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The most needed thing in our Hobby
Posted by
Bayou Reefkeeping Staff
,
07 October 2011
·
213 views
By: Saldarya
When we consider all of the effort that goes into this hobby, whether physical, mental, or financial, at some point you have to ask yourself, “What is the most important thing I need to do, or can do to have a successful marine aquarium?” Is there a certain piece of equipment I need, or perhaps there is something I am not testing for? Maybe I need to spend hours on end scouring reef boards searching for the things that others do that have shown proven success, or simply change things up to try something new.
Well, the good news is no to all of these!!! In fact, the single most important thing that is needed to help you have a great looking tank is something we all have access to and is free.
That one things is Patience.
Yes, I know, it is a cliché, but as we begin the magazine articles and look to share information amongst all hobbyists via this medium, I feel passionate to share with all that without having some patience when dealing with this hobby, you are doomed to suffer many mistakes that may otherwise be avoided. To that point, lets take a look at how patience can, and will, help you be more successful.
YOU CANT RUSH MOTHER NATURE
Lets start with the beginning of any marine tank, the cycle. We will not take this opportunity to discuss it in detail as there is much out there on it, but rather we need to make sure we all understand that it does take time. To that point, the average time for the cycle to complete is 4-6 weeks. Now, what about all of these new founded additives and live strains of bacteria to help speed it up??? Well, it is true that this number can be reduced by either using live bacteria or live rock from an existing tank. In fact, this can be an instant biological filter which may allow you to add fish nearly immediately. What is wrong with this you say? In short you aren’t letting the tank settle in, chemically and biologically. And that brings us to our patience part…
In an ideal world you would set your tank up as you wish and let it sit in the dark for at least 6 months. WHAT!!! you say. I didn’t say anyone would actually do this, but let me explain what a bit of patience can do for you. If the tank is set up, aquascaped, flow is adequate, skimmer is running, etc, and you let it sit dormant with no light for this period of time, you will find a level of microflora and life that you never knew existed. Copepods, Amphipods, sponges, and various other life that form the bottom and middle of a very involved food chain that when in place provides for a very stable environment, one that does not come in a bottle. Biologically and chemically speaking, the stability that your tank would gain will pay you back over years.
Now, I did try this on my current tank, (to be honest, it wasn’t some altruistic effort, I simply had a lot going on at that time) and I will tell you that because there were no fish present, the amount of microflora is pretty amazing.
I would challenge anyone on their next set up to try to let it run fallow and dark for as long as you can stand it.
WHEN PROBLEMS OCCUR
This is the area in which most hobbyist really need a bit of patience. Lets face it, no matter how good you are (or think you are), bad things will happen in your tank at some point. Some may be of your own making or not. Regardless, if you haven’t already been bitten, just hang on, it’s coming. The real question is, what do you do about it.
The good news is that there is a ton of information out there on the internet as well as through local clubs and other hobbyist. Most have been through what you are dealing with. The real problem is that most want to see results NOW.
Lets assume a hair algae outbreak in your tank (we all get it). You will receive a ton of advice surrounding water quality, excessive nutrients, light issues, etc. All or some of them may be correct, so you arm your self with a meth lab level of chemical choices, plastic goggles, and a toilet scrub brush and you head into war. Hours later, the rock is bare of all algae, you arms are permanently wet, and your spouse asks you why it smells like high tide on Long Island. All that said though, the tank looks great and you feel satisfied. Fast forward 1 week, and it is all back.
WHY??? you scream. Let me challenge you that when problems occur in your tank, you need to systematically and methodically attack the issues one at a time and give the effort you are giving time to work. Lets say in our example above that you decide to add GFO to your system. You will find that your phosphate levels will drop pretty quickly, hopefully impacting algae growth. That being said, are you prepared to monitor those levels over time and see if the impact of the GFO is really what is helping you? Perhaps you are having some problems with SPS corals suffering from burnt tips. You receive information that it may be that you have alkalinity issues in your tank. Are you prepared to make those adjustments to your tank, monitor them every few days, and sit back and see the impact on your corals over the period of months? Or are you apt to change a number of things all at once and hope for the best?
