What is Husbandry and how can we make it easier?
Typically one thinks as husbandry as a WC schedule
and that would be correct. Nothing wrong with that.
A good WC schedule is a strong key to the success of a system.
However some folks do not perform WCs on a frequent schedule
and appear to have success.
WC schedule though is only one of many fronts that include husbandry as I see it.
There are so many factors I will leave many out and a good place for others
to put their :2cents: in to help this come full circle and hopefully provide
a much more intimate relationship with our systems as a whole.
This is to be a nourishing benefitting type of thread.
There are as many ideas as controversies on the subject, so please respect others ideas.
Where to begin is hard, some study from the 1st thought of a system
others build on their success with experience and the shared experience of others.
I started with my stand and the tank in my most involved build
measuring and making the stand to accommodate my size and make
the top of the aquarium as desirous height to facilitate in my husbandry
as well as having the aquarium built with elbow room 1st and foremost.
The lighting is a big factor in making husbandry more pleasurable
and the more pleasurable the more often it will happen over the life of the system.
OK that's a little about how I began husbandry for that system,
but what really does husbandry involve?
There's no proper order really that I'm shooting for here.
It's all inclusive and a meter as to how intimate one wants to be in husbandry.
Observance:
A watchful eye goes a long way and is a learned character of husbandry.
One learns the affects of this and that as a result on the animals and plants.
Removal:
The typical WC. I prefer a BB and nearly daily removal, quick 1-2g WCs.
This will be different for those who prefer substrates and those who like
to keep a controlled amount of PO4 in their system.
So how often WCs are done might be measured in test results and observance
or more frequently, but never less often than that as a plan.
Cleaning the LR and other surfaces and proper use of mechanical filtration
and the method of cleaning it.
The sump, overflow and plumbing all will eventually need attention
leading to better husbandry.
Testing:
Again I will refer to Earls daily testing for ~ a month to learn your systems
usage curve of the elements you are testing for.
This will in the end result in fewer test performed due to your increased intimacy
with actions and results within the system.
Dosing:
Dosing should be done as a result of an inferior test result
in a proper amount that will sustain the system on target for that test
until the next dose at a most even target level for stability based on the usage curve learned. You should be able to dose your Ca daily or 2x/day without testing
for at least a month if you've learned the usage curve and remain within
an acceptable bracket.
Dosing solely with WCs is not the best way to stability.
Perhaps if the ASW had everything in relationship to the water quality desired
(params) it could be used this way on a more daily schedule for stability sake.
Once the reef usage increases, it is doubtful one would be capable of maintaining
all params in target solely with WCs
Equipment maintenance:
PHs need servicing more frequent than larger pumps due to algae or bio film.
Rinsing in water that would be safe to add to the aquarium would be ideal after cleaning.
O-rings should be removed, (and keeping extras of proper size on hand
I like to include as part of husbandry) gently cleaned and a trace of silicone grease
applied to keep them effective at their job. This is especially important
for those with external pumps or quick disconnect, unions or anything using
O-rings particularly external, but internal pumps can lose pressure when
the rubber or silicone O-rings age.
Many Canisters or reactors use sponge that can trap debris and foods
and too should be cleaned on a regular basis. Typically small, but a source
for waste byproducts in the water column.
HOB Overflows requiring U tubes should always have back up tubes.
They are very thin, brittle, grow algae, and slow flow. Once a hairline crack
is involved, a flood of the tank can occur. This part should never be overlooked.
RODI:
Assuming one is using proper water source, this section should describe why
it is so important, not to trust outside sources for 0 TDS water, and should test it yourself.
The water is the internal foundation of any system. The salt used builds on that foundation.
So, maintenance of the RODI system is huge when it comes to husbandry.
This includes the cartridges, meters used, RO lines, membrane(s) and resins.
There are several brands, all we're interested here is 0 TDS measured accurately!
The system sanitized and the technique by which we test the TDS also
I include in husbandry as a whole, because if we're using DI water
that has an increase in TDS, our husbandry through WCs is counterproductive.
Sure I'm leaving some things out here. I just wanted to bring attention to our husbandry
and make us think and include routine maintenance, as part of our husbandry as a whole.
