any "old time" SPS folks still visit this forum?
- Thread starter Gary Majchrzak
- Start date
eskymick
Active member
I've been a saltwater aquarist since 1983, and a SPS reefer since 2005. My first tank was a 29 high with a single clarkii clown. I recall that very first day ... keeping one eye on the fish while trying to follow "The Thorn Birds" mini series on TV.
I remember the early days well. A buddy and I looked forward to the twice monthly arrivals of marine fish at our LFS. Other than a few books (first published for the German market), we relied on the "knowledge" of the LFS owner. We called him "The Head". Of course, as time and experience taught me, "The Head" was pretty much wrong about everything. lol
I remember the early days well. A buddy and I looked forward to the twice monthly arrivals of marine fish at our LFS. Other than a few books (first published for the German market), we relied on the "knowledge" of the LFS owner. We called him "The Head". Of course, as time and experience taught me, "The Head" was pretty much wrong about everything. lol
this is me
Active member
Not much has changed. lol
mhucasey
Acros & wieners, oh my!
I started my first reef tank in 1991, back then I used to scour the library at Scripps for articles and old magazines. I had a great LFS, the owner clued me into the Berlin method. He even was able to order me the Peter Wilkens coral books which are a prized possession to this day(and still are pretty darn accurate as far as technique).
One of the most ridiculous things I remember was a book by Thiel where he was advocating things like a separate resin reactor for what seemed like everything - nitrate, phosphate, silica, etc and some ridiculous amount of pee-yellow halide light. He had corals bubbling with oxygen from all the light...
I tend to not post much since anyone who disagrees with the accepted view gets ripped up and down by the new folks pretty fast. Its depressing sometimes to see a real idea exchange get derailed.
One of the most ridiculous things I remember was a book by Thiel where he was advocating things like a separate resin reactor for what seemed like everything - nitrate, phosphate, silica, etc and some ridiculous amount of pee-yellow halide light. He had corals bubbling with oxygen from all the light...
I tend to not post much since anyone who disagrees with the accepted view gets ripped up and down by the new folks pretty fast. Its depressing sometimes to see a real idea exchange get derailed.
epicurus84
New member
Thats not just here, thats on every forum.
But thats also a little bit the fault of the experienced reef keeper with good intended advice but which is not put in the right perspective.
Also some newcomers ( my registration is fairly new here ) read a lot and think they know everything. Starting a tank with all kind of fancy equipment, most don't even need (and surely not at the start). Then telling how well their tank is and how others should run it.
However after like 6 months you don't see them on the forum anymore. (or anywhere else). Most likely they quit because of some algae outbreak or bleaching corals. Which most likely happened due to the lack of experience they had. However they already told newcomers how to do it (the wrong way).
It's hard for people to admit their mistakes. So they don't and especially on the internet they just "run" away.
Paul B
Premium Member
Thiel was, and still is a respected author of aquarium related information and is still in the hobby. He got in it a couple of years after I did and he is also a friend of mine and has a new book coming out in a few weeks. He forgot more than many people know.
But you are correct about getting ripped up over non conventional methods.
Everything I do is non conventional from my UG filter to adding Clorox to NSW to curing Pop Eye with a syringe to my feelings about ich and hair algae. The only reason I don't get ripped up much is that I have been in the hobby for almost 60 years and have an old reef tank or they would have a field day with me but whenever someone tells me my methods can't work, I just ask them if they have a reef tank older than mine with methods other than what I do, raise your hand. No one ever has. :lol2:
There are many ways to do these things and I would never tell someone their method won't work, although I may elude to it. :lmao:
spsfreak1977
Member
Still here I am very surprised I have not banned yet
But still here
But still here
mhucasey
Acros & wieners, oh my!
I did not mean to offend, the information that was in that book(I wish I could recall which one it was) was very much a product of its time - everyone was pushing trickle filters, canister filters, and filter floss. There was a general feeling that Americans had an edge with technology and we could overwhelm nature with technology.
I remember telling people in LFSs in the early 90s that I was running my reef tank on just a skimmer and no other mechanical or chemical filtration, and they would look at me like my head was on fire.
Trends seem to come and go, some have some good science behind them and some do not. What is strange is how personally some people take it if you don't agree with their method. Its not like I'm telling you how you have to run your tank, for Pete's sake.
NeverlosT
A bit fishy
started with SPS in 1997 at 15 years of age after running freshwater tanks for a year or two, simple porites and such.
Took a break during college, then fired back up in 2007 or so. Didn't find the forum till the second go-round though...
I loved going to the LFS as a kid, I remember needing to be driven there and bugging the heck out of my parents for a ride! Only problem was it was like 30 minutes away...
Man dad was not happy the first couple times I flooded the house.
Took a break during college, then fired back up in 2007 or so. Didn't find the forum till the second go-round though...
I loved going to the LFS as a kid, I remember needing to be driven there and bugging the heck out of my parents for a ride! Only problem was it was like 30 minutes away...
Man dad was not happy the first couple times I flooded the house.
PrangeWay
Duke of Monte Fisto
I don't think I'm an old timer, but like most of the guys that've been here for a number years I lurk more than anything.
Its worth logging in if only to see the trends, or newest gizmos, even if your not going to follow or buy them.
I do miss Ron Shimek sub-forum, when I started it was my favorite section of reef central by far, you learned something in almost every post.
I still want a purple monster frag, I still have halides, and I wonder why all the new skimmers no longer worry about dwell times (which used to be big).
PW
Its worth logging in if only to see the trends, or newest gizmos, even if your not going to follow or buy them.
I do miss Ron Shimek sub-forum, when I started it was my favorite section of reef central by far, you learned something in almost every post.
I still want a purple monster frag, I still have halides, and I wonder why all the new skimmers no longer worry about dwell times (which used to be big).
PW
TheReefKeeper
Aquaholic
These two statements are great!!
I went back and forth here with a newer member about dwell time and gave up no point really LOL. People think we are here to argue when in fact after having a dozen or so skimmer I feel i know enough to speak about skimmer functions and dwell times and try to bring attention to a newer member about a functional skimmer and it's dwell time. I'm not here to argue this is why most of my posts stay to a minimum.
power boat jim
Well-known member
Been doing the salt water act since 2001. Just about 10 years here on RC. I agree with the others, its not worth posting your experiences when the reefers with 3 months experience tell me what Im doing wont work. Who thought when they started you would see frags the size of a fingernail sell for $100 or more and would be called high end sps.
