How do you gauge your tank success?

A lot of people look for different things in their tank to gauge success. I'm not talking testing numbers with prameters and such....
I gauge my tank success on the condition of my livestock like inverts and such (especially my coco worm ) and growth of corals.
I posted a thread not too long ago about a coral ID, it was for an SPS. Since I posted that ~2 weeks ago I've seen marked growth already wich makes me excited. Its got good polyp extension etc. My livestock is all doing well, fish are healthy and alert and inverts are very active.

How about you?

 

I agree. Its all about how happy my livestock is. But I really love an algae free tank with clean sand as well. I am happy with how my tanks have progressed, but I still have a ways to go in my opinion. But whats the fun in this hobby without getting wet every once and a while.

 

Exactly!

 

Everything is still alive when I wake up each morning..












No that's a good indicator but I gauge my success by a few different things. Coralline growth, coral growth, lack of nuisance algaes, new life appearing and multiplying. Which btw I found a xmas tree worm with a purple crown last nite! I have red and white ones and now a purple.

Good topic Whippy! Will be interesting to read everyones different thoughts

 

It's just something I was sitting at the tank thinking about.

I mean really, testing only tells you so much so I figured why not ask?!

 

this might be wierd but my first indicator is how quickly i get algae on the glass.

 

+1... actually i judge it by consistency. if everything is the same from day to day then things are good. lack of cyano, film algae growing slow. montiporas exploding with growth (they are great indicators because of how fast the grow)

 

longevity of my livestock.

 

when i wake up and my fish are alive, my inverts are happy, my algae is on lockdown, parameters in check, equipment humming away without problem, and there isnt anything sucked into a powerhead

 

How much I spend on replacing dead livestock with same or equivalent ones.