I assure you that what ever problems you may experience in your tank (perhaps short of the 3-year-old pouring a bottle of bleach into your sump), they did not develop overnight. To that point, it is not likely that you will resolve them overnight. Be patient, understand what you are trying to achieve and look to see your results.
BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND
Finally, the ultimate culmination of patience in this hobby is to have a plan, and execute it. I know, I know, most of the time we are all just excited to get the tank build going, get some water in it, and then we will figure it out. We are all guilty of this. That being said, if you truly want a world-class marine aquarium, especially a reef tank, you must have a plan and allow it to develop.
Ask yourself what type of fish do I want? What types of coral? Not only will this help you determine the type of equipment you will need, but it will provide you focus and direction. Once you are set up, envision the tank once it has grown in. All of those little 1″ SPS frags placed 3″ apart will not work I assure you. Battle will ensue and you will lose most of them. Are you placing that Nepthea in a spot where it will grow into that prized Acropora?? How about placing that VERY aggressive Elegance near your beautiful Acan garden. Sure does look pretty now, but what about in 1 year when the Elegance has killed all of those Acans.
Before you even begin the Aquascape, see in your minds eye what you want it to be. Perhaps even sketch it out. When you are ready, place your frags and small pieces in place and nurture them. Have patience with them and let them grow to large colonies. This is one of the signs of a truly succesful reef keeper. Do you have coral colonies or just a bunch of chips on frag plugs everywhere?
Once all pieces are in motion, let it be. Let it grow, let it mature, let it develop. The best part about this stage is now is a great time to start a new tank!!!
There is an old saying in the hobby that rings true even today. “Nothing good happens fast in this hobby”
Take this to heart and have some patience as you approach your tank. It is the one thing we all can have, yet it is the most difficult to master.
When we consider all of the effort that goes into this hobby, whether physical, mental, or financial, at some point you have to ask yourself, “What is the most important thing I need to do, or can do to have a successful marine aquarium?” Is there a certain piece of equipment I need, or perhaps there is something I am not testing for? Maybe I need to spend hours on end scouring reef boards searching for the things that others do that have shown proven success, or simply change things up to try something new.
Well, the good news is no to all of these!!! In fact, the single most important thing that is needed to help you have a great looking tank is something we all have access to and is free.
That one things is Patience.
Yes, I know, it is a cliché, but as we begin the magazine articles and look to share information amongst all hobbyists via this medium, I feel passionate to share with all that without having some patience when dealing with this hobby, you are doomed to suffer many mistakes that may otherwise be avoided. To that point, lets take a look at how patience can, and will, help you be more successful.
YOU CANT RUSH MOTHER NATURE
Lets start with the beginning of any marine tank, the cycle. We will not take this opportunity to discuss it in detail as there is much out there on it, but rather we need to make sure we all understand that it does take time. To that point, the average time for the cycle to complete is 4-6 weeks. Now, what about all of these new founded additives and live strains of bacteria to help speed it up??? Well, it is true that this number can be reduced by either using live bacteria or live rock from an existing tank. In fact, this can be an instant biological filter which may allow you to add fish nearly immediately. What is wrong with this you say? In short you aren’t letting the tank settle in, chemically and biologically. And that brings us to our patience part…
In an ideal world you would set your tank up as you wish and let it sit in the dark for at least 6 months. WHAT!!! you say. I didn’t say anyone would actually do this, but let me explain what a bit of patience can do for you. If the tank is set up, aquascaped, flow is adequate, skimmer is running, etc, and you let it sit dormant with no light for this period of time, you will find a level of microflora and life that you never knew existed. Copepods, Amphipods, sponges, and various other life that form the bottom and middle of a very involved food chain that when in place provides for a very stable environment, one that does not come in a bottle. Biologically and chemically speaking, the stability that your tank would gain will pay you back over years.
