par-a-digm noun : a typical example or pattern of something; a model.
An old expression goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.†That expression does NOT apply to our hobby any more. Sure the fine art of reefkeeping has stayed basically the same as it has for a generation- water changes are important, careful stocking of reefs is always beneficial, blah, blah, blah….These are more or less “Best Practices†for our hobby and remain as valid now as they ever were.
What have changed are the philosophies and applications of technique behind some of the most vigorously held beliefs in reefkeeping. I must be a frustrated taxonomist. I love to classify things for some reason. I have breached this subject before, and it's more relevant now. I like defining the reef hobby by "era", and I think we're in what I like to call the "Postmodern Era."
In our “Postmodern Era†of reefkeeping, there has been a paradigm shift of sorts. Conventions have been challenged, truths have been questioned, and some former “rules†have been re-written. We have one foot in our past history, and two eyes looking straight ahead to the future.
And that is so COOL.
Want examples of what I mean? I have plenty.
To cite one very near and dear example we've discussed here recently, I just love that we are once again feeding our systems! Not just the fishes, mind you- but the whole system-the corals, inverts, and other macrofauna.
Remember, it was not all that long ago that “nutrient poor†was our mantra, and everyone had his or her fishes-and corals- on a near “starvation dietâ€. It was believed that reefs were a true “nutrient desertâ€, and the only way to assure that we maintain the long-term integrity our little Saltwater Saharas and their inhabitants was to reduce-or in some cases- eliminate altogether-food inputs, in the belief that we would be contributing to conditions that would be detrimental to our corals if we feed them. Nitrates and phosphates were absolute evil, and you were made to feel like a big fat failure as a reefer if you had detectible levels of either. We certainly embraced this outmoded philosophy when we started our business, and our corals very soon told us we were going about things the wrong way.
Now, in this “enlightened eraâ€, reefers realize the many benefits of feeding our systems. Anemic, pallid-looking corals are no longer a common sight in the hobby- replaced by robust, colorful, and vigorously growing colonies. Common sense in feeding has once again returned, and, thanks to some great manufacturers, proper foods are available for almost all the marine life we regularly keep in our systems. If you’ve been in the hobby for the last decade, you have definitely noticed this shift in our thinking.
OK, some of you may not have held a different thought all along, advocating feeding and a more "relaxed" attitude about nutrient control and export..Perhaps you even took heat for it over the years. I'm gonna do it for the hobby- I'm gonna apologize: On behalf of reefers everywhere for the last decade or so, we're sorry. You're right. Corals should be fed- a lot. See? All better.
Paradigm shift.
Food for thought: and coral growth.
Oh, what about lighting? That most hotly-debated topic in reef keeping is no longer a source of pitched battles like it once was. It's agreed that you no longer need massive amounts of energy-wasting, heat-producing lighting to keep most animals healthy and growing-just a few dozen watts of properly configured, effectively placed, energy-efficient lighting in most cases.
Hobbyists and DIY'ers the world over have turned a creative eye towards new lighting applications, and the development of new technologies- particularly LED- has promised to literally change the way we look at our systems. Dramatic increases in energy efficiency from these new technologies will continue to pave the way for the hobby to become more affordable for everyone in the not-to-distant future. Sure, the initial expenses can be high, but the long-term (and for that matter- the short term, too!) operating costs have fallen dramatically. The ongoing operating costs of a reef aquarium- the “dream killer†for many, will once again fall to more sustainable levels with the continued evolution of these more efficient technologies.
I mean, is LED lighting saving the hobby? No, but it is making it potentially more affordable for many reefers. Paradigm shift.
Even the definition of a “reef tank†has changed. The era of defining a “reef tank†as a system dominated solely by “SPS†corals has been replaced with more creative, open-minded thought. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see entire systems devoted to non-photosynthetic animals, anemones, “LPS†corals, and even macroalgae. The paradigm has shifted such that all of these systems are acknowledged to be “reef tanks†by the hobby at large. The skills required to maintain any of these types of systems are almost interchangeable. It’s perfectly common to hear a hobbyist say, “That’s a cool reef†when staring enviously into an all-Ricordea-dominated system or a Zoa/Paly tank. We are all “reefers†now!
Call it what you want- but it's a "reef system" today.
