A manifesto?

[uniquecorals]

I was talking to a non-reefer fish person the other day, and she asked what it really meant to be a reefer, and what makes us any different from all of the cichlid people, freshwater planted types, Guppy breeders, etc. I thought that maybe we are all the same- fish people...Well, we are, to some extent...but reefers are a bit different. So I drove off with the nagging question of "What makes you guys so different?" in my head. I had this bunch of thoughts as to how I'd describe myself...and it made me think about just what makes a reefer different than other fish people...

I'm a reefer.

I don't dabble in corals. I'm obsessed with them.
I know that keeping marine life alive requires understanding, skill, patience, and good habits.

I know that a successful reef aquarium requires me to take certain steps that many other fish people aren't willing to do.

I regard my reef aquarium as a microcosm of nature; a learning tool, an experience..It's main function is not to provide a piece of decor in my home.

I have procedures for every scenario, every problem playing out in the back of my head. I have other obsessed reefers to share these thouhts with. We are a community.

I obsessively maintain my reef based on husbandry methods that work for me; skills learned and honed from years of practice, towering successes, and humbling failures. I listen to other reefers, then do whatever I darned well please, if I feel my way is better...And then I try theirs, when my ideas fail! I'm stubborn..and proud.

I don't chase down every hot trend, obsess over every new gadget. I try things that work for my animals. I geek out over obscure stuff, however.

I'm not afraid to try new stuff, but I always consider the impact of any new practice, procedure, or piece of gear.

I support those who are propagating fishes and corals, because I understand that the world's reefs need our help.As a reefer, I know that the future of the hobby- the future of the world's reefs- is in part dependent upon how successful I am at keeping my animals healthy, and sharing my stories with others.

I screw stuff up all the time. And when I do, I share my errors with other reefers, get up again, over an over, and try to learn from them.

I am eager to hear about what my fellow reefers are doing, because that seemingly crazy idea might be the basis for massive success.

I realize that learning is a lifelong process in the reef hobby. I want to be doing this for the rest of my life.

I know that reefing is not just a hobby...it's a lifestyle.

I am part of a tribe; a community, which grows and nurtures and shares ideas, concepts, experiences, and animals.

I am a part of a larger whole, which is much greater than the sum of it's parts.

I am a reefer. And so are you.

And I'm pretty darned proud of that.

Why are you proud to be a reefer? What do you feel makes us different than the rest of the aquarium hobbyists out there?

Let's hear it!

Stay wet...

Scott Fellman
Unique Corals

 

[mpoletti]

Scott, we need to talk.

 

[Nano sapiens]

Scott, we need to talk.

LOL...

-Ralph

 

[Nano sapiens]

Having been at this reefing biz since the late 70's there is always more to learn. I think the fact that we don't really know 'all there is to know' about these animals is one of the strong interest factors in this hobby (at least it is for me).

I'm a self proclaimed 'Minimalist' reefer and for me there's nothing more rewarding than understanding and working with the natural processes within the tank environment to provide a healthy environment.

 

[uniquecorals]

Scott, we need to talk.

Yeah, I need help, LOL!:help:

 

[uniquecorals]

Having been at this reefing biz since the late 70's there is always more to learn. I think the fact that we don't really know 'all there is to know' about these animals is one of the strong interest factors in this hobby (at least it is for me).

I'm a self proclaimed 'Minimalist' reefer and for me there's nothing more rewarding than understanding and working with the natural processes within the tank environment to provide a healthy environment.

Love it. That's what's so cool about the hobby...That's why we have an awesome community...there are so many different approaches to reef keeping, and so many ways to achieve success...And you hit it on the head- we never stop learning...ain't that amazing?

-Scott

 

[mpoletti]

Yeah, I need help, LOL!:help:

Oh, I was calling you for help. I guess there goes that...:neutral:

 

[uniquecorals]

Oh, I was calling you for help. I guess there goes that...:neutral:

See you in "Reef Therapy!" LOL

-Scott

 

[Railcar79]

But there is a balance to be kept. Some like the corals, but are not die hard reef junkies. The trick is feeding the addictions of some while not alienating those who don't need that SPS fix

 

[uniquecorals]

But there is a balance to be kept. Some like the corals, but are not die hard reef junkies. The trick is feeding the addictions of some while not alienating those who don't need that SPS fix

Very well stated! Balance is very important!

-Scott

 

[Eienna]

What I've noticed, having come from a freshwater planted background, is that there are fewer sure things. Freshwater is better-understood in general. There is less equipment to understand, and the fish are (in general) more flexible in terms of pH, temperature, and alk. Give them stability, and they will usually thrive even outside their native params (with the exception of very hard-water fish like African cichlids, or blackwater fish like rummynose tetras.) Plants are pretty much like macroalgae; give them sufficient light and nutrients and a reasonable pH, and they will thrive for the most part. Calcium, magnesium and phosphate aren't even tested for. Most freshwater fish will take flakes or pellets pretty quickly. Inverts don't require much special attention at all. It's a one-size-fits-most type of thing. We don't even really have to worry about our plants getting excess nutrients.

