Stop the delivery

uneverno

uneverno

Active Member
Along the lines of Florida Joe's proposal https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/364269/stop-the-delivery-of-nitrates/20, I have some questions.
Part of what we do in keeping a tank is science. Part of it is also an art. In other words, we can run all the tests we want to, but if the tank doesn't smell good, something's wrong, IME.
How much do you rely on tests vs. your senses in maintaining your tank?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Let me tell you a store. I think it ties in to your question. I had two hippo tangs in quarantine. One came down with HLLE and the other with Lymphocystis. As this was the 4th week in QT and I ardently believe 6 weeks minimum is required for quarantine I had a decision to make. I went against what the norm is and went with my gut feelings. I felt the fish were better off in my DT and the other inhabitance were in no danger of contracting Lymphocystis. All turned out well the tang with the HELLI has minimal scaring and the tang with the Lymphocytes has completely recovered with no future outbreaks. I guess what I am saying is sometimes you just have to trust your gut when it comes to your tank.
Alto this did not have to do with testing I feel the same applies there
Note to tang police one of the hippos I am fostering until a friends reef tank is established.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I will say that I have only been doing this 1 year, BUT...as much as I look at my tanks, I feel I would know if something was wrong...I tested constantly at first....now....only if I think I see something out of the ordinary
 
uneverno

uneverno

Active Member
That's exactly how I feel about it.
I kept tanks for years - 25 years ago. The hobby has advanced so far since, that I felt like I was starting over when I set this one up in Feb.
It's largely the mechanical aspects of it which have changed though. We can now keep corals due to lighting improvements and the like - and I don't dismiss the scientific effort involved in that process. In the end however, a tank is still a tank.
If something feels off, it probably is.
 
kronos5

kronos5

Member
My reef tank is almost five years old and it has matured to the point that you can look in and tell if everthing is good or something is wrong. If something does not look right, then I will test.
 
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