Sharing BRSTV’s video!

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I wish some of those scientists would put out entertaining videos for me to watch. I also wish some of them even had a tank at one point or could show serious success with their scientific approach to keeping an aquarium

Bill nye the reefer guy? I believe some have gone to great lengths creating websites full of information, tons of diy instructables, a gazillion articles, and even answer a question or two on line. Not that I anyone needs defending, but they are out there and very helpful to a lot of people.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Just because I have a book does not mean that I can read it...

I often pretend, but the books usually upside down

 

[shootingstar_reef]

I’m just concerned that many people equate what they see in BRS videos to what they might read in articles by scientists or aquarists that don’t sell anything.

I agree with this, but articles by scientists and aquarists (that i've found) aren't from the lens of the reefer hobbyist, making their translation difficult. It would be nice if there was some sort of middle-ground, but I don't know too many university professors writing grants on, let's say, euphyllia placement in the aquarium. Obviously BRS doing these types of ....pilot experiments? comes with A LOT of caveats, but there aren't a lot of people setting up 12 nearly identical tanks for months to explore an idea.

 

[shootingstar_reef]

The youtube channel "Reefman" has some absolutely great content on breaking down marine biology articles!

 

[ABQ_CHRIS]

@AydenLincoln, thanks for the post. I really enjoyed the video. I imagine Ryan is trying to do the best he can, just like the rest of us.

 

[rtparty]

Bill nye the reefer guy? I believe some have gone to great lengths creating websites full of information, tons of diy instructables, a gazillion articles, and even answer a question or two on line. Not that I anyone needs defending, but they are out there and very helpful to a lot of people.

I agree that many of them are out there and have given us loads of information and their time. It's priceless IMO. One of them is in here (yes, that a butt kiss.)

Yet, none of them are setting up these kinds of experiments and documenting it all. I want to see the science play out. I want to understand how I can use it and share it with others. A Randy article, as amazing as they are, is quite deep for someone new. Showing them the BRS 5 minute guide instead is a much better path to success. They can read Randy articles in a year or two.

The video in this thread wasn't anything groundbreaking IMO. It didn't question science so far as I can tell. It simply reenforced (and even showed) things many of us have been taught and heard for more than a decade.

One of the earliest lessons I was ever taught by an early mentor of mine was how important pods were. They were vital to success in his opinion. So I've always set up my tanks with pods being an extremely important part of success and I've had success. It's good to see all that in action and be reminded about it IMO.

 

[Davisc1293]

Kind of shocked to see all the hate towards BRS, sure they are a company who stops existing if they don't sell you stuff, but I've never sensed any malice on their part. Yes, I take everything they say with a grain of salt. That's exactly why I joined this forum. I've gotten phenomenal help from several people here and its been invaluable, but I've also gotten a bit of recycled crap and I was left questioning if the person responding even read my post at all. I honestly think I've gotten some of the best info about the hobby from their videos and even with the whole vibrant fiasco which I will say was a **** show, I do vaguely remember Ryan's skepticism about the product even while promoting it stating he was leery about products who wont tell you what's in it but said it seemed to work when used as directed.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I agree that many of them are out there and have given us loads of information and their time. It's priceless IMO. One of them is in here (yes, that a butt kiss.)

Yet, none of them are setting up these kinds of experiments and documenting it all. I want to see the science play out. I want to understand how I can use it and share it with others. A Randy article, as amazing as they are, is quite deep for someone new. Showing them the BRS 5 minute guide instead is a much better path to success. They can read Randy articles in a year or two.

The video in this thread wasn't anything groundbreaking IMO. It didn't question science so far as I can tell. It simply reenforced (and even showed) things many of us have been taught and heard for more than a decade.

One of the earliest lessons I was ever taught by an early mentor of mine was how important pods were. They were vital to success in his opinion. So I've always set up my tanks with pods being an extremely important part of success and I've had success. It's good to see all that in action and be reminded about it IMO.

