem successful but I've seen beautiful, long term successful tanks that are run using completely different methods. So, what are your absolutes? __________________ I want to burn twice as bright and half as long. Oh, and a full tank crash is just an excuse for a new build. Current Tank Info: 125 Rimless Leemar, Apex, Trigger 30 Elite Sump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 X Gen4 Radion XR30W, BM Doser, 2xMP40WES, 2xTunze 6095, Sicce Syncra 4.0.