Equipment Junkies versus Coral and Invertebrate Junkies....thoughts??

[Nanook]

I have been in the hobby for six years now, not a long time, but long enough to notice trends. It seems that new people and hobbyists with 1-3 years experience really focus on the equipment.

The ones that have been in the hobby longer usually focus on corals, fish, different invertebrates and their needs more. I am not trying to diss anyone here that is an equipment junkie, hell, I have had my share of equipment, but when your tanks are empty, what else can you do:lol: ?

For the ones that will admit that they are equipment junkies, how are you learning about the life in your tanks aside from your equipment? I mean, what types of articles/literature do you read, who do you talk with that is knowledgable or working with certain species?

I have noticed that most female reefers are never into equipment and focus mainly on husbandry and breeding of different corals, fish, etc. How do we move from the equipment fixation to the life within our systems?

Just wondering out loud....

dave

 

[chadfarmer]

Re: Equipment Junkies versus Coral and Invertebrate Junkies....thoughts??

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7686026#post7686026 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nanook
I have been in the hobby for six years now, not a long time, but long enough to notice trends. It seems that new people and hobbyists with 1-3 years experience really focus on the equipment.

For the ones that will admit that they are equipment junkies, how are you learning about the life in your tanks aside from your equipment? I mean, what types of articles/literature do you read, who do you talk with that is knowledgable or working with certain species?

Just wondering out loud....

dave

i am an equipment junky yes but i have a tank full of sps also

bought 2 more small colonys and probally will have to go to fade32 house with my other 3 colonys he already has

 

[chadfarmer]

pic of the new acro i picked up saturday

 

[Mykayel]

You could look at it like this: the equipment junkies are just prepairing to be able to properly take care of their tank before they stuff it full of livestock.

 

[geoxman]

You could look at it like this: the equipment junkies are just prepairing to be able to properly take care of their tank before they stuff it full of livestock.


I disagree-there are people that buy insane equipment and then buy more then more then more, even though they don't need it.
Then there are people who have an established system with adequate equipment that buy insane amounts of coral then more then more, even though they don't need it. I was the latter of the two.
There are equipment junkies and coral junkies, each serves to fulfill some sort of self gratification with each new purchase, and the next purchase is always more than the previous. JMHO. Now I need to go to my CA (coral anonymous) meeting.
I agree with the female part of it also-but I have only met a handfull-including my sister.

 

[beapeams]

I started out with Minimal equipment (still don't have as much as some) based on what I was being told was needed by some of the LFS's in the area. As I lost 8 of my first nine fish, I started concentrating on what I was doing, and my setup. I now look at equipment wants and needs, as well as fish needs. I am not an equipment junkie, but I believe if I am going to be in this Hobby I have to get equipment I feel that will help keep the environment of my Inhabitants as close to there natural as possible. So I guess for short I focus on both. My goal now is to get the tank to the right fish and coral level so that I only have to buy maintenance pieces (ie. filters, chemicals, etc) on a monthly basis.

 

[Arsenal11]

Im a Tang Junkie

 

[JxMetal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7687172#post7687172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ARSENAL11
Im a Tang Junkie

Nitrate junkie.......:lol:

 

[Shooter7]

I spent tons of hours researching on the needs of the life I was going to put into my tank so that I could avoid purchasing equipment I didn't really need. If I could have the tank with no equipment I'd be happy. I've been all about the life in my tank from the get go. To me, some equipment is just a necessary evil. But when I get equipment, I try to get the best I can get that fits my budget....which is razor thin, unfortunately. My big step now was acquiring these SPS frags that I have. I am hoping that what I have set up is enough to keep them happy and have them grow, then I can have the tank that I wanted from the start and the whole reason I got into this.

 

[Meisen]

I hate all the high tech reef equipment.....to me its just a major PITA and just as likely to screw up the tank as I am myself. Maybe its also because I am poor and dont have much space around my tank. I guess I just see it as a means to an end. Thats not to say I dont have some decent stuff nor a want list....the way I see it, I just want what I need to keep my tank looking good and healthy.

 

[Arsenal11]

Nitrate junkie.......

yes that also:mixed:

 

[Chelsey]

I would have to say that I'm a coral/fish junkie, but probably only because I wouldn't know how to hook up any of the equipment :lol:

 

[mpcart]

I go back and forth.

I'm an engineer so building my stand, doing my plumbing, and researching equipment for the tanks startup was the most fun for me. Then I focused entirely on corals - at first I wanted LPS and softies but soon shifted my focus to a mainly SPS tank.

Now that my tank can't hold any more corals I've gone back to an equipment focus - I guess I have to have a "project" to keep me interested and can't just sit back and watch the tank grow.

I figure that getting my stupid calcium reactor working should keep me busy for the next year!

-Mike

 

[ol'saltybastage]

maybe i got it backwards.. i started out with minimal equipment and spent tons on corals. now I want a sleek/clean tank that is as self maintaining as possible. so i end up buying more and more equipment and not spending as much on corals. but i'm feeling the shift back to the coral buying mood so i guess i go thru different moods also coral/equipment..

 

[zt444a]

To me my setup seems sort of ghetto really, but everything in my tank seems to be doing well, in spite of everything I do to screw it up. My corals seem to grow, although some slower than others.

I think that instead of spending insane amounts on expensive equipment, I'd rather just go with something dependable, but perhaps not quite as "high end" as could be. I would much rather fill my tank with corals and inverts.

And as long as they grow and don't die off on me, I will continue to be mezmerized by the life in my little tank.

 

[Phyto]

I am all about the life in my tanks. I have always used minimal equipment. All I have are lights, a few power heads, heater and a skimmer (Seaclone ). I depend greatly on the diversity of substrate fauna.
Obviously, tanks can be maintained in many ways. I prefer to spend less time (and money) on equipment, and more time (and money) with my tank inhabitants. Plus, more hands-on work keeps you more in tune with your tank and its patterns.
My tank is full of soft, LPS and clams.
Most of my initial reef info and brainstorming came from GARF's website. I always read every reef book/article I can. I would love to see more books with lots of pictures and detail on individual species with a positive scientific identification.

 

[Meisen]

So it seems like ones profession is likely to have impact on what one prefers...engineer/chemist/IT pro/stereo junkie types go all high tech and biologists/MDs/DVMs/liberal artists/women and such are more about the life inside.

I am a biologist by training so I guess that makes sense for me too.

Makes perfect sense to me. And its nice that all you tech-weenies can go out, spend $$$$$ several times over and report back to us what works and whats a waste of money.

 

[superfirefly]

I think I go against the profession stereotype then. I am in IT and I am more about my corals, fish and inverts than I am about the equipment.

One of several factors could attribute to that though.

A) I am cheap and equipment is expensive

B) I am very laid back so I spend a lot of time lying in front of my tank just staring for hours and would much rather do that then stress over the thickness of my skimate

C) I grew up in the country and have always loved nature and animals of any sort.

D) I also think that waiting for my tank to cycle added to the love of the life in my tank. Every day was a new discovery. Even after a year I still get the occasional, Wow where did that come from feeling.

 

[Sk8r]

Definitely a livestock junkie, mostly corals. My filter bags are bits of blue-white with a rubber band on the pump cone when I need them, my water is full of impure little wisps of fish poo, my snails are all over the glass, my carbon bags are kneehigh hose, I have no reactors, just a teaspoon and measuring cup, and the only readout I get is from a 12.00 digital thermometer. My fuge is a ball of cheato under the downfall of my sump, lit by the cheap light of a topfin hex mini-mini that didn't work out as a fuge.

I'm a fanatic about water quality and alk and calcium levels, but bubble algae proliferates and I'm thinking of tossing a little phosban into the sump [which is grungy beyond belief: I'll probably turkey-baster that out before summer's end].

So, no, I'm not an equipment junkie, or my stuff would be far more pristine. But my corals grow, even the acroporas.

 

[beapeams]

I have to agree with SuperFireFly. I have been in IT for more than 10 years now. I started out on my own by building my own computers and now maintain backend infrasturcture designed to run websites. I originally went to College going for a Biology degree to go into the genetics field. So maybe the Biology thing and my love of Nature is the reason I focus on my corals/fish first. I want them to grow and be healthy. The equipment is only a means to an end. If I could get away with a water change, one pump, and the XP3 I have laying around I would, as long as my fish and corals were thriving.