I’m with you on this, or even getting them to work together with the understanding that the funding comes from somewhere, as in any case really, have an equilibrium and have true science and a personality to dumb it down for the rest of us…..no offense to the rest of us…..mainly me, dumb it down for me! Haha

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Kind of shocked to see all the hate towards BRS, sure they are a company who stops existing if they don't sell you stuff, but I've never sensed any malice on their part. Yes, I take everything they say with a grain of salt. That's exactly why I joined this forum. I've gotten phenomenal help from several people here and its been invaluable, but I've also gotten a bit of recycled crap and I was left questioning if the person responding even read my post at all. I honestly think I've gotten some of the best info about the hobby from their videos and even with the whole vibrant fiasco which I will say was a **** show, I do vaguely remember Ryan's skepticism about the product even while promoting it stating he was leery about products who wont tell you what's in it but said it seemed to work when used as directed.

There’s a lot of truth in this statement…although I wouldn’t quite call it hate. Skepticism for sure. He always says trailblazers are the first to get stabbed in the back. I truly appreciate everything he has done wether I agree with it or not, it is certainly beneficial.

 

[Davisc1293]

The youtube channel "Reefman" has some absolutely great content on breaking down marine biology articles!

Just watched one of his videos and will be watching many more.... This is what we need. more good channels to follow?!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

And so the age old question rears it's ugly head ... who pays for the knowledge?

Does the oil company paying for the study influence the study or do they influence by choosing a study that has good odds to support them? Does it matter if we know the source of the funding?

Where are the R&D departments of yore?

Universities are about ready to find out about the market equation. Because some aren't seeing their unbiasedness any more. Maybe it's a good thing.

If you look at the Vibrant debacle, companies sold it and made money and talked about it in videos. I wonder how many people thought BRS was informing them of the latest and greatest thing? Seriously, that is a poster child for why I’m not a big fan of being educated by people who do not fully understand the products they “inform” about.

But it was experienced aquarists with nothing to gain who spent thousands of dollars of their own money to actually test and analyze and review, and ultimately debunk the product. Why didn’t BRS do that?

Who pays?

Reefers scammed by UWC, who believed the “test” they saw BRS perform in a video. Yes, really great testing there. Gotta love being informed.

Who else? People smart enough to determine for themselves it was a bogus product by spending their own money.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree with this, but articles by scientists and aquarists (that i've found) aren't from the lens of the reefer hobbyist, making their translation difficult. It would be nice if there was some sort of middle-ground, but I don't know too many university professors writing grants on, let's say, euphyllia placement in the

I’m not asking for something that doesn’t exist. There are loads of good articles out there.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I agree that many of them are out there and have given us loads of information and their time. It's priceless IMO. One of them is in here (yes, that a butt kiss.)

Yet, none of them are setting up these kinds of experiments and documenting it all. I want to see the science play out. I want to understand how I can use it and share it with others. A Randy article, as amazing as they are, is quite deep for someone new. Showing them the BRS 5 minute guide instead is a much better path to success. They can read Randy articles in a year or two.

The video in this thread wasn't anything groundbreaking IMO. It didn't question science so far as I can tell. It simply reenforced (and even showed) things many of us have been taught and heard for more than a decade.

One of the earliest lessons I was ever taught by an early mentor of mine was how important pods were. They were vital to success in his opinion. So I've always set up my tanks with pods being an extremely important part of success and I've had success. It's good to see all that in action and be reminded about it IMO.

I understand the point you are making, however beleive it or not there are quite a few scientists posting helpful hints on this forum.

Whether it be chemists, biologists, or engineering types they are attracted by the unknowns in this hobby, and do reply in their areas of expertise.

Identifying the wheat from the chaff can be tricky, call that 101 in keeping a reef tank.

 

[fish farmer]

Keep looking, it doesn't have to break the bank.

Great Florida rock doesn't have to be that much. Keep looking.

I do look all the time. For me to get a price under $10 a pound including shipping, I have to buy over 20 lbs and have it shipped to an airport. Next day to my house is going to cost me more for the small amounts I want regardless of the vendor.

I get it, $78 for ups overnight, double of what paid 20+ years ago.

 

[gbroadbridge]

I do look all the time. For me to get a price under $10 a pound including shipping, I have to buy over 20 lbs and have it shipped to an airport. Next day to my house is going to cost me more for the small amounts I want regardless of the vendor.

I get it, $78 for ups overnight, double of what paid 20+ years ago.

You chose the hobby.

 

[HuduVudu]

If you look at the Vibrant debacle, companies sold it and made money and talked about it in videos. I wonder how many people thought BRS was informing them of the latest and greatest thing? Seriously, that is a poster child for why I’m not a big fan of being educated by people who do not fully understand the products they “inform” about.

