5 Easy steps to a healthy reef!

Hi,

I was browsing the latest catalog sent to me by a couple of Drs. or
somebody :-)

Seems it contains an article of how to set up a healthy and successful
reef aquarium in 5 easy fool proof steps. No advanced knowledge or
experience necessary (they actually say that!)

Silly me, here I've been reading, learning, struggling, discovering for
2.5 years, only to still be a novice, whereas I could have a killer
display reef, had I just follwed these 5 simple steps.

All sorts of neat stuff they include, like 19 fish in a 46 gallon
bowfront (added in two batches) in addition to the corals. No
quarantining of live stock. 96 watts of PC is sufficient (for only about
$120 available on page number...) I especially like the epilogue, not
included as one of the 5 steps: Feed twice a day and dose calcium,
buffer, and a few other things.

Wow! All the guess work removed. THANKS GUYS. And I can buy all these
miracle products right there from those pages.

I recently placed an order from the Dr's, and was a bit surprised when my
order included an AOL free trial cd. I don't know about anyone else, but
that bothered me.

-Rick

On Mon, 9 Sep 2003, Phil wrote:

Hi,

I was browsing the latest catalog sent to me by a couple of Drs. or
somebody :-)

Seems it contains an article of how to set up a healthy and successful
reef aquarium in 5 easy fool proof steps. No advanced knowledge or
experience necessary (they actually say that!)

Silly me, here I've been reading, learning, struggling, discovering for
2.5 years, only to still be a novice, whereas I could have a killer
display reef, had I just follwed these 5 simple steps.

All sorts of neat stuff they include, like 19 fish in a 46 gallon
bowfront (added in two batches) in addition to the corals. No
quarantining of live stock. 96 watts of PC is sufficient (for only about
$120 available on page number...) I especially like the epilogue, not
included as one of the 5 steps: Feed twice a day and dose calcium,
buffer, and a few other things.

Wow! All the guess work removed. THANKS GUYS. And I can buy all these
miracle products right there from those pages.


--

"The person who can smile when
things go wrong has thought of
someone he or she can blame it on"

Are you guys saying this does not work?
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/g...al_pagesid=206
Please let me know, because I am in the process of tearing down my FW tank
to convert to this.

Please advise...

its actually not all that horiable, at least the one on the web, I dont have the printed
version handy

but it is biased, and I would add that skimmer first thing, it wont work right away, but
itll be because both the tank and the skimmer are not ready, I dislike the thought of
getting the skimmer after you need it, when it takes a while for the skimmer to really
work.

there are 5 "easy steps" but at least what I was looking at the "steps" were weeks with
sub "steps" that you also had to follow.

If one was to follow those one should have a fairly good reef

I also dont see the 19 fish but instead a pick (x) from these (y) that gets you a medium
sized bio load.

with the single exception

****DO NOT GET THE YELLOW TANG ON A SMALL TANK IT NEEDS SWIMING ROOM YOU WONT HAVE IT****

in case you didnt read that corectly NO YELLOW TANG !!!!!


so have at it
--
Richard Reynolds

I havent seen the online version, but the printed catalog absolutely
indicates 19 fish. "Step 5: Add fish. Our example includes:" and then
lists 12 fish. Later in that step, it says wait 2 weeks then add the
following additional fish, and lists 7 more (including the yellow Tang).
In both additions of fish, some species have multiple specimens, ie 3
clownfish, and 6 green chromis. So clearly they are indicating a head
count, not a list to select from.

***ok, i just went to the online version, you're correct, they recommend
selecting from a list, but in the catalog, NOT, they recommend 19 fish!
****

This is in addition to a boat load of corals.

As for its validity, yes it is a general outline of the process, but 19
fish is ridiculous, and they should not be added in huge amounts at once,
and they should be quarantined.

The lighting they recommend _may_ be adequate for the corals they've
selected. MUCH more would be more appropriate, and necessary for any
other species. I have a 46 gallon bowfront fish only, and I've looked
into upgrading the lighting to reef it, and my estimate is no less than
$450 for anything substantial. (I do have a nano reef, so I have some
reef experience. but even my FOWLR is more hassle than this article lets
on)

Also, no mention of powerheads or why you need circulation. Maybe thats
included in the bowfront with built in filtration, but the point is, one
needs to know why these things are necessary, not just follow a recipe.

Then there are your criticisms, which are also a valid.

But of course, the real problem here is the suggestion, nay, assertion
that this requires no advanced knowledge or experience. The aquarist
necessarily needs to know about the nitrogen cycle, parasitic and
bacterial infections, nutrient export, which additives, how much
additives, when, why, why not.

The article basically says, this is how to buy our products and have
something in 12 weeks. It doesnt instruct that its after twelve weeks
that the real game begins, when you get ick, and green hair from hell,
and ammonia spikes, and dead fish, and oh god the red slime. Not a single
mention of testing water parameters, what they mean, and why. The article
does not equip the user with any information on how to handle these
inevitable battles. And there's nothing 'easy' about them.

As we all know, a reef is not about 5 easy steps. This article states
that it is.

Be prepared to spend a LOT of money, devote a LOT of time, fight a LOT of
battles, cry a few times.

Of course this is all just my opinion, and I have no reason to slander
the company's products or services. I guess I have to say that after that
atrocious law suit last year.

Now as for the tang, i agree with your recommendation. But I gotta admit,
I have a juvenile naso tang in my 46 bowfront. *gasp* I know, I know.
she's only about 3 inches now, starting to get her adult markings. I'll
definitely need to rehouse her before too long. But she's been very
healthy, and a delight for a year and a half now.

***ok, i just went to the online version, you're correct, they recommend
selecting from a list, but in the catalog, NOT, they recommend 19 fish!
****

well I did state I didnt have the printed version, only the online one, they must be very
different.

But of course, the real problem here is the suggestion, nay, assertion
that this requires no advanced knowledge or experience. The aquarist
necessarily needs to know about the nitrogen cycle, parasitic and
bacterial infections, nutrient export, which additives, how much
additives, when, why, why not.

while mostly i agree, there are people that dont know anything about much of what you
listed, and run very successful reefs. while we are here to help people learn, it can be
done without learning.

Now as for the tang, i agree with your recommendation. But I gotta admit,
I have a juvenile naso tang in my 46 bowfront. *gasp* I know, I know.
she's only about 3 inches now, starting to get her adult markings. I'll
definitely need to rehouse her before too long. But she's been very
healthy, and a delight for a year and a half now.

I have had tangs in my 37, BUT they were real small, AND they had a biger tank as soon as
they needed it. the article I read didnt talk about moving a fish out of the tank into a
larger tank.


--
Richard Reynolds