Now, I did try this on my current tank, (to be honest, it wasn’t some altruistic effort, I simply had a lot going on at that time) and I will tell you that because there were no fish present, the amount of microflora is pretty amazing.
I would challenge anyone on their next set up to try to let it run fallow and dark for as long as you can stand it.
WHEN PROBLEMS OCCUR
This is the area in which most hobbyist really need a bit of patience. Lets face it, no matter how good you are (or think you are), bad things will happen in your tank at some point. Some may be of your own making or not. Regardless, if you haven’t already been bitten, just hang on, it’s coming. The real question is, what do you do about it.
The good news is that there is a ton of information out there on the internet as well as through local clubs and other hobbyist. Most have been through what you are dealing with. The real problem is that most want to see results NOW.
Lets assume a hair algae outbreak in your tank (we all get it). You will receive a ton of advice surrounding water quality, excessive nutrients, light issues, etc. All or some of them may be correct, so you arm your self with a meth lab level of chemical choices, plastic goggles, and a toilet scrub brush and you head into war. Hours later, the rock is bare of all algae, you arms are permanently wet, and your spouse asks you why it smells like high tide on Long Island. All that said though, the tank looks great and you feel satisfied. Fast forward 1 week, and it is all back.
WHY??? you scream. Let me challenge you that when problems occur in your tank, you need to systematically and methodically attack the issues one at a time and give the effort you are giving time to work. Lets say in our example above that you decide to add GFO to your system. You will find that your phosphate levels will drop pretty quickly, hopefully impacting algae growth. That being said, are you prepared to monitor those levels over time and see if the impact of the GFO is really what is helping you? Perhaps you are having some problems with SPS corals suffering from burnt tips. You receive information that it may be that you have alkalinity issues in your tank. Are you prepared to make those adjustments to your tank, monitor them every few days, and sit back and see the impact on your corals over the period of months? Or are you apt to change a number of things all at once and hope for the best?
I assure you that what ever problems you may experience in your tank (perhaps short of the 3-year-old pouring a bottle of bleach into your sump), they did not develop overnight. To that point, it is not likely that you will resolve them overnight. Be patient, understand what you are trying to achieve and look to see your results.
BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND
Finally, the ultimate culmination of patience in this hobby is to have a plan, and execute it. I know, I know, most of the time we are all just excited to get the tank build going, get some water in it, and then we will figure it out. We are all guilty of this. That being said, if you truly want a world-class marine aquarium, especially a reef tank, you must have a plan and allow it to develop.
Ask yourself what type of fish do I want? What types of coral? Not only will this help you determine the type of equipment you will need, but it will provide you focus and direction. Once you are set up, envision the tank once it has grown in. All of those little 1″ SPS frags placed 3″ apart will not work I assure you. Battle will ensue and you will lose most of them. Are you placing that Nepthea in a spot where it will grow into that prized Acropora?? How about placing that VERY aggressive Elegance near your beautiful Acan garden. Sure does look pretty now, but what about in 1 year when the Elegance has killed all of those Acans.
Before you even begin the Aquascape, see in your minds eye what you want it to be. Perhaps even sketch it out. When you are ready, place your frags and small pieces in place and nurture them. Have patience with them and let them grow to large colonies. This is one of the signs of a truly succesful reef keeper. Do you have coral colonies or just a bunch of chips on frag plugs everywhere?
Once all pieces are in motion, let it be. Let it grow, let it mature, let it develop. The best part about this stage is now is a great time to start a new tank!!!
There is an old saying in the hobby that rings true even today. “Nothing good happens fast in this hobby”
Take this to heart and have some patience as you approach your tank. It is the one thing we all can have, yet it is the most difficult to master.
