Is there a perverbial saltwater equivalent to a canary in a coal mine? - Page 2

Playa-1 · 10/22/2007, 06:35 PM

Well this is not biological, but an electronic Canary might be an ORP Monitor. It's kinda pricey though. I don't think you want to wait till things get sick and start to die before you take action.

krzyphsygy · 10/22/2007, 07:41 PM

I could always tell when something was wong in my tank by how a Digitata looked. Usually there was fill polyp extension, when there was not. I knew some thing was up.
I trust the look of a supposably easy SPS because SPS must have the best water quality. Usually far better than most other corals. So when my SPS corals are happy, I always figured so was everything else.

uscharalph · 10/22/2007, 08:34 PM

I allways thought Xenia was a good indicator, but the specimen I had liked the water dirty. i think my water got too clean and it dissolved. LOL!!!

LauraCline · 10/22/2007, 08:51 PM

I know this sounds weird but I hardly ever test my tanks anymore, I can just tell by how they smell if something is off. If it smells like anything other than fresh clean ocean water then something is off.

fierceseaman · 10/22/2007, 10:41 PM

if you are worried about why you are not able to keep frogspawn, tell us a little more about the frogspawn you are keeping. do you get it shipped? if you have it shipped and it is damaged even slightly in transport the probability of it succumbing to Brown Jelly disease is very large. does the frogspawn just waste away? come over to the LPS keeper forum and you can learn a lot about frogspawn. it is generally a hardy coral as long as your parameters are good. if your water quality is good then i would see where you are getting your specimens from.

Savas · 10/23/2007, 08:41 AM

Fierce,

I am not worried about keeping frogspawn - I figure I will eventually be able to keep it.

I am just looking for a reliable early warning system. I have over $1,600 invested in corals in three small tanks. I am just trying to protect my investment.

Cheekymonkey · 10/23/2007, 10:01 AM

I've heard great things about open brain corals being great canaries for water changes. I've been told they will tend to shrink as the need for a water change approaches, and puff back up after one.

Cheekymonkey · 10/23/2007, 12:57 PM

I've heard great things about open brian corals beign great canaries for water changes. I've been told they will tend to shrink as the need for a water change approaches, and puff back up after one.

10/22/2007, 08:34 PM	#28
uscharalph Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,248	I allways thought Xenia was a good indicator, but the specimen I had liked the water dirty. i think my water got too clean and it dissolved. LOL!!! __________________ Ralph Mendoza Jr. Long Beach, CA Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon Reef Tank

10/22/2007, 08:51 PM	#29
LauraCline Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lutz, FL Posts: 2,017	I know this sounds weird but I hardly ever test my tanks anymore, I can just tell by how they smell if something is off. If it smells like anything other than fresh clean ocean water then something is off. __________________ People, who have lost their dreams, will try to shoot down yours. Guard that door fiercely.

10/23/2007, 08:41 AM	#31
Savas Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maryland / St. Thomas once a month Posts: 764	Fierce, I am not worried about keeping frogspawn - I figure I will eventually be able to keep it. I am just looking for a reliable early warning system. I have over $1,600 invested in corals in three small tanks. I am just trying to protect my investment. __________________ If you can get your wife hooked into reef keeping, you can spend all the money you want! Current Tank Info: 24 gallon Aquapod Nanotuners 4.32 T-5 lighting upgrade; 24 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting; 12 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting.

10/23/2007, 10:01 AM	#32
Cheekymonkey Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,211	I've heard great things about open brain corals being great canaries for water changes. I've been told they will tend to shrink as the need for a water change approaches, and puff back up after one. __________________ Joshua Solomon ORCA President 2010 Click my red house and help me with my 300G build. Current Tank Info: 300G in progress, 120G SPS/LPS Reef, 40G Mushroom/Zoa, 50G Zeroedge Clam/Gorgonian Tank Last edited by Cheekymonkey; 10/23/2007 at 10:06 AM.

10/23/2007, 12:57 PM	#33
Cheekymonkey Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,211	I've heard great things about open brian corals beign great canaries for water changes. I've been told they will tend to shrink as the need for a water change approaches, and puff back up after one. __________________ Joshua Solomon ORCA President 2010 Click my red house and help me with my 300G build. Current Tank Info: 300G in progress, 120G SPS/LPS Reef, 40G Mushroom/Zoa, 50G Zeroedge Clam/Gorgonian Tank

10/22/2007, 06:35 PM	#26
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Well this is not biological, but an electronic Canary might be an ORP Monitor. It's kinda pricey though. I don't think you want to wait till things get sick and start to die before you take action.

10/22/2007, 07:41 PM	#27
krzyphsygy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,148	I could always tell when something was wong in my tank by how a Digitata looked. Usually there was fill polyp extension, when there was not. I knew some thing was up. I trust the look of a supposably easy SPS because SPS must have the best water quality. Usually far better than most other corals. So when my SPS corals are happy, I always figured so was everything else.

10/22/2007, 10:41 PM	#30
fierceseaman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lemoore, CA Posts: 265	if you are worried about why you are not able to keep frogspawn, tell us a little more about the frogspawn you are keeping. do you get it shipped? if you have it shipped and it is damaged even slightly in transport the probability of it succumbing to Brown Jelly disease is very large. does the frogspawn just waste away? come over to the LPS keeper forum and you can learn a lot about frogspawn. it is generally a hardy coral as long as your parameters are good. if your water quality is good then i would see where you are getting your specimens from.