"Successful" is always subjective, but to me it is stability, no losses, good growth and coloration. And I realize much of what I just wrote is subjective as well. Also, my goals/expectations are not the same for my display tank vs. my frag setup.How to define " a succesful reef tank"? In the 90's? In 2020?
A mixed reef tank or an SPC only tank? Is it about fluo colours, growth rates or density , survival rates after 6 months, a year, a decade? About VLNS, LNS or HIHOS?
We do know a lot more about symbiodinium and the coral holobiont, info wich was not available in the 90's. Now we do have other reasons for doing things as we had in the 90's. We do have reasons for doing it differently. Things happen for the same reasons, we do know a lot more about why things happen. Light is still the same, how it is used and produced has changed drastic.
How to define "succesfull reefing" only taking into account light quality, spectrum, intensity, photo-period?
Starting with light intensity and dept adapted corals ( above 3m) or low light intensity adapted corals ( below 20m) or starting with capture raised corals in for growth rates optimized conditions.? What are these conditions? High growth rate = lower density.
How important are nutrient levels and nutrient availability in combination with light conditions for a "succesful reef tank"
Why in a well lit aquarium available nutrients are not always used up by photoautotrophs having the availability of a theoretic unlimited energy source? In what way this effects "succesful reefkeeping"?