Reefbusters: Share your favorite reefing myths!

[stewy14]

I’d like to see and learn about a mature sps only reef tank that doesn’t require daily dosing of alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium.

well, some nano reefs dont need dosing cause of the size, for instance, my mixed reef doesn't need daily dosing, just once a week(sometimes) cause of the size being 11g

 

[stewy14]

Yes I agree But LIKE I stated I was merely responding to the Myth busters thread, that is all. Not wanting to get into scientific arguments, I do that enough on a Professional basis, Just wanted to to bust the myth that canisters Cannot work, EVERYTHING can work if you KNOW how to Utilize it. Knowledge is key. Too Much War of Religions etc what works best in this Hobby Has been for decades.

imo, I have never ever EVER seen anything saying canisters do not work, but what you put inside of it as the media...
you are not arguing anything, you are just stating something that you cannot/havent shown

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

while we are at it, one “myth” that’s sorta/kinda true is the ole “nitrate factory” diatribe….
I dunno but for whatever reason those ole skool plastic bio balls on a trickle filter did seem to elevate nitrate…

Again take your single grain of salt pill as this is something I’ve noticed but never formally studied or documented …

There were two old hypotheses for the effect of falling nitrate when removing bioballs (detritus on them and proximity or lack thereof to denitrifying zones), but here’s a possible new one copy and pasted from the Ammonia is our Friend thread:


The follow up is folks having such media might be better off removing them.

I’m reminded of and rethinking some things that happened years ago when folks with bioballs removed them and found nitrate decline. The explanations to date relates to detritus on the bio balls degrading and movement of the nitrifying processes to the outer edges of sand and rock, making it more likely for nitrate to enter and be denitrified.

But here’s a fresh take: slowing down conversion of ammonia to nitrate allowed macro organisms (such as corals) to get more ammonia and to stop wasting energy converting nitrate to ammonia, and thus had more energy to grow more. May not be true, but it is as plausible as the previous explanations.

 

[jft]

imo, I have never ever EVER seen anything saying canisters do not work, but what you put inside of it as the media...
you are not arguing anything, you are just stating something that you cannot/havent shown

You are right I am NOT here To argue.

 

[stewy14]

You are right I am NOT here To argue.

"exchange or express diverging or opposite views, typically in a heated or angry way."
the stuff you are saying is arguing, but, nobody is getting anything out of it since your are not sharing any evidence, please do share evidence if you are the only person saying that, that I have seen on the WEB
there are people here that want to see evidence of this, because this could be a "big thing" in this hobby

 

[jft]

"exchange or express diverging or opposite views, typically in a heated or angry way."
the stuff you are saying is arguing, but, nobody is getting anything out of it since your are not sharing any evidence, please do share evidence if you are the only person saying that, that I have seen on the WEB
there are people here that want to see evidence of this, because this could be a "big thing" in this hobby

I don t know why you Believe I am arguing??? The original thread ASKED what do you believe is a myth buster. I read that canisters for years INCREASED NITRATES and were a NO NO in keeping Reef tanks. Thats all! Not Saying anything other than Lots of people have used them. In My case since the 1980 s. Not much different than utilizing media reactors in My opinion. I personally have Great success with them, Others might disagree or Hate them Thats fine. Whatever works.

 

[BeanAnimal]

But here’s a fresh take: slowing down conversion of ammonia to nitrate allowed macro organisms (such as corals) to get more ammonia and to stop wasting energy converting nitrate to ammonia, and thus had more energy to grow more. May not be true, but it is as plausible as the previous explanations.

I keep wanting to set up a tent in this camp, but the understanding that the nitrifying bacteria are super efficient and grow to meet demand, and stick around hungry if demand drops (at least for a time?) makes me feel that they will outcompete anything else. I am not sure how one would setup a study to prove or disprove.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Do you remember the show MythBusters? The show was where scientists would try to prove whether a myth was real. I used to love this show as a kid, and I loved seeing all the crazy experiments the people on the show would do. I wonder what your favorite reefing myths are and if they have been busted. If they have not been busted, maybe someone can prove if they are true or not.

