- Joined
- Nov 23, 2006
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- 13,377
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- Los Angeles
- What state or country do you live in
- California
“I’m not aware of too many things…I know what I know if you know what I mean…”- from the song "What I am" by Edie Brickell and The New Bohemians, 1988
Okay, I have a sort of confession to make…and frankly, it’s kind of embarrassing.
It’s not really a deep, dark, nasty secret- more of an admission…that I lack…something. (oh, I hear the innuendo jokes flying around...)
Yeah, I don’t think I have the “it factor” that many of you do when it comes to some reef stuff. I lack what I call the “Post Modern Reefing 'It' Factor.”
Huh? Read on..Maybe I’m not alone here? What exactly is this?
I love all of the new stuff that comes out- new aquatic gear, new pumps, electronics, etc. But I have to admit…with great humility…that I just don’t get a lot of it.
Really? Yeah. I mean, “Eco Smart Live”- totally cool..really neat to do all kinds of stuff with your iPhone…”Apex Fusion”…super awesome…I just don’t really understand how it works, other than I can get some cool information about my systems. Don't even mention “Mindspring” to me…my head might explode.
I think I'm just sort of...backwards.
Case in point- We have a cool Apex system, set up by our resident tech genius, Dave B. It reports all of the water parameters, turns the lights, chillers, heaters- all of that stuff on and off. I GET that. We even have a nifty “Star Trek”- type display on monitors when you enter our facility…I can interpret the data- Ph, ORP, Salinity, Temp…Yeah, I use that!
The end product, I get...How it got there is beyond my ability to grasp...sigh.
But when I read about how to set one up…or hear about all of the modular capacity and bluetooth stuff and all of the ability to do this and that…my eyes..sort of..glaze over.
Look, I don’t think I’m THAT far behind the times…I have what I feel is a pretty good command of social media, I listen to the same music that my “millennial” niece and nephew do, and I am an all Apple kind of guy…It’s just that when people start to explain how this and that will make my reef keeping life easier, I am more compelled to just look at the fish and corals. I know, I know- I sound like one of those throwbacks- clinging to my dial up modem or analog devices…NO, I assure you, it’s not like that.
It’s just that I don’t get some of this stuff. Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s great. The manufacturers have done amazing making gear that is more capable than ever before…The capabilities of the new generations of lights, controllers, and pumps is beyond anything we could have unimagined just a decade ago. I get that. My friend, Terence Fugazzi of Apex may be the best marketing guy in the biz, and has done a fabulous job of making Apex so good- and so popular! Their user forum is amazing, and filled with supportive people.
Patrick and the crew at EcoTech have similarly been phenomenal. Their stuff is so darn cool and so good. They’ve really tried to make it as simple and user friendly as possible for as many people as possible. Remarkable stuff that works so well together.
So what gives?
Again, I think it’s just me. I mean, I totally appreciate (or maybe I can’t totally appreciate) all the stuff that this amazing technology can do. These people and products are groundbreaking.
But as soon as you start showing me how you can integrate this and that and the other thing…I’m..out. Not “out” as in “forget about you!” I mean, “out” as in, I’m lost..just totally lost. Maybe it’s ADD, or maybe I’m just kind of... stupid (wait- don’t go there)…but I look at some of the killer tanks I have seen over the past few years, with amazing coral growth..and not all of them have every gadget known to man..or if they do, I virtually guarantee that NONE of them are using every one of the crazy features that these things have to achieve what they’ve achieved with their tanks.
It’s not that you CANT get there with all of these gadgets tricked out to the max…Of course you can. From my perspective, I just can’t fully understand them. It’s good that you can monitor this and that and control this device from your phone..I get that. But I wonder how you can get Joe Average refer (or “Joe Below Average Reefer, in my case) to actually understand really how these things work?
The manufacturers are superb. I know some of the people who make and market these things..and they’re brilliant. Really. It’s just that I literally feel stupid when they demo this stuff to me. I want to use it..I do use it..but probably no where near its capabilities- simply because I don’t UNDERSTAND the capabilities…And I can’t help but wonder how many reefers DO? Maybe it’s that I’m just not a gearhead, and I’m more interested in the corals and fishes than I am in the gadgetry. Fair enough.
I totally get THIS stuff...
Still, I wonder: Can I really be the only one who’s head spins when they start “explaining” this stuff? I mean, am I really just a throwback guy who should stay out of the way when state of the art gear is discussed and implemented (well, maybe)? I can’t be. Can I? I rather fancy myself as a “trickle down” reefer. In other worlds, I’ll embrace the latest gadgetry and support those who make it. But when it comes time to use it, I’ll try to learn what I can, and ultimately use if for probably 10% of what it can do. I mean, it’s one thing to turn on my lights, and quite another to program multi-day lighting and flow sequences while activating my kalk dripper and closing my garage doors at predetermined hours- whatever. See? I just sort of drift off into a coma..
And then, I wonder if the technology is SO capable that it leaves a percentage of hobbyists behind..I’m not a technophobe- but I am confused. And I think I’d really use a lot of these features if I could understand them better. I guess I’m not a target market…but I should be, right? I’m probably the exact kind of busy reefer type that could ultimately benefit the most from this stuff. But instead, I use it for what I can, recommend it heartily, and probably understand 5% of its function…THAT is a shame. I know that I will be checking out the Apex User’s Meetup Group at MACNA- what a great way to learn about this stuff in more detail.
I need to lose my techno haze and dismiss the high school physics lab flashbacks that overcome me every time someone tries to explain to me how cool their new electronic thingamajig works. On the other hand, I can totally get behind LED lighting and stuff like that, even though I may not understand the joys of 120 degree beam angle versus 70 degree optics versus “X” amount of emitters per square inch of this-and-that brand (spend some time daily with Jake Adams, like I do, and you WILL learn some of this regardless!). What’s WRONG with me?
To me, this is a bit more understandable..
The only real “fear” I have about this tech influx is that it will attract or appeal to certain types of people/reefers, who feel that, because the technology does all the “heavy lifting”, they can avoid the basics of “get-your-hands-wet” reefing. In other words, the gear does all the hard stuff and all they have to do is sit back and enjoy the pretty corals…I mean, you CAN do that, I suppose…for a while, at least…But not only will this be non-sustainable- I’d make the argument that you’ll actually miss out on the joys of the art of reef keeping, tortuously accumulated over several decades of development by thousands of our predecessors all over the world.
You don’t want to miss that “essence.”
And, in all fairness, I don’t think that many reefers who use these devices extensively ARE missing the “essence”- but I do imagine a small percentage of people who have fallen into that techno trap, if you will. I know a few of them. They're great at running the latest gear, but their reefs, well...anyways.
Another bad analogy, maybe:
This will make my life easier..I suppose?
I read a ton of marketing blogs and such for business…and I constantly see lists of things like “The top 5 apps that will make your social media strategy easier”, “3 Apps your BTC business must have to stay competitive”- stuff like that. And what it boils down to, in some instances, is that you have to learn the complexities and quirks of several different apps just to “save time” on a task that, in reality, isn’t that onerous…You spend more time learning and using the app than you do taking on the supposedly tedious task some of these were meant to make easier! But I bet there is a large number of people who think that using these complicated apps and such is “THE” way to business success…And I wonder if they get so bogged down in the minute details of running these “productivity apps” that they become-well…unproductive.
SO, anyways- that’s my personal confession and cross to bear.
My advice to YOU- USE these systems! Learn all that you can about them. They’re amazing, wonderfully designed systems. And interact with the many, many cool people who work with them. They'll help you. Don’t be afraid. Support them. Use them. Learn what you can about them. They're great.
On the other hand, if your eyes glaze over, your head spins, and you start feeling faint when reefers talk about this stuff, don’t feel discouraged. Know that you can always try to learn this stuff if you desire- and more important- that you have a unique set of skills, knowledge, and experience that works for YOU…even if it’s not the latest Bluetooth-enabled, ultra-complex way of doing stuff…If you’re having success, feel good. Don’t ever be afraid to grow and learn, just don’t feel bad if the stuff that everyone else seems to drool over doesn’t do it for you.
I mean, why do people like Duncans so much? I don't get it.
Anyways, back to work. I’m getting an alarm from our Apex…and I need to check on the Vanadium level in one of our raceways, seems that our last Triton test indicated a slightly elevated level. And, doesn’t that talk stirrer on Raceway #5 need adjusting? Hmm..
