Although a fish tank is by its very definition an artificial enviroment we can do a lot to make it as natural as possible. I dont mean just making it pretty with plants and nice rocks - I am talking about the conditions for biological process.
Many reefkeepers invest in hugle expensive mechanical filters, I've done so myself, and buy all sorts of stuff to put in them. Bio-Balls, filter pads, charcoal, phosphate removers etc. All have a place in fishkeeping - but are they really necessary? Are they even desirable?
I believe that simple, low-tech solutions can be found to almost all of the problems reefkeepers are likely to encounter by following as natural a route as possible. Using 'live' substrates and aquascaping. Fresh seawater for water changes. Encouraging macro-algal growth. Employing a clean-up crew. All these will greatly enhance the effectiveness of the nitrate cycle and improve water quality far better than any mechanical filter can hope to acheive over any period of time.
In addition, it cannot be underestimated how much easier the maintenance of a 'natural' aquarium is. Filters clog up rapidly and if the cleaning regime is neglected the filter itself will act as a nitrate bank, it may even 'go bad' and dump toxic sulpher dioxide into the tank causing a wipeout. The more stuff you have plugged into your tank - the more work is required to keep it functioning and the more disastrous it is when they fail!
I really like this blog Gary, well done.
ReplyDeleteYou said: Many reefkeepers invest in hugle expensive mechanical filters, I've done so myself, and buy all sorts of stuff to put in them. Bio-Balls, filter pads, charcoal, phosphate removers etc. All have a place in fishkeeping - but are they really necessary? Are they even desirable?
ReplyDeleteMy reply: completely agree - some aquarists rattle off a long list of expensive equipment much of which they don't really need - somethimes it's almost like a 'status label'. I think much of this merely reflects a lack of understanding of the needs of various biological processes in order to achieve balanced, healthy and therefore sustainable plant and animal life in the long term within a tank. It's almost as if "If I throw enough money at it then it will surely come out right".
What is the amount of seawater in your tank? How much of this do you replenish and how often?
ReplyDeleteMy tank holds 50 gallons with nothing else in it - approx 25% is taken up by rocks and sand leaving around 37.5 gallons of water.
ReplyDeleteI rarely carry out significant water changes. Probably no more than 5% every 2 months or so. About 0nce a fortnight, if I remember, I add a little 'Salifert All In One' reef supplement, mainly to ensure sufficient calcium and strontium etc for corraline algae growth.
Reefkeeping has diverged on 2 broad lines over the last 5 years or so. Extreme High Tec with calcium reactors, complicated filters, computerised controls and drip feeds, all sorts of expensive gizmos. On the other hand there are extreme low-tech relying almost entirely on refugium sumps to carry out fitration and maintain healthy conditions. Its pretty obvious that I lean towards the latter. Both can acheive spectacular results and both also have disaster stories.
I dont use a sump at present - my bio-load is light enough for biological process to occur in the display tank. if I wanted to keep more fish i'd have to expand the system. I do have plans to do this, but I'm reluctant to disturb my current set-up. I want to see how it developes over another year or so. I guess I want to prove myself right - that its possible to create a balanced small-scale and diverse native marine habitat with little human effort and low-tech equipment.