How far have you come?

[AScientificReefer]

Hey guys, in this hobby one of the best feelings has to be progress. It comes in many different forms. New equipment, coral growth, new livestock...etc. Comparing yourself to the reefer you once were when starting out, and how far along you've come with your tank has to be euphoric at times and its something many of us reflect upon.
That being said,

• What progress have you made recently?
• What growth have you made since you first started?

 

[miguelvega76]

I started with aquariums when i was 14 i am 47 now. I think i have learned that patience is king. I learned to do one change at a time and let it settle . I learned that you dont have to have the latest and greatest stuff to enjoy the hobby. I learned a lot from other reefers , i think one of the greatest things now is the availability of info at your reach. You can easily learn for books , videos , forums , conferences. It is nice that things have evolved but basics are the same : right lighting , right flow , righ chemistry , husbandry . The more you can replicate what the animals need the better. I have done a ton of errors and have my own little successes , I enjoyed all the journey so far .

 

[exnisstech]

The biggest progress I have made is to finally develop the patience to step back and let my tanks mature and stop getting caught up in all the additives on the market. I still dose some things but for a while I was bouncing around like a ping pong ball trying this and that. I have 3 tanks one 4ish years old, one a few months and one about 7 years old. The oldest tank has really come alive over the last year. Nitrates are high as well as phosphates and everything is loving it. The first thing my Gal does when she gets home is go to that tank and look things over. Then she says "darn everything in here is looking good" and I'm like YES finally she notices!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I mean, I have gone from knowing nothing to having somewhat of a grasp on things in a year. So yeah, I guess that is good progress haha

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I know enough now to make a big mistake. I have a cautious optimism that I know what I am doing. Mistakes still happen, but I know not to overreact and can usually remedy them unassisted. But there are those days...

 

[exnisstech]

I know enough now to make a big mistake

Isn't that the first thing we learn

 

[PhishMonger84]

i started off at 16 with a black moor goldfish that i got for free at a pet store that was closing. i got it during a break from drivers ed. all i had was a bowl, i did 100% water changes without regard to anything- other than omitting soap. lived until i left for college a few years later.
next to a 29 gallon oscar tank, then a 55 red devil. kept and bred everything i could
flash forward 23 years i have several 6 foot tanks and a litany of smaller tanks fresh, salt, tropic and temperate.

With freshwater i know what i doing, with salt theres still a fear of losing new fish- which i hate- but i'm learning and quick to notice when im wrong.

recently had a ricordia split- that was awesome and my GSP and xenia are always waving at me.

I want to get to a place where i can add new fish without fear of losing them

 

[X-37B]

I have come alomg way now that im retired and its alot different than the 80's and 90's thats for sure.
Todays reef systems and products make it simple. Its the people that make it hard.
Most of all have patience, a plan, and follow through.

 

[vetteguy53081]

A couple weeks ago placed me at 41 years in the hobby- Never gets old yes, still learn things here and there in an ever changing hobby and culture

 

[Timfish]

Started keeping reefs 4 decades ago. Got way more questions now than I did then. But having fish spawning and inverts reproducing gives me hope I might one day figure it all out.

 

[kevgib67]

I would have to say way more patience than when I started in my 20’s. Now, my corals are sulking I look at my fish and think wow they look fat and happy. Hair algae, I think it’s just a phase and it’s not for ever. Very little stresses me out anymore.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Isn't that the first thing we learn

Well, yes. And then we get confident, have some success, and forget the lessons we learned along the way. I hope to avoid making a big "easy" mistake, because of overconfidence.

 

[shakacuz]

1. What progress have you made recently?
2. What growth have you made since you first started?

1. got some new equipment to add onto the 40B to help keep things monitored as well and organized.
2. personally i’ve learned a great deal regarding reef keeping and have met some cool people through trading/selling.