Typically one thinks as husbandry as a WC schedule
and that would be correct. Nothing wrong with that.
A good WC schedule is a strong key to the success of a system.
However some folks do not perform WCs on a frequent schedule
and appear to have success.
WC schedule though is only one of many fronts that include husbandry as I see it.
There are so many factors I will leave many out and a good place for others
to put their :2cents: in to help this come full circle and hopefully provide
a much more intimate relationship with our systems as a whole.
This is to be a nourishing benefitting type of thread.
There are as many ideas as controversies on the subject, so please respect others ideas.
Where to begin is hard, some study from the 1st thought of a system
others build on their success with experience and the shared experience of others.
I started with my stand and the tank in my most involved build
measuring and making the stand to accommodate my size and make
the top of the aquarium as desirous height to facilitate in my husbandry
as well as having the aquarium built with elbow room 1st and foremost.
The lighting is a big factor in making husbandry more pleasurable
and the more pleasurable the more often it will happen over the life of the system.
OK that's a little about how I began husbandry for that system,
but what really does husbandry involve?
There's no proper order really that I'm shooting for here.
It's all inclusive and a meter as to how intimate one wants to be in husbandry.
Observance:
A watchful eye goes a long way and is a learned character of husbandry.
One learns the affects of this and that as a result on the animals and plants.
Removal:
The typical WC. I prefer a BB and nearly daily removal, quick 1-2g WCs.
This will be different for those who prefer substrates and those who like
to keep a controlled amount of PO4 in their system.
So how often WCs are done might be measured in test results and observance
or more frequently, but never less often than that as a plan.
Cleaning the LR and other surfaces and proper use of mechanical filtration
and the method of cleaning it.
The sump, overflow and plumbing all will eventually need attention
leading to better husbandry.
Testing:
Again I will refer to Earls daily testing for ~ a month to learn your systems
usage curve of the elements you are testing for.
This will in the end result in fewer test performed due to your increased intimacy
with actions and results within the system.
Dosing:
Dosing should be done as a result of an inferior test result
in a proper amount that will sustain the system on target for that test
until the next dose at a most even target level for stability based on the usage curve learned. You should be able to dose your Ca daily or 2x/day without testing
for at least a month if you've learned the usage curve and remain within
an acceptable bracket.
Dosing solely with WCs is not the best way to stability.
Perhaps if the ASW had everything in relationship to the water quality desired
(params) it could be used this way on a more daily schedule for stability sake.
Once the reef usage increases, it is doubtful one would be capable of maintaining
all params in target solely with WCs
Equipment maintenance:
PHs need servicing more frequent than larger pumps due to algae or bio film.
Rinsing in water that would be safe to add to the aquarium would be ideal after cleaning.
O-rings should be removed, (and keeping extras of proper size on hand
I like to include as part of husbandry) gently cleaned and a trace of silicone grease
applied to keep them effective at their job. This is especially important
for those with external pumps or quick disconnect, unions or anything using
O-rings particularly external, but internal pumps can lose pressure when
the rubber or silicone O-rings age.
Many Canisters or reactors use sponge that can trap debris and foods
and too should be cleaned on a regular basis. Typically small, but a source
for waste byproducts in the water column.
HOB Overflows requiring U tubes should always have back up tubes.
They are very thin, brittle, grow algae, and slow flow. Once a hairline crack
is involved, a flood of the tank can occur. This part should never be overlooked.
RODI:
Assuming one is using proper water source, this section should describe why
it is so important, not to trust outside sources for 0 TDS water, and should test it yourself.
The water is the internal foundation of any system. The salt used builds on that foundation.
So, maintenance of the RODI system is huge when it comes to husbandry.
This includes the cartridges, meters used, RO lines, membrane(s) and resins.
There are several brands, all we're interested here is 0 TDS measured accurately!
The system sanitized and the technique by which we test the TDS also
I include in husbandry as a whole, because if we're using DI water
that has an increase in TDS, our husbandry through WCs is counterproductive.
Sure I'm leaving some things out here. I just wanted to bring attention to our husbandry
and make us think and include routine maintenance, as part of our husbandry as a whole.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire