Thoughts About the Current State of the Reef Hobby

[SPasse]

Hi All,

I'm an "œOld Salt" that started my 1st saltwater tanks in the late 1970's and was very active on the Boards.

I set up tanks one or more of the following methods; "œPure Berlin", DSB, and Macro-Algae "œfiltration, with and without CA reactors. As far as lighting goes, MH with Actinic UV supplementation was the "œstate of the art".

At one time I was a Moderator on this board & was one of the founding members of ReefLand.com

I've been thinking about getting active again but I've been looking poking around the boards and some of the things I've been reading are not particularly encouraging.

So I guess I'm asking for some "œperspectives" from other "œOld Salts" about the current state of the hobby, relative to what it was like, 10+ years ago.

Regards,

Scott

 

[CStrickland]

Hi Scott!
I'm a baby-salt, so I don't have any perspective to offer. I'm just curious what was discouraging for you. Like, were you intimidated by some of the new tech, or the cost, or something totes diff like how people act?
Might help people advise you, and personally I'm wondering what would hold back someone with so much experience.

 

[ca1ore]

I’ve been thinking about getting active again but I’ve been looking poking around the boards and some of the things I’ve been reading are not particularly encouraging.

Not particularly encouraging from the perspective of the legislative future? The collective hobbyist base? Something else?

I've been an active reefkeeper since about 1988 (with one 4 year 'time out' within that period), so I guess that qualifies me as an 'old salt'. I'm generally OK with the way things are. LFS are disappearing, but then that's largely true for any narrow, specialist retailer. Hobbyists are setting themselves up as frag-farms with lots of silly product names, but we live in a capitalist economy so caveat emptor. There is a stunning amount of questionable advice on the reef boards, promoted often from people who have been in the hobby for what seems like a few days - but I don't think that's any different than the LFS conversations from 20 years ago - there's just a more visible forum for that kind of thing now. Books are dead, for the most part. Never going to get the final volumes from the Scott Michael Fish Series Hope that's not you.

But the equipment has never been better, there are a lot of knowledgeable folks who I know have made me a better reefer, and I still get a lot of enjoyment out of my tank.

 

[SPasse]

CStrickland,

Well it's not the tech as I an Electronics (EE)

I was really into the 1st GEN tank automation system. (Like the AquaControlers etc.)

I'm not even sure I can put it into words at this point. Hence I was "œreaching out" to people that had not left the hobby.

Maybe I just need to ease back into it"¦

Regards,

Scott

 

[SPasse]

ca1ore,

"œlegislative future" that's been "œhanging over our heads" since (at least) the 1990's so I guess it hasn't killed the hobby yet.
LFS disappearance "“ I hear you.

Hobbyists as frag farms "“ That's actually intriguing.

There is a stunning amount of questionable advice on the reef boards" There's a story associated with that in my personal case. When these boards were started, the moderators were putting in a ton of time, both as SMEs and "œfight arbitrators". A number of us got "œburned out" (The fact I was also had a "œhigh pressure/start up company career didn't help) The "œOld Salts" also got tired of being "œshouted down" by people that were just starting out, handing out all of the "œquestionable advise" you mentioned.

Still, it sounds like I just need to "œchill" and do some subject matter refreshment"

Thanks,

Scott

 

[USC-fan]

It seems like thing are better than ever. Other than coral prices still insane. But if you are into fragging you could support your whole tank off of it.

One great thing is the advancement with the equipment. You can keep a reef and not worry about keeping the tank cool in summer. Was a problem for me in the south with MH. Pumps now just use so little power. LED now act like MH but a lot less costly and you can just do so much with them. I still run t5 and LED.

Really are exciting times.

One thing to look out for is algae scrubber coming back. They just came off patent. So we should some new products.

 

[mpderksen]

Sir,
You'll find that the 2 folks that have already responded are examples of some of many that offer solid advice, share jokes and are generally helpful. Snorvich (Steve) consistently offers vast experience in a kind and help way, especially on fish compatibility. The problem with the Internet is that you can get bad advice, and people with Keyboard-Courage. Hang out long enough and you can spot them easily enough. You just have to filter the noise.

 

[Indymann99]

Scott, I am 48 and my first SW tank was back in 1985 (High School). Think under gravel filters, crushed coral, powerheads on UG standpipes. I ran that tank for 6yrs and to my knowledge its still running.. 55g acrylic tank.

My current tank (120g) has been running 11yrs now. I feel the following are the reasons I got back in the hobby.

1. SUMP... gets all the support equipment out of the tank. Heaters, filtration, temp and Ph probes, etc.
2. Integrated/drilled overflow with a Herbie drain system. Far less chance of water ending up on the floor of the room the tank is in.
3. RODI and Mix tank
4. QT tank (20g) tank (plumbed next to mix tank for easy QT Water Change)
5. LED lighting - virtually no heat, low energy, color control, dusk to dawn.
6. Skimmer for protein removal
7. Controller (APEX) for monitoring and automated control
8. "bucket less" water changes.

 

[nyknicks4412]

More people in the hobby, better technology to simplify/aid in maintaining your tank, more fish/corals...

Seen a few threads similar to this recently and I can't help but wonder why people are complaining about the "state" of the hobby. If you compare what is possible today to what was possible 20 years ago I am not sure why you wouldn't be encouraged. There are tanks on this board that are truly breathtaking.

The hobby isn't a message board...it is what you do with the tank in your house. I would think there is a lot more opportunity for success today than there was 10+ years ago.

 

[CStrickland]

That's beautiful Indy!
I wonder if one difference from before is how the tank is like a fancy-*** bit of furniture, of a piece with the rest of your dope man-cave. Some of the pics I've seen from back in the day it wasn't so integrated... the tank didn't exactly tie the room together.

Also, @SPasse - I didn't even know they haaad early gen reef controllers until yesterday when I was teasin calore about being a grey beard. Idk, I guess I thought Apex just hatched fully formed from the skull of Zeus lol. It's really amazing what all you guys were up to

EDIT: @knicks - nobody complained, why be like that? In fact, if I was OP I'd be like "what! You guys are still strugglin over mandarins? I thought there'd be more of a challenge by now." Considering what they did with what they had, if I were an oldtimer Id be disappointed we aren't keeping sharks in a 40b, and sea apples in every tank.

 

[fishkid6692]

I'm not an old salt yet but I've been reefing and on these boards for about 10 years. The only thing that I haven't like was the way it sometimes feels like high school with all the cliques. If you're not in the "group" then you're sometimes almost shunned or treated less kindly then the clique members. I stopped posting on these boards for a while because of all the nasty things that were said to me and how mean people were to a 16 year old kid. I was called a spoiled brat and told I shouldn't have the rare fish I did because I didn't deserve them just for the fact I didn't work for them. My grandfather funded my hobby and was in the position to do so. It was something we both enjoyed and bonded over for many years now. I never understood why I was attacked and picked on for that by guys twice my age. I got over it though and started to post on this board again and I still feel like I'm seen as that "spoiled undeserving kid" in certain sections of these forums but who cares? I love this hobby and even with all the criticism I encountered early on I'm still keeping reefs and fish and love it more and more every day. Happy reefing and remember its just a forum and you can always just ignore it and turn the computer off!

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Matt it's called jealousy! It's also a way for them to keep from feeling insecure about their own situations. I've been there and just shake my head when I run into one of them and can't help but feel sorry for them. Enjoy and relish what you and your grandfather had together and remember it always! Don't let anyone take that or tarnish your memories in any way!

 

[Big E]

Hi Scott,

Welcome back, I always enjoyed your posts and input.

If I'm reading your question right you're asking more about forums and how they function now vs back when you were very active?.....if so.....

It's not even close to the same.................hype/marketing rules. Parrots and mis-information are everywhere, so there is more garbage to sift through now. I miss the great discussions back then on various topics. Once in a while they come along, but they're few and far between.

As far as the hobby goes.......any advancements tech or otherwise are all good, but the big thing missing is patience.......people want instant gratification.

There's also a wave of reefing that didn't exist back then, it's more about collecting corals instead of creating a reef.

I say jump in and contribute how you like and I'm sure you'll find a comfort level you're happy with.

 

[dkeller_nc]

I set up tanks one or more of the following methods; "œPure Berlin", DSB, and Macro-Algae "œfiltration, with and without CA reactors. As far as lighting goes, MH with Actinic UV supplementation was the "œstate of the art".

I've been thinking about getting active again but I've been looking poking around the boards and some of the things I've been reading are not particularly encouraging.

Like you, I started my first salt tank in the 1970's. It was shut down within 2 years, since cyanide-caught fish and questionable water chemistry monitoring didn't exactly spell "success".

Fast-forward to 1990, and a reef tank was possible with MH & VHO lighting, decent circulation pumps and a whole lot better knowledge of water chemistry maintenance.

From the standpoint of "what's changed" in 2016, my answer would be:

Much improved access to appropriate foods for both fish, corals and invertebrates.

Much better in-tank circulation equipment, both in terms of flow and electrical efficiency.

Much nicer tanks available from many semi-custom and custom manufacturers (like Reef Savvy, A.G.E., Planet Aquariums, CadLights, SC Aquariums, etc...)

Much better water chemistry equipment and knowledge; one can get an electronic refractometer that's bullet-poof for about $100 and very accurate analytical test kits for very little. There's a long series of articles by Randy Holmes Farley that "cut through the noise" and offer both beginning and advanced reefers a deep understanding of analytical chemistry as it applies to testing and maintaining water chemistry in a reef.

On the down-side, there's considerably less availability of truly live Pacific natural live rock. On the plus side, some of the aquacultured rock coming out of the Gulf is easily the equal of the harvested wild material from the early 1990s.

 

[joshbrookkate]

I am really enjoying this discussion....

 

[NotYoNano]

Not a lot has changed bud. The science is exponentially faster than the community.
But everyone has their opinion I guess.

I've found that nopox and lanathum chloride fixes all algae problems. Beyond that, Red Sea Coral Pro seems to be the best salt I've tried. And their Reef Energy is great, lacks phosphates.

 

[Uglyman]

As far as the hobby goes.......any advancements tech or otherwise are all good, but the big thing missing is patience.......people want instant gratification.

There's also a wave of reefing that didn't exist back then, it's more about collecting corals instead of creating a reef.

I have been in the hobby for 10+ years and these two points have been a very obvious change in recent years.
I am also a PC gamer of 20+ years and the instant gratification issue is also a part of that group so I guess it's just a change in todays society sadly.

 

[mussel and hate]

Hi Scott, I'm an old salt too. I've been active on the reef boards since the rec. quaria.marine.reefs days.

I have my own reservations about this hobby particularly the so called community. RC like the rest of the WWW is salted with so much nonsense and opinion that finding actual information is a real challenge.

The animals available commercially are frequently overpriced and in poor health. The upshot is excellent availability of locally cultured animals ftom fellow hobbyists. That along with Vortech pumps that allow us to avoid submerged power cords, and LED lights that mitigate the need for a chiller. Beyond that not much has changed. The tanks are still glass or acrylic. The corals still grow, the fish still swim.

We need more old salts in this hobby.

 

[davocean]

Started my first tank in 85', a lot of trial and error like most, but w/ help and shared experiences on sites like this the hobby has made leaps and bounds in both gear and a better understanding of responsible animal husbandry.

People still do debate over certain methods or gear, but generally speaking the hobby has advanced in a way that makes it a good time to be involved and I think most have greater success for long term reef keeping.

 

[LefkoNJ]

I had my first tank in 82 so I hear you. As other have stated, gear has changed and that has all been for the better. Gear that was expensive has come down in price significantly, and the more expensive gear does amazing things. Lighting is all over the place and I am sure you can find people who are convinced one way is better than the other, to each his own.

LFS are experiencing a major squeeze and I am not sure they will be around in 10 years, but then again malls may eventually disappear due to online and mega-stores.

Best of luck