And, for the first time in decades, it's cool to "come out of the aquarium stand" and admit that you keep freshwater systems; in fact, that you LIKE freshwater systems! Many advanced reefers are setting up freshwater planted systems, and being challenged- and even humbled- on occasion by them. The skill set is not only interchangeable with reef keeping- it's beneficial. Great FW hobbyists make awesome reefers. "Aquatic Cross Training" is here to stay. Paradigm shift.
No salt in this water, but plenty of blood, sweat and tears invested.
"Intelligent" water flow has arrived! Sure, we had powerheads in the hobby as far back as the late 1970’s, but today’s internal pumps are little marvels, cranking out massive amounts of highly controllable flow with efficiencies that previous generations of hobbyists could not even dream of. Sophisticated microprocessor-based controllers are pretty much de rigueur with many of these pumps, helping even the most novice reefer to simulate natural flow patterns, tides, and even seasonal intensities. No longer do you hear of the need for “chaotic, random flow†so commonly espoused in the 1990s. Hobbyists are questioning why you "needed" banks of unsightly powerheads placed in the aquarium to create “flow patternsâ€
Nowadays, the mantra of efficiency is embraced as the flow technique of choice in our hobby. Instead of just taking recommendation to blast our reefs with alternating , inefficient flow patterns, we’re thinking about what actually takes place in the oceans, and why the animals we keep need-and benefit- from flow as much as they do from lighting. Fewer pumps, operating more efficiently-and intelligently- create results once unattainable without a battery of noisy, inefficient pumps. Understanding of “boundry layersâ€, gas exchange, coral feeding patterns, and physiological responses to water motion have driven today’s hobbyists to think about how water movement occurs in nature, and how we can replicate this in our systems to efficiently convey the benefits to the animals we keep. Paradigm shift.
"Intelligent flow" has arrived.
Need one more example?
Consider the so-called “nano†tank and how it's evolved. Not just evolved- but ARRIVED! Today's “postmodern†nano has grown up from its nutrient-laden, overstocked, under-equipped, tacky, oxygen- poor deathtrap status of years past. Thanks to pioneering hobbyists and manufacturers, the nano system is no longer being marketed exclusively as the entre into the hobby for hapless, misinformed beginners. Nanos are now being used as “testbeds†for groundbreaking new concepts by all sorts of hobbyists, and have become an engrossing, addictive subculture within the hobby.
With a new generation of hobby manufacturers turning out high quality, high-tech equipment specifically for nano applications, today’s nano tank has become not just a novelty or diversion, but a full-on alternative to the megareefs that many hobbyists felt for decades defined you as an “advanced†aquarist. Discoveries and breakthroughs are being made daily by enthusiastic reefers operating fantastically-maintained, properly-equipped nano systems. Indeed, it’s entirely fair to say that many of today’s nano systems rival some of their much larger brethren from decades past.
Paradigm Shift.
Mike Cao's NPS nano. Throwing the "deathtrap" label right out the window.
There are literally hundred more examples of the paradigm shift in our “Postmodern Eraâ€, but you get the picture. With the global community created by forums like this, the most important thing in the hobby has not changed, but merely evolved- the exchange of ideas, support, and inspiration among hobbyists. The very best part of this hobby/lifestyle is the people in it, and the relationships we form as a result of our shared obsession. Sure, we may talk about different things than we did even 5 years ago, but we are still talking!
I've traveled the world and talked at tons of clubs. It's the same everywhere: We geek-out about each other’s tanks, give the occasional constructive criticism or pat on the back when it’s deserved. As reefers, we are typically social by nature, sharing stories, ideas, and more than occasionally, a frag or two (or in the case of many reefers- several dozen frags if they know you need them!). Our culture is strong, interwoven, and vital.
The big difference between today and years past is that we are now able to interact daily on a worldwide scale (Thanks to Al Gore's invention of "the inter webs", of course.), and information and breakthroughs are shared at amazing speed. Crazy rare goby accidentally bred in your reef? Put it on Facebook! Got bit by your triggerfish? Take a "selfie" and get 30 "likes" in minutes! It's a whole new world..
But in the end, it’s still all about the people and the common love we have for this crazy hobby. May that paradigm NEVER shift!
Keep looking forward- and Stay Wet.
What paradigms have you seen shift? And what impact have some of the new ideas had on your personal reef keeping journey. Are we in a truly enlightened era, or just more self aware as hobbyists than before? Discuss.
