confusing numbers

[smitten with ocean life]

ive got a genuine question. not trying to pick apart anyones answer.... what is the difference between chasing a number on your parameters or it actually being out of whack? different times when ive asked about some of my numbers ive been told its just a number dont chase it. and the next person will tell you that the number is way too high (or low). is it best to just go by how things are looking in the tank? curious to know you thoughts!

 

[TX_REEF]

it really depends what "number" you're talking about. Do you have an example?

But yes, generally speaking, if everything in your tank is healthy - leave it alone

 

[smitten with ocean life]

ok! heres my numbers. sal.-1.025, nitrate-48.2, alk.-7.0, phos.-.16, cal.-481. i dont dose anything. i know some of those numbers are high to some people and some are kinda low

 

[TX_REEF]

ok! heres my numbers. sal.-1.025, nitrate-48.2, alk.-7.0, phos.-.16, cal.-481. i dont dose anything. i know some of those numbers are high to some people and some are kinda low

Those numbers seem ok to me, except nitrate and phosphate a bit high. None of those figures are problematic though unless there is a visible issue you are trying to diagnose. Elevated N and P can cause excess nuisance algae growth.

 

[ryanjohn1]

Really it depends on the tank. For some those numbers would be bonkers. Some they would be low.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

ok. its a mixed reef. i dont battle with algae at all. stuff seems happy, but i could step up my water changes. thats where i get confused. is that chasing a number?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Chasing numbers is a term some folks use (I do not) when they either do not like the parameter or value that you are targeting.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with any parameter being targeted, and any reasonable value being targeted, as long as you go about it in a reasonable way. Appropriate measures to attain appropriate targets never leads to problems.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

makes sense. thanks randy!

 

[Dan_P]

ok. its a mixed reef. i dont battle with algae at all. stuff seems happy, but i could step up my water changes. thats where i get confused. is that chasing a number?

I have interpreted “chasing a number” as a put down for pursuing a parameter setting for which there is no particular value, in other words, you are wasting your time. For example, suppose there is a consensus in the hobby that a reasonable parameter setting is 5 -15 ppm. Someone posts the heroic efforts to bring the 12 ppm level to 7.5 ppm. This would likely elicit “don’t chase numbers” . Also, if someone believes the hobby’s 5-15 ppm range is too restrictive, that person would regard any effort to achieve a certain level of the parameter as chasing a number. A related form of number chasing is pursuing a parameter value that is too precise relative to the test kit’s accuracy, such as, trying to achieve a nitrate level of 5.0 ppm with a kit that measures nitrate with an accuracy of +/- 2 ppm.

Hope this makes sense.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

it does. thanks!

 

[BeanAnimal]

I have always interpreted the saying (in and out of reefing) to describe the act creating instability by obsessing about stability and/or too much focus on the details and forgetting the big picture.

In context to reefing, attempting to target very specific parameters and keep them there often creates an endless cycle of overshoot or undershoot and side effects (that then too need to be addressed) that ends up causing more parameter swings and problems than it fixes... Not seeing the forest for the trees.

 

[Dan_P]

I have always interpreted the saying (in and out of reefing) to describe the act creating instability by obsessing about stability and/or too much focus on the details and forgetting the big picture.

In context to reefing, attempting to target very specific parameters and keep them there often creates an endless cycle of overshoot or undershoot and side effects (that then too need to be addressed) that ends up causing more parameter swings and problems than it fixes... Not seeing the forest for the trees.

I like this interpretation. Here’s why.

For a manufacturing process, adjusting the control knobs to tweak its performance based on the last data point is called tampering and can lead to a process that is out of control.. Regarding the reef aquarium as a process, adjustments made to the system based on the last measurement of a parameter can lead to other troubles in the aquarium. Knowing the trend of important parameters might be a cure for the temptation to tweak parameters.
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