Phosphate and chasing #'s

Discussion in 'Water Chemistry' started by chris adams, Feb 23, 2015.

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  1. chris adams

    chris adams Purple Tang

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  3. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    Rarely do we stop to think where these standard parameters come from, and even more rarely do we consider calling into question the utility of these parameters. This can lead to aquarists ‘chasing numbers’; tweaking water parameters to hit a standard goal. Often times, people think that hitting a magic number will inherently result in a better, healthier tank... Sometimes reefkeepers fall into the trap of ‘chasing numbers’ – trying to adjust water quality to reach a goldilocks zone. A major problem with this approach is that it requires an aquarist to make nearly constant alterations to water quality based on small derivations from the standard parameter ‘set point’; often these alterations are performed manually by the addition of buffers, additives and potions. With such a high maintenance methodology, sooner or later something tends to go wrong...

    Very well stated. Thanks for sharing. :)
     
  4. DSC reef

    DSC reef Giant Squid

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  5. PghSteeler

    PghSteeler Tassled File Fish

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    I think I need to bookmark this article for future references, both personal reference and other reefers on 3reef. Makes me really question some of the ideas for the 90gal build I have going on and what I should or shouldnt do.

    Thank you for sharing!
     
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  6. dienerman

    dienerman Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone

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    Very good article. Thank you for sharing it. The take home message for me is to continue to do what it is that i am doing.... looking for trends and paying attention to my tank. When algae starts to grow or things look unhappy then I need to start going through my check list, which for me usually begins with "am I over feeding?" and "do i have a build up of detritus?" and then take it from there. To be honest, I don't check my "levels" all that much any more which keeps my stress level down and my eye on the tank.
     
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  7. zesty

    zesty Sailfin Tang

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    very nice article.