Okay, stay with it…Stay current…stay YOURSELF!
And most important,
Stay Wet
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
Okay, I have a sort of confession to make…and frankly, it’s kind of embarrassing.
It’s not really a deep, dark, nasty secret- more of an admission…that I lack…something. (oh, I hear the innuendo jokes flying around...)
Yeah, I don’t think I have the “it factor” that many of you do when it comes to some reef stuff. I lack what I call the “Post Modern Reefing 'It' Factor.”
Huh? Read on..Maybe I’m not alone here? What exactly is this?
I love all of the new stuff that comes out- new aquatic gear, new pumps, electronics, etc. But I have to admit…with great humility…that I just don’t get a lot of it.
Really? Yeah. I mean, “Eco Smart Live”- totally cool..really neat to do all kinds of stuff with your iPhone…”Apex Fusion”…super awesome…I just don’t really understand how it works, other than I can get some cool information about my systems. Don't even mention “Mindspring” to me…my head might explode.
I think I'm just sort of...backwards.
Case in point- We have a cool Apex system, set up by our resident tech genius, Dave B. It reports all of the water parameters, turns the lights, chillers, heaters- all of that stuff on and off. I GET that. We even have a nifty “Star Trek”- type display on monitors when you enter our facility…I can interpret the data- Ph, ORP, Salinity, Temp…Yeah, I use that!
The end product, I get...How it got there is beyond my ability to grasp...sigh.
But when I read about how to set one up…or hear about all of the modular capacity and bluetooth stuff and all of the ability to do this and that…my eyes..sort of..glaze over.
Look, I don’t think I’m THAT far behind the times…I have what I feel is a pretty good command of social media, I listen to the same music that my “millennial” niece and nephew do, and I am an all Apple kind of guy…It’s just that when people start to explain how this and that will make my reef keeping life easier, I am more compelled to just look at the fish and corals. I know, I know- I sound like one of those throwbacks- clinging to my dial up modem or analog devices…NO, I assure you, it’s not like that.
It’s just that I don’t get some of this stuff. Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s great. The manufacturers have done amazing making gear that is more capable than ever before…The capabilities of the new generations of lights, controllers, and pumps is beyond anything we could have unimagined just a decade ago. I get that. My friend, Terence Fugazzi of Apex may be the best marketing guy in the biz, and has done a fabulous job of making Apex so good- and so popular! Their user forum is amazing, and filled with supportive people.
Patrick and the crew at EcoTech have similarly been phenomenal. Their stuff is so darn cool and so good. They’ve really tried to make it as simple and user friendly as possible for as many people as possible. Remarkable stuff that works so well together.
So what gives?
Again, I think it’s just me. I mean, I totally appreciate (or maybe I can’t totally appreciate) all the stuff that this amazing technology can do. These people and products are groundbreaking.
But as soon as you start showing me how you can integrate this and that and the other thing…I’m..out. Not “out” as in “forget about you!” I mean, “out” as in, I’m lost..just totally lost. Maybe it’s ADD, or maybe I’m just kind of... stupid (wait- don’t go there)…but I look at some of the killer tanks I have seen over the past few years, with amazing coral growth..and not all of them have every gadget known to man..or if they do, I virtually guarantee that NONE of them are using every one of the crazy features that these things have to achieve what they’ve achieved with their tanks.
It’s not that you CANT get there with all of these gadgets tricked out to the max…Of course you can. From my perspective, I just can’t fully understand them. It’s good that you can monitor this and that and control this device from your phone..I get that. But I wonder how you can get Joe Average refer (or “Joe Below Average Reefer, in my case) to actually understand really how these things work?
The manufacturers are superb. I know some of the people who make and market these things..and they’re brilliant. Really. It’s just that I literally feel stupid when they demo this stuff to me. I want to use it..I do use it..but probably no where near its capabilities- simply because I don’t UNDERSTAND the capabilities…And I can’t help but wonder how many reefers DO? Maybe it’s that I’m just not a gearhead, and I’m more interested in the corals and fishes than I am in the gadgetry. Fair enough.
I totally get THIS stuff...
