Discussion of the week ~Myths~

[mojoreef]

Alrighty as requested this weeks topic is Aquarium and reef tank myths. What kind of inhabitants are said to be unsafe but folks have had sucess with? What are some of the myths? Does Spanky really have gills?

Lets hear it folks what are your experences.


Mike

[Junkzoo]

Originally posted by mojoreef
What are some of the myths? Does Spanky really have gills?

Mike, i shudder to think,,,,,,,

will try to think up some other myths tho,,,,i worked at/for and co-owned a LFS b4,,,i oughta come up with something

[Reedman]

Myth #1 - Reefkeeping can be done on a budget

Yeah right, if you are Bill Gates!

I know there are others, I just thought I'd throw that out there since I have seen several threads lately asking about costs. I say if you are asking, you probably don't want to go there.

[ShirleyM]

Myth #2: Successful reefing can happen without the expensive books people recommend.

[Spanky]

Here's a few:

That deep sands beds are inherently different than a big rock.

That UV's will kill everything in your water.

That there's anyway in the world a glass box can mimic the ocean.

That corals can be fed their wild quality and quantity of food in a glass box.

That somehow using NSW will prevent "old tank syndrome".

That farming live stock will somehow save the ocean.

That a fish's ultimate size is not dictated by husbandry.

That the caulerpa problem in California was actually caused by hobbyists.

I'll think of more later.

OH one more

That a certain Dr. knows which end to sit on.

[mojoreef]

Spanky u know I love ya....just love ya

oh and on that Dr. sitting problem I think you dont really know the complexity of that problem. I would like to see you figure out how to do it.

[Spanky]

ROTFL

[gregt]

Cool topic!

Just a few off the top of my head...

• SPS are for advanced reefkeepers only
• MH are required to keep SPS healthy
• Coral are more difficult to keep than fish
• Bigger is better (In reference to fish size for the dirty minded)
• The 4 tangs in your tank are hanging out together because they are "buddies"

[mapster]

Natural sunlight creates micro-algea blooms.

Although it may be difficult to position the tank to recieve enough, what could be better then natural sunlight?

[mojoreef]

ok we got some pretty bold statements here folks. I think we need some back up. SO although I do believe, I will play devils advocate. So here goes a few random questions.

Spank your first.
1. DSB is the same as a big rock, well yes it has all the same benefits BUT does it have the same ammount????
2. The NSW versus old tank syndrome. Doesnt it help, not cause as much pollution?? maybe delay?? what is your version of the cause of Old tank Syndrome??

Greg
1. MH are not needed to keep sps. now that is a blanket statement. did u mean you can keep every type of SPS with out MH, keep them healthy colorful and growning or were u talking about a selctive few.????
2. SPS are not for beginers, are u saying that it could be your first coral?? that they are as easy as Mushrooms?? or what.

Mapster. Are u saying that natural sunlight coming in through your window will not cause algae blooms??Are u saying in a certain part of the country??




MIke

[Spanky]

1. DSB is the same as a big rock, well yes it has all the same benefits BUT does it have the same ammount????

For reference see Greg's #4 myth above. (yes)

what is your version of the cause of Old tank Syndrome??

There's a whole lot more going on than just metals. Think of it this way, if it was just metals - why do people's tanks crash down here.
Organics and the ability of the cal. materials to bind and/or host that process, is the biggest problem.

[mojoreef]

Ok spank i can live with the OTS but not going to let u off on the others. .... come on lets hear it.....take a day ...what ever u need.



Mike

[mojoreef]

Come on Greg I see you lurking out thier.


mike

[gregt]

1. MH are not needed to keep sps. now that is a blanket statement. did u mean you can keep every type of SPS with out MH, keep them healthy colorful and growning or were u talking about a selctive few.????

Whoa there. What you've said goes a bit further than what I said. Of course there are caveats to the statement, but in general, you can have good looking SPS without MH. I've got plenty of pics to prove it.

2. SPS are not for beginers, are u saying that it could be your first coral?? that they are as easy as Mushrooms?? or what.

Again, you're stretching my statement pretty far. I'm simply saying that they aren't as difficult as "the elite" like to pretend they are.

[mojoreef]

LOL greg me stretching it just stirring the pot brother, something I love to do.

I agree that SPS are not as hard to keep as alot of folks make them out to be. What I have found from personal experence is that they require very good water quality and are not very good at handling sways in parameters. I think this is why folks end up with SPS instead of starting with them. A tank needs to mature so that the swings in parameters are not thier anymore. IMHO this willnot happen for at least 6 months to a years for most beginers.

On the lighting thing. I have also kept SPS under both MH and other. IMHO most will live, some will thrive, but MH is something that they just seem to love.


mike