3 most important things in reefkeeping

avbryce1

avbryce1

Member
I am giving a speech on reef keeping in one of my classes and one of my sources has to be a survey.
So my survey question is this... What are the three most important parts of maintaining a successful reef tank?
I say that it is...
1. Lighting
2. Stable water chemistry
3. Good water movement
Now to help me out all I need from you all is something that says that you agree or disagree and if you disagree tell why.
Thanks to all.... and the more responses that I get the better.
:)
 
jon321

jon321

Member
I disagree. I would have to say:
1) lighting
2) ideal water chemistry
3) compatible livestock
Lighting is obviously important.
I say ideal water chemistry because it doesnt matter how stable the chemistry is if it is not to the inhabitants liking/requirements. For example, a stable temperature of 90F would lead to failure while an instable temperature of 74-75F would be acceptable.
I dont think water movement is important enough for top 3 and water movement can be considered in the same catagory as ideal water chemistry. I say compaticble livestock because with coral eating fish your going to fail regardless of lighting, water chemistry, or water movement.
thats just my opinion.
Jon
 
smarls

smarls

Member
1.Patience.
2.Diligence.
3.Desire to learn.
All the other aspects (maintenance, equipment, livestock, etc) fall into place after that.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Originally Posted by smarls
1.Patience.
2.Diligence.
3.Desire to learn.
All the other aspects (maintenance, equipment, livestock, etc) fall into place after that.
:yes: I agree!
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Its more than a top 3, LOL, but I've posted my opinion a few times. I think it can be distilled down a bit. :D

[hr]
You can have a lot of money, the best equipment and more gadgets then anyone, but the most important things you need are things you can't buy.
1) patience (it takes time to do it right)
2) knowledge (read, research, ask questions, read some more)
3) patience (you can't keep a lot of fish, even if you like them...)
4) discipline (to do the work, maintenance, and for #1-3)
5) patience (it takes a long time to properly stock a salt water tank, many many months or longer)
6) humility (to admit when you've done something wrong, to know when you've forgotten about 1,3 and 5, gone out, bought a fish without doing 2, and now it is dead)
7) patience (the tank might be empty or just plain ugly while it cycles, but you have to give it time to mature)
8) responsibility (to do 1-7, to face a mistake as in 6 and learn from it)
9-99) patience (money won't get you out of most problems, 1-8 will)
100) money (for when you realize your 55 is too small and want a new tank
 
yosemite sam

yosemite sam

Active Member
Ophiura, what you wrote should be it's own sticky in the forums......and probably a sign on the door of most fish stores!!!!!
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
I always kinda liked my "Ten Easy Steps to SW Aquaria..."
*****************************************************
Ten Easy Steps...
1. Get a book...
2. Open the Book...
3. Read the Book...
4. "Comprehend" the book...
5. If step 4 isn't working...Re-read the Book...
6. Get another Book...
7. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4...(possiably 5 as well)
8. Having "grasped" the basic concepts from steps 1-7 ... "Decide" what fish you want to keep...
9. Purchase a tank sized to fit the fish you want...Rather than trying to find fish that will "fit" the tank you have...
10. Get another book...or ask questions on a board like SWF where we can help you work out your "plan"...
After that it's just water, sand, salt, and rocks...hook up your filtration, cycle the tank and add fish...
 
dskidmore

dskidmore

Active Member
1. patience
2. research
3. controllable contions (stable indoor temp, stable power supply, pure water supply, fault tolerant equiptment.)
 
57chev

57chev

Member
1) Stupidity...... thinking your an expert at mother nature, and re-creating it in a glass box.
2)Hiding the cost from your wife or girlfriend.
3)Tax deduction.
 
daytonaree

daytonaree

Member
After 10 years and thousands of dollars ,I still have yet to learn the key component in aquaria keeping. Though I know what it is I still try to push the limits and advance before time. I agree with Ophiura with that PATIENCE :happyfish is key. Learning to have it now, that is something in itself all together different. Educating yourself, that I am still doing too, reading, conversing, and listening, and admitting that even though its the coolest thing you've ever seen it may not be a good idea to buy it until you know its different needs and compatiability, instead of impulse purchases i.e.,....(patience). :)
 
ctgretzky9

ctgretzky9

Member
Originally Posted by 57chev
1) Stupidity...... thinking your an expert at mother nature, and re-creating it in a glass box.
2)Hiding the cost from your wife or girlfriend.
3)Tax deduction.
Best top 3 yet i have to say
:joy:
 
msd2

msd2

Active Member
I’m not so sure you can really put a rank order on what is most important, but you definitely can make a list of requirements for a tank. Reason I say you really cannot make a hierarchical list is that like any ecosystem the destruction of any one part inevitably leads to the demise of the entire system. For example, I can have pristine water but w/o light the coral may starve eventually fouling the water causing a cascade of destruction. If I have great lighting but poor water the coral cannot extract from the water what is needed to sustain its structure. I would look at it the same way as if asking you, what’s more important for your sustained existence air water or food. All that being said I would put in the most critical component category lighting, stable viable water, balance. Balance being animals and filtration (lr etc).
 
ty_05_f

ty_05_f

Active Member
Originally Posted by sw65galma
1) Water quality is by far the most important
2) Knowledge
3) Patience

I agree
 
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