Still, I wonder: Can I really be the only one who’s head spins when they start “explaining” this stuff? I mean, am I really just a throwback guy who should stay out of the way when state of the art gear is discussed and implemented (well, maybe)? I can’t be. Can I? I rather fancy myself as a “trickle down” reefer. In other worlds, I’ll embrace the latest gadgetry and support those who make it. But when it comes time to use it, I’ll try to learn what I can, and ultimately use if for probably 10% of what it can do. I mean, it’s one thing to turn on my lights, and quite another to program multi-day lighting and flow sequences while activating my kalk dripper and closing my garage doors at predetermined hours- whatever. See? I just sort of drift off into a coma..
And then, I wonder if the technology is SO capable that it leaves a percentage of hobbyists behind..I’m not a technophobe- but I am confused. And I think I’d really use a lot of these features if I could understand them better. I guess I’m not a target market…but I should be, right? I’m probably the exact kind of busy reefer type that could ultimately benefit the most from this stuff. But instead, I use it for what I can, recommend it heartily, and probably understand 5% of its function…THAT is a shame. I know that I will be checking out the Apex User’s Meetup Group at MACNA- what a great way to learn about this stuff in more detail.
I need to lose my techno haze and dismiss the high school physics lab flashbacks that overcome me every time someone tries to explain to me how cool their new electronic thingamajig works. On the other hand, I can totally get behind LED lighting and stuff like that, even though I may not understand the joys of 120 degree beam angle versus 70 degree optics versus “X” amount of emitters per square inch of this-and-that brand (spend some time daily with Jake Adams, like I do, and you WILL learn some of this regardless!). What’s WRONG with me?
To me, this is a bit more understandable..
The only real “fear” I have about this tech influx is that it will attract or appeal to certain types of people/reefers, who feel that, because the technology does all the “heavy lifting”, they can avoid the basics of “get-your-hands-wet” reefing. In other words, the gear does all the hard stuff and all they have to do is sit back and enjoy the pretty corals…I mean, you CAN do that, I suppose…for a while, at least…But not only will this be non-sustainable- I’d make the argument that you’ll actually miss out on the joys of the art of reef keeping, tortuously accumulated over several decades of development by thousands of our predecessors all over the world.
You don’t want to miss that “essence.”
And, in all fairness, I don’t think that many reefers who use these devices extensively ARE missing the “essence”- but I do imagine a small percentage of people who have fallen into that techno trap, if you will. I know a few of them. They're great at running the latest gear, but their reefs, well...anyways.
Another bad analogy, maybe:
This will make my life easier..I suppose?
I read a ton of marketing blogs and such for business…and I constantly see lists of things like “The top 5 apps that will make your social media strategy easier”, “3 Apps your BTC business must have to stay competitive”- stuff like that. And what it boils down to, in some instances, is that you have to learn the complexities and quirks of several different apps just to “save time” on a task that, in reality, isn’t that onerous…You spend more time learning and using the app than you do taking on the supposedly tedious task some of these were meant to make easier! But I bet there is a large number of people who think that using these complicated apps and such is “THE” way to business success…And I wonder if they get so bogged down in the minute details of running these “productivity apps” that they become-well…unproductive.
SO, anyways- that’s my personal confession and cross to bear.
My advice to YOU- USE these systems! Learn all that you can about them. They’re amazing, wonderfully designed systems. And interact with the many, many cool people who work with them. They'll help you. Don’t be afraid. Support them. Use them. Learn what you can about them. They're great.
On the other hand, if your eyes glaze over, your head spins, and you start feeling faint when reefers talk about this stuff, don’t feel discouraged. Know that you can always try to learn this stuff if you desire- and more important- that you have a unique set of skills, knowledge, and experience that works for YOU…even if it’s not the latest Bluetooth-enabled, ultra-complex way of doing stuff…If you’re having success, feel good. Don’t ever be afraid to grow and learn, just don’t feel bad if the stuff that everyone else seems to drool over doesn’t do it for you.
I mean, why do people like Duncans so much? I don't get it.
Anyways, back to work. I’m getting an alarm from our Apex…and I need to check on the Vanadium level in one of our raceways, seems that our last Triton test indicated a slightly elevated level. And, doesn’t that talk stirrer on Raceway #5 need adjusting? Hmm..
Okay, stay with it…Stay current…stay YOURSELF!
And most important,
Stay Wet
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
Do as you learn, and you'll understand and remember it better, most likely.