Reef tanks require balancing the needs of many different kinds of animals that may be very different from each other, and from a place we are only beginning to explore. We know what our lakes and rivers are like, what the animals eat, the conditions they do best in, but we are still learning so much about the ocean. Old theories are constantly being scrapped and replaced. It's a world that's still new, open to experiments and new things.

Ehh...I'll stop there. My brain just quit working.

 

[uniquecorals]

What I've noticed, having come from a freshwater planted background, is that there are fewer sure things. Freshwater is better-understood in general. There is less equipment to understand, and the fish are (in general) more flexible in terms of pH, temperature, and alk. Give them stability, and they will usually thrive even outside their native params (with the exception of very hard-water fish like African cichlids, or blackwater fish like rummynose tetras.) Plants are pretty much like macroalgae; give them sufficient light and nutrients and a reasonable pH, and they will thrive for the most part. Calcium, magnesium and phosphate aren't even tested for. Most freshwater fish will take flakes or pellets pretty quickly. Inverts don't require much special attention at all. It's a one-size-fits-most type of thing. We don't even really have to worry about our plants getting excess nutrients.

Reef tanks require balancing the needs of many different kinds of animals that may be very different from each other, and from a place we are only beginning to explore. We know what our lakes and rivers are like, what the animals eat, the conditions they do best in, but we are still learning so much about the ocean. Old theories are constantly being scrapped and replaced. It's a world that's still new, open to experiments and new things.

Ehh...I'll stop there. My brain just quit working.

Great points, Einna...and then it begs the question: Dow us reefers live to make things more complicated than they need to be, or is it truly that complicated and we just can't see the forest for the trees, so to speak? Although I do know some FW hobbyists with aquatic skill levels far in excess of even the most advanced reefers out there...Your point about balancing different animals with vastly different needs is very valid: In reefs, it seems to be a matter of everyday practice to keep widely divergent animals with each other, whereas, in FW aquariums, hobbyists tend to "specialize" a bit more, unless they're doing a good old fashioned community tank...

Do FW "crossover" hobbyists make better reefers? Discuss...

-Scott

 

[Railcar79]

That is like asking if indy drivers make better cup racers, or baseball stars better football players. There are so many variables, and so many things that can go wrong in salt, I seriously doubt fresh water makes you better. Husbandry aside, a salt tank is a barely controlled chemical reaction. Look how many skilled reefers have tank crashes, or lose livestock to a broken part.

 

[Eienna]

I feel that my background prepped me better for the jump (er...dive?) to SW. I already understood the nitrogen cycle, the value of variety feeding, what water changes are for, buying good equipment, what GPH means, and proper acclimation and QT. Even so, the learning curve was still so steep as to give me a regular brainache. XD

That said, FW experience won't help you if you've been "practicing it wrong," such as feeding cruddy food without thinking about it, not paying attention to or never learning the all-important nitrogen cycle, etc.

Having that experience, however, does not in and of itself make a better reefer. It only gives you a bit of a jumpstart. You can be as good or better without it.

 

[jefstathiou]

Scott,
Very well done. I think you may well have developed the Reefer Manifesto. Obviously, as is the case with all Manifestos, there are some lofty goals, all of which are achievable.
This should be required reading for all that dare to enter this obsession.

 

[uniquecorals]

That is like asking if indy drivers make better cup racers, or baseball stars better football players. There are so many variables, and so many things that can go wrong in salt, I seriously doubt fresh water makes you better. Husbandry aside, a salt tank is a barely controlled chemical reaction. Look how many skilled reefers have tank crashes, or lose livestock to a broken part.

Ahh..very good point! I love the quote "barely controlled chemical reaction!" Sort of hits it on the head...A real dance. I do think that freshwater at least gives some experience in managing an aquarium, which is a good start...And I guess it is analogous to the discussions I have with newer reefers that make their first "real" tank a 400 gallon reef...Some of these people have more money than common sense or skill, and can't keep a 40 gallon tank alive...A 400 gallon will only prolong the inevitable, I suppose.

All good stuff!

-Scott

 

[uniquecorals]

Scott,
Very well done. I think you may well have developed the Reefer Manifesto. Obviously, as is the case with all Manifestos, there are some lofty goals, all of which are achievable.
This should be required reading for all that dare to enter this obsession.

LOL, thanks, John. Guess it's a start!

I think that it certainly could be expanded upon, and I certainly think that some of the goals are a bit lofty...However, when you look at all the raw talent that we see in the hobby- and on this forum- it's definitely realistic to expect that we as reefers can meet many of these goals...

I think the role as "ambassadors" to the non-reefkeeping world cannot be overlooked at this point, given all of the potential pressures that there are on the hobby from outside forces (i.e.; government regulators, hyper-radical environmentalist groups, and the mass media). Could probably add "self-policing" to the list of things that we need to be, too!

-Scott