But it was experienced aquarists with nothing to gain who spent thousands of dollars of their own money to actually test and analyze and review, and ultimately debunk the product. Why didn’t BRS do that?

Who pays?

Reefers scammed by UWC, who believed the “test” they saw BRS perform in a video. Yes, really great testing there. Gotta love being informed.

Who else? People smart enough to determine for themselves it was a bogus product by spending their own money.

This sounds eerily familar to Flint Michigan. The difference is that when a private enterprise gets called out and loses their reputation they entirely collapse and all of the resources and all of the employees are scattered to the wind to reform in new ways. When an instuition with a monopoly on force gets in this situation then nothing happens and nothing changes. Investigators have concluded that the city of Flint Michigan and by proxy the people that created the crisis did nothing wrong, and nothing should be done. Huh??? This, this is THE problem.

If BRS stops serving their customers they are toast, and my thought ... good riddance. If what they are selling is Vibrant and if they are weak from other scandals and Vibrant collapes them in scandal then they deserved it. Becuase if there is one thing I know about business its that your reputation is everything.

Yes BRS is trying to sell me something. Good I know what their motivations are. What about my local water district? I don't know why they are doing what they are doing. Are they getting me water out of the goodness of their hearts? Are they doing it because they are recieving a profit? Their motivations are non obvious. This scares the hell out of me and I am shocked more people can't see how dangerous of a situation this is.

We are told over and over again to trust institutions. The problem is when they can't fail. This is ultimately the issue. There is also an issue surrounding "services". When I can avoid a service then I don't have to participate in it's corruption. If BRS is selling Vibrant I think they are doing harm by doing it then I am free to go find someone else that has what I need. I am free to be free of it. When I can't be free of it and it can't die I am enslaved to it.

Creative destruction is real and it is important for human progress but too often people think for whatever reason that something is so important that it can't perish. Ideas, companies institutions need to be able to die or if nothing else as Randy points out in the video be competed with so that they can't take over everything because left to their own devices human organizations will. And in this monolithic growth, destruction is enevitable.

Scams are as inevitable as the sun rising every day. What happens when those scams are found out is the true test whether a society is corrupt or not.

 

[HuduVudu]

I do look all the time. For me to get a price under $10 a pound including shipping, I have to buy over 20 lbs and have it shipped to an airport. Next day to my house is going to cost me more for the small amounts I want regardless of the vendor.

I get it, $78 for ups overnight, double of what paid 20+ years ago.

Just basic napkin math says that 20 years at 2% inflation you will be seeing a 40% rise in cost. This does not include compounding and it isn't based on what the calcultion for inflation was in the 80's.

You need to adjust your expectations.

 

[fish farmer]

Just basic napkin math says that 20 years at 2% inflation you will be seeing a 40% rise in cost. This does not include compounding and it isn't based on what the calcultion for inflation was in the 80's.

You need to adjust your expectations.

No doubt....I was just telling the rock farmer I can't get the amount of product I want for the price under $10 lb without buying in bulk.

 

[ChrsFrssll]

Ryan’s emerging perspective shared in his presentation mirrors cutting edge principles in two fields I work in — community ecology and restoration ecology. These hard-learned principles are two-fold: 1) The order of arrival of species matters; in ecological succession, or human-assisted attempts at ecological restoration, it can strongly dictate the trajectory and outcome of ecosystem development. 2) Top-down processes matter; herbivory and predation can often have strong controlling effects on ecosystem development, and their lack can lead to starkly different, often very undesirable ecological outcomes.

In ecology we often refer to herbivory and predation as “top down” processes, in which the population of consumers regulates that of their prey, whereas control of production by nutrient availability is considered a “bottom up” process. Over rthe past 25 years or so, the importance of top-down processes in structuring ecosystems is coming to be far better understood.

So I appreciate Ryan’s thinking, and the hard experimental work that informs it. While not novel of course in every aspect, I do think Ryan’s pushing in a direction that opens up new avenues of thought in how we conceive of and implement reef aquarium practice. I’ll definitely be putting his ideas to work in my next reef build.

 

[Roli's Reef Ranch]

Glad to see Bertram Capital let Ryan out of the boiler room finally.