Biology vs Technology

[Trevorreilly73]

Hello Reefers!
Long time visitor of the form, now taking the time to ask the question. So I am relatively new to the marine aquarium stuff (7mths in). I have watched far too much videos on everything reef related!
I have a nano cube tank (75L or 20g).
Mixed reef, 2 x clowns, 1 x goby, 1 x snail. Pic for reference.

I don't do any water changes! I am dosing All for Reef for calcium etc..
My tank is sitting at 20ppm Nitrate and everything is happy as can be. Not to say I am doing it correctly but I have not lost a single coral or fish.

So my question is really about peoples experience/opinion? I am very much a "hands off" person, let the bacteria, micro organisms do their job. Would love to hear people on how they approach the marine hobby

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Biology and technology are both needed. Is there a specific context where one chooses between them?

I more often hear folks ask about biology vs chemistry to solve problems with nutrients and such.

 

[Double monti 61]

It works but you have to pay attention I only use hang on back filters and a HOB protein skimmer and a 2 gallon water change every week. 15 gallon tank.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I'm just the opposite. I'm a hands on person. THAT being said, I'm not adverse to having just about as much automation in place in case I have to leave the house for an extended period of time. I'm close to retirement and I plan on traveling. SO YAY TECH!

 

[Double monti 61]

Left tank for 5 days last summer only 1 gallon water bottle with slow drip for makeup water windows open no a/c my one fish was happy and healthy and the coral were doing very well upon my return home

 

[PharmrJohn]

Left tank for 5 days last summer only 1 gallon water bottle with slow drip for makeup water windows open no a/c my one fish was happy and healthy and the coral were doing very well upon my return home

That is very cool! We'll be taking many of those. Also month long excursions to Europe. Never been there. Want to see it all.

 

[Sump Crab]

I don't dose at all and never qt. I love Hitchhiker's and pests! I do minimal water changes once every few months. I just let nature do it's thing! Ocean rock, skimmer, and refugium.

 

[Trevorreilly73]

Biology and technology are both needed. Is there a specific context where one chooses between them?

I more often hear folks ask about biology vs chemistry to solve problems with nutrients and such.

I guess it's really from a beginners stand point where all these extra pieces of equipment add a substantial cost and how much of said equipment is really necessary

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I guess it's really from a beginners stand point where all these extra pieces of equipment add a substantial cost and how much of said equipment is really necessary

That’s a very different question, and the answer depends on what you mean by technology,

Technology (not counting lights and pumps) makes work easier for the aquarist, but does not generally accomplish things you cannot otherwise do yourself. This includes things like controllers and dosing pumps, etc.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I don't dose at all and never qt. I love Hitchhiker's and pests! I do minimal water changes once every few months. I just let nature do it's thing! Ocean rock, skimmer, and refugium.

Of course, there are many organisms that you likely cannot get to thrive without any dosing or water changes. Alkalinity and calcium, in particular, will fall below natural and acceptable levels if there is any significant amount of coralline algae or hard corals.

 

[fish farmer]

I guess it's really from a beginners stand point where all these extra pieces of equipment add a substantial cost and how much of said equipment is really necessary

That’s a very different question, and the answer depends on what you mean by technology,

Technology (not counting lights and pumps) makes work easier for the aquarist, but does not generally accomplish things you cannot otherwise do yourself. This includes things like controllers and dosing pumps, etc.

When I started reefing many years ago, I did a lot of DIY dosing/ATO, built my own refuge sump...so basic tech doesn't need to be expensive. I use plug in light timers to control things.

Like RHF stated tech can do the daily tasks that you can do manually but make it easier to set it and forget it. Although tech needs to be cleaned/monitored/updated.

Yesterday I went fishing for most of the day, 6 am to 6 pm, came home exhausted. The only thing I did to my tank was feed the fish and glance at the sump levels. My automation takes care of daily tasks. I have planned weekend tasks today or tomorrow.

 

[Sump Crab]

Of course, there are many organisms that you likely cannot get to thrive without any dosing or water changes. Alkalinity and calcium, in particular, will fall below natural and acceptable levels if there is any significant amount of coralline algae or hard corals.

QT and dosing are massively overrated in this hobby IMO. Sure I don't try SPS but everything else seems to do prettty good.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

QT and dosing are massively overrated in this hobby IMO. Sure I don't try SPS but everything else seems to do prettty good.

Overrated is a value judgement that can never be proven right or wrong,, but I think to claim that dosing of alkalinity in some fashion is not useful in reef tanks trying to keep hard corals growing rapidly is an opinion that I do not share.

 

[Sump Crab]

Overrated is a value judgement that can never be proven right or wrong,, but I think to claim that dosing of alkalinity in some fashion is not useful in reef tanks trying to keep hard corals growing rapidly is an opinion that I do not share.

As I said, I don't attempt sps. I am well aware that sps will not work for me. But the idea that everyone in the hobby needs to dose in order to have a successful, and beautiful tank full of LPS, softies, and nems is false.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

As I said, I don't attempt sps. I am well aware that sps will not work for me. But the idea that everyone in the hobby needs to dose in order to have a successful, and beautiful tank full of LPS, softies, and nems is false

Since soft corals and anemones consume no alkalinity, that is certainly true for them. That aside, there are many processes and procedures that add alkalinity that do not include normal dosing of alk supplements, and I'm not sure what all ways your tank may be using, but growing LPS consume alkalinity and somehow it needs to be replaced.

Your build thread does not seem to include info about top off water, foods fed, water changes, etc, all things that can provide alkalinity, but may not in the general case.

 

[Sump Crab]

Since soft corals and anemones consume no alkalinity, that is certainly true for them. That aside, there are many processes and procedures that add alkalinity that do not include normal dosing of alk supplements, and I'm not sure what all ways your tank may be using, but growing LPS consume alkalinity and somehow it needs to be replaced.

Your build thread does not seem to include info about top off water, foods fed, water changes, etc, all things that can provide alkalinity, but may not in the general case.

I think it's mostly the water changes. I guess my whole point to this is that you do not need to test or dose to have a successful tank. The general sentiment in the hobby is that testing and dosing are critical, if not required. I get it, some people geek out on all the numbers - and that's cool. I also concede to the fact that dosing would just make my corals grow even faster. In the end I just prefer a simpler style of reefing.

 

[Formulator]

I don't dose at all and never qt. I love Hitchhiker's and pests! I do minimal water changes once every few months. I just let nature do it's thing! Ocean rock, skimmer, and refugium.

This might work if you don’t keep many corals but “nature doing its thing” can’t magically create elements (Alk, Ca, Mg) used up by growing corals.

 

[Sump Crab]

This might work if you don’t keep many corals but “nature doing its thing” can’t magically create elements (Alk, Ca, Mg) used up by growing corals.

Water changes...

 

[Formulator]

Water changes...

Water changes every few months they said. That won’t do it.

 

[Sump Crab]

Water changes every few months they said. That won’t do it.

Works for me lol 20 years in hobby proves it. Build thread does to lol.