Regards,
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
An old expression goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.†That expression does NOT apply to our hobby any more. Sure the fine art of reefkeeping has stayed basically the same as it has for a generation- water changes are important, careful stocking of reefs is always beneficial, blah, blah, blah….These are more or less “Best Practices†for our hobby and remain as valid now as they ever were.
What have changed are the philosophies and applications of technique behind some of the most vigorously held beliefs in reefkeeping. I must be a frustrated taxonomist. I love to classify things for some reason. I have breached this subject before, and it's more relevant now. I like defining the reef hobby by "era", and I think we're in what I like to call the "Postmodern Era."
In our “Postmodern Era†of reefkeeping, there has been a paradigm shift of sorts. Conventions have been challenged, truths have been questioned, and some former “rules†have been re-written. We have one foot in our past history, and two eyes looking straight ahead to the future.
And that is so COOL.
Want examples of what I mean? I have plenty.
To cite one very near and dear example we've discussed here recently, I just love that we are once again feeding our systems! Not just the fishes, mind you- but the whole system-the corals, inverts, and other macrofauna.
Remember, it was not all that long ago that “nutrient poor†was our mantra, and everyone had his or her fishes-and corals- on a near “starvation dietâ€. It was believed that reefs were a true “nutrient desertâ€, and the only way to assure that we maintain the long-term integrity our little Saltwater Saharas and their inhabitants was to reduce-or in some cases- eliminate altogether-food inputs, in the belief that we would be contributing to conditions that would be detrimental to our corals if we feed them. Nitrates and phosphates were absolute evil, and you were made to feel like a big fat failure as a reefer if you had detectible levels of either. We certainly embraced this outmoded philosophy when we started our business, and our corals very soon told us we were going about things the wrong way.
Now, in this “enlightened eraâ€, reefers realize the many benefits of feeding our systems. Anemic, pallid-looking corals are no longer a common sight in the hobby- replaced by robust, colorful, and vigorously growing colonies. Common sense in feeding has once again returned, and, thanks to some great manufacturers, proper foods are available for almost all the marine life we regularly keep in our systems. If you’ve been in the hobby for the last decade, you have definitely noticed this shift in our thinking.
OK, some of you may not have held a different thought all along, advocating feeding and a more "relaxed" attitude about nutrient control and export..Perhaps you even took heat for it over the years. I'm gonna do it for the hobby- I'm gonna apologize: On behalf of reefers everywhere for the last decade or so, we're sorry. You're right. Corals should be fed- a lot. See? All better.
Paradigm shift.
Food for thought: and coral growth.
Oh, what about lighting? That most hotly-debated topic in reef keeping is no longer a source of pitched battles like it once was. It's agreed that you no longer need massive amounts of energy-wasting, heat-producing lighting to keep most animals healthy and growing-just a few dozen watts of properly configured, effectively placed, energy-efficient lighting in most cases.
Hobbyists and DIY'ers the world over have turned a creative eye towards new lighting applications, and the development of new technologies- particularly LED- has promised to literally change the way we look at our systems. Dramatic increases in energy efficiency from these new technologies will continue to pave the way for the hobby to become more affordable for everyone in the not-to-distant future. Sure, the initial expenses can be high, but the long-term (and for that matter- the short term, too!) operating costs have fallen dramatically. The ongoing operating costs of a reef aquarium- the “dream killer†for many, will once again fall to more sustainable levels with the continued evolution of these more efficient technologies.
I mean, is LED lighting saving the hobby? No, but it is making it potentially more affordable for many reefers. Paradigm shift.
Even the definition of a “reef tank†has changed. The era of defining a “reef tank†as a system dominated solely by “SPS†corals has been replaced with more creative, open-minded thought. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see entire systems devoted to non-photosynthetic animals, anemones, “LPS†corals, and even macroalgae. The paradigm has shifted such that all of these systems are acknowledged to be “reef tanks†by the hobby at large. The skills required to maintain any of these types of systems are almost interchangeable. It’s perfectly common to hear a hobbyist say, “That’s a cool reef†when staring enviously into an all-Ricordea-dominated system or a Zoa/Paly tank. We are all “reefers†now!
Call it what you want- but it's a "reef system" today.