I made a (mostly) fish focused list of myths:

Myths and Misinformation - fish edition

These are often repeated bits of information that are perpetuated by people using old or incorrect information. Once it becomes "common knowledge" it continues to spread through the Internet, often being changed or over-simplified in the process. These are some examples of misinformation about...

www.reef2reef.com

Lots of discussion about some of my assertions not being “myths”, but I’m standing firm on them, unless there is compelling data to the contrary.

Jay

 

[OrionN]

@jft
Your words, that canister filter is of "great benefits" to a reef tank is almost certainly false. You said it but fail to determine how or why other than a reef guru, your idol used it, and so you use it (perfect requirement for a myth IMO).
It is my view that you are successful despise having a canister filter that you consistently clean for 30 years. I feel that you cleaning probably prevent it from having more detrimental effect on your tank.

About argument, we are having a discussing here, with opposing point of view, and you are the only one with all those caps on your word to emphasize what you wrote. You keep on deigning that you are arguing. You could have fool me.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I keep wanting to set up a tent in this camp, but the understanding that the nitrifying bacteria are super efficient and grow to meet demand, and stick around hungry if demand drops (at least for a time?) makes me feel that they will outcompete anything else. I am not sure how one would setup a study to prove or disprove.

I agree it is hard to prove or disprove, but removing media whose only purpose is nitrification and looking for any possible changes in appearance or parameters is a start. Possible parameters could include alk consumption rate (at stable nitrate) as a gauge of whether corals grew faster without the media.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

is the biggest myth of all- people believe in myths?? wow, this thread will make your head spin!seems like as soon as someone states what they think is a myth someone else disagrees! it is interesting though...

 

[jft]

@jft
Your words, that canister filter is of "great benefits" to a reef tank is almost certainly false. You said it but fail to determine how or why other than a reef guru, your idol used it, and so you use it (perfect requirement for a myth IMO).
It is my view that you are successful despise having a canister filter that you consistently clean for 30 years. I feel that you cleaning probably prevent it from having more detrimental effect on your tank.

About argument, we are having a discussing here, with opposing point of view, and you are the only one with all those caps on your word to emphasize what you wrote. You keep on deigning that you are arguing. You could have fool me.

WOW how do you state this Crap ? I Never Said any of that but you TWISTED my words to FIT your agenda! I NEVER said I had an Idol number one. I merely stated That an early proponent of reef tanks who had written books on invertebrates had used Eheim filters and two I stated clearly I merely replied to a thread about Myths . But You attack me for merely answering a Myth thread. Interesting.

 

[Reefering1]

is the biggest myth of all- people believe in myths?? wow, this thread will make your head spin!seems like as soon as someone states what they think is a myth someone else disagrees! it is interesting though...

I disagree with this ;-)

 

[OrionN]

Did I twisted his words everybody?
Somebody can said anything before the ink even dry

 

[Paul B]

Undergravel filters don't work in salt water.

 

[jft]

Did I twisted his words everybody?
Somebody can said anything before the ink even dry

I NOT going to argue with you Have a Nice day and reef on as you want.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Undergravel filters don't work in salt water.

Riding a horse to school...

Oh wait they invented wagons in your time!

My first SW tank had a UGF with power heads instead of bubblers. I was fancy!

 

[BeanAnimal]

Ohh and BTW Paul, even though I did not get to break bread with you last week... I don't blame you for not wanting to come into Manhattan. Other than a few great meals (Jongro, Soushi by Bou, John's on Bleeker) what a smelly mess. I always forget about that part. Lower Manhattan being unpleasant is not a myth....

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Undergravel filters don't work in salt water.

Only you, Paul LOL!.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Riding a horse to school...

Oh wait they invented wagons in your time!

My first SW tank had a UGF with power heads instead of bubblers. I was fancy!

Ummmmmmm.... I ran those back in the day. Thought those were the coolest thing....LOL!