And, for the first time in decades, it's cool to "come out of the aquarium stand" and admit that you keep freshwater systems; in fact, that you LIKE freshwater systems! Many advanced reefers are setting up freshwater planted systems, and being challenged- and even humbled- on occasion by them. The skill set is not only interchangeable with reef keeping- it's beneficial. Great FW hobbyists make awesome reefers. "Aquatic Cross Training" is here to stay. Paradigm shift.
No salt in this water, but plenty of blood, sweat and tears invested.
"Intelligent" water flow has arrived! Sure, we had powerheads in the hobby as far back as the late 1970’s, but today’s internal pumps are little marvels, cranking out massive amounts of highly controllable flow with efficiencies that previous generations of hobbyists could not even dream of. Sophisticated microprocessor-based controllers are pretty much de rigueur with many of these pumps, helping even the most novice reefer to simulate natural flow patterns, tides, and even seasonal intensities. No longer do you hear of the need for “chaotic, random flow†so commonly espoused in the 1990s. Hobbyists are questioning why you "needed" banks of unsightly powerheads placed in the aquarium to create “flow patternsâ€
Nowadays, the mantra of efficiency is embraced as the flow technique of choice in our hobby. Instead of just taking recommendation to blast our reefs with alternating , inefficient flow patterns, we’re thinking about what actually takes place in the oceans, and why the animals we keep need-and benefit- from flow as much as they do from lighting. Fewer pumps, operating more efficiently-and intelligently- create results once unattainable without a battery of noisy, inefficient pumps. Understanding of “boundry layersâ€, gas exchange, coral feeding patterns, and physiological responses to water motion have driven today’s hobbyists to think about how water movement occurs in nature, and how we can replicate this in our systems to efficiently convey the benefits to the animals we keep. Paradigm shift.
"Intelligent flow" has arrived.
Need one more example?
Consider the so-called “nano†tank and how it's evolved. Not just evolved- but ARRIVED! Today's “postmodern†nano has grown up from its nutrient-laden, overstocked, under-equipped, tacky, oxygen- poor deathtrap status of years past. Thanks to pioneering hobbyists and manufacturers, the nano system is no longer being marketed exclusively as the entre into the hobby for hapless, misinformed beginners. Nanos are now being used as “testbeds†for groundbreaking new concepts by all sorts of hobbyists, and have become an engrossing, addictive subculture within the hobby.
With a new generation of hobby manufacturers turning out high quality, high-tech equipment specifically for nano applications, today’s nano tank has become not just a novelty or diversion, but a full-on alternative to the megareefs that many hobbyists felt for decades defined you as an “advanced†aquarist. Discoveries and breakthroughs are being made daily by enthusiastic reefers operating fantastically-maintained, properly-equipped nano systems. Indeed, it’s entirely fair to say that many of today’s nano systems rival some of their much larger brethren from decades past.
Paradigm Shift.
Mike Cao's NPS nano. Throwing the "deathtrap" label right out the window.
There are literally hundred more examples of the paradigm shift in our “Postmodern Eraâ€, but you get the picture. With the global community created by forums like this, the most important thing in the hobby has not changed, but merely evolved- the exchange of ideas, support, and inspiration among hobbyists. The very best part of this hobby/lifestyle is the people in it, and the relationships we form as a result of our shared obsession. Sure, we may talk about different things than we did even 5 years ago, but we are still talking!
I've traveled the world and talked at tons of clubs. It's the same everywhere: We geek-out about each other’s tanks, give the occasional constructive criticism or pat on the back when it’s deserved. As reefers, we are typically social by nature, sharing stories, ideas, and more than occasionally, a frag or two (or in the case of many reefers- several dozen frags if they know you need them!). Our culture is strong, interwoven, and vital.
The big difference between today and years past is that we are now able to interact daily on a worldwide scale (Thanks to Al Gore's invention of "the inter webs", of course.), and information and breakthroughs are shared at amazing speed. Crazy rare goby accidentally bred in your reef? Put it on Facebook! Got bit by your triggerfish? Take a "selfie" and get 30 "likes" in minutes! It's a whole new world..
But in the end, it’s still all about the people and the common love we have for this crazy hobby. May that paradigm NEVER shift!
Keep looking forward- and Stay Wet.
What paradigms have you seen shift? And what impact have some of the new ideas had on your personal reef keeping journey. Are we in a truly enlightened era, or just more self aware as hobbyists than before? Discuss.
Regards,
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
