So I’m knee deep in planning my next reef tank, and exploring the myriad of options out there for equipment and such. It’s actually the first brand new personal tank I’ve done in several years, other than a really cool freshwater set in my office, so I’m actually a bit “rusty†on some of the equipment choices…I guess being in my “livestock bubble†at Unique Corals for the past 3 years has left me a bit myopic and hyper focused on one aspect of the hobby. I can tell you all about what coral comes from where and grows in such-and-such a fashion, and what kinds of water parameters are best for growth, blah, blah…I use that knowledge daily. But when it comes to the “latest and greatest†hardware, I’m a bit…humbled.
I know what I know...
Oh sure, I’m up on the latest technology and concepts, and I know who makes what, and Jake Adams of Reef Builders, who sees more new gear in a week than we do in a year, is one of my closest reefing friends. However, if you ask me who makes the best protein skimmer or LED light, and why, I might not have a tremendous depth to my answer. I know what works for us on a commercial level, and these are dramatically different products than Id use on my home system. “I know what I knowâ€, I suppose…
Staring at manufacturer’s websites and reading about “bluetooth-enabled" this-and-that made my head spin. Honestly. I mean, somewhere along the line, super high technology just settled into the reef keeping game- for the better of the hobby. But wow, in just a few years, things have changed a LOT! Seems like you have to be an expert at things like computers, cell phones, and home electronics just to grasp how some of this stuff works and what it actually can do!
It was kind of…well- humbling… Made me realize that, even after a lifetime in the aquarium hobby, you simply can’t know everything there is to know. Sometimes, you DO need to rely on “experts†in other aspects of the aquarium field.
Just a couple of days ago, Dave B (UC’s Director of Wholesale Operations) and I ran out to our favorite LFS for the time-honored tradition of looking for fish for our (freshwater) aquariums. Dave was looking for Tetras and livebearers, and I was focused on finding a pair of Apistogramma cichlids. When we were browsing the FW section, we had more than just a working knowledge of these fishes, but the reality was that we were woefully “out of practiceâ€, so to speak, on many of the finer points of FW fish ID, etc. We did what everyone does- we relied on the guys at the shop to steer us in the right direction! And it was a great experience!
You just need a guide sometimes...
Freshwater is no different to me than the hyper-focusing we do in reef keeping on things like Acros and Chalices. When haunting some of the planted tank forums and specialty discussion groups (like cichlids, livebearers, and killies), I realized that there is so much knowledge out there that it’s almost impossible to absorb it all. I was really blown away by the sophistication of the planted people…I mean, it makes running a reef tank look comparatively simple. And the people who breed some of the crazier cichlids and catfishes- they are on a whole different level. Going to one of their conventions a few years back, I was totally engrossed by the knowledge of FW people talking about arcane subjects that we don't even consider in he reef keeping game.
It was cool.
Of course, it's an Apistogramma borelli!
In addition to being humbled by the awesome amount of “stuff†there is to know in the aquarium world, I was struck by a sense of excitement and enthusiasm that I haven’t felt in years…It’s fun to learn about all of these new (to me) things. There are products, procedures, trends, and “experts†in these areas of the hobby that are completely unknown to us on the other side of the fence…how cool is that? These people have decades of experience with say, South American Cichlids- or even more obscure- the genus Amphilophus, for example. Etc., etc., etc. To know what they know, you simply have to DO stuff for a long time…Or ask those who know and LISTEN- then do your own followup research-Just like in the reef world. Sure, you can learn a lot by reading, and more by asking-but in the end, you have to DO stuff in order to get the valuable experience.
My advice, if you find yourself in a “reef rutâ€, looking for something to get you mentally back in the game? Do something, anything- that gets you mentally engaged in a new aspect of the hobby. Do some research, seek out advice of others with experience in those fields, and then…to coin a phrase from an old Nike campaign- Just DO It.
Powerful advice.
With an almost infinite amount of stuff to learn, and enormous resources at our fingertips, including friendly, experienced hobbyists-there has never been a better time to embark on new journeys in the aquarium hobby. Yes, the usual caveats about taking people’s advice with a grain of salt apply, but with the proper attitude, and the willingness to be humble and “new†at something again, the possibilities for enjoyment in the aquarium hobby are as vast as the oceans of the world.
Limitless possibilities.
Think about it.
Have a great weekend, play with your reef, spend time with your families..
And stay wet!
Regards,
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
I know what I know...
Oh sure, I’m up on the latest technology and concepts, and I know who makes what, and Jake Adams of Reef Builders, who sees more new gear in a week than we do in a year, is one of my closest reefing friends. However, if you ask me who makes the best protein skimmer or LED light, and why, I might not have a tremendous depth to my answer. I know what works for us on a commercial level, and these are dramatically different products than Id use on my home system. “I know what I knowâ€, I suppose…
Staring at manufacturer’s websites and reading about “bluetooth-enabled" this-and-that made my head spin. Honestly. I mean, somewhere along the line, super high technology just settled into the reef keeping game- for the better of the hobby. But wow, in just a few years, things have changed a LOT! Seems like you have to be an expert at things like computers, cell phones, and home electronics just to grasp how some of this stuff works and what it actually can do!
It was kind of…well- humbling… Made me realize that, even after a lifetime in the aquarium hobby, you simply can’t know everything there is to know. Sometimes, you DO need to rely on “experts†in other aspects of the aquarium field.
Just a couple of days ago, Dave B (UC’s Director of Wholesale Operations) and I ran out to our favorite LFS for the time-honored tradition of looking for fish for our (freshwater) aquariums. Dave was looking for Tetras and livebearers, and I was focused on finding a pair of Apistogramma cichlids. When we were browsing the FW section, we had more than just a working knowledge of these fishes, but the reality was that we were woefully “out of practiceâ€, so to speak, on many of the finer points of FW fish ID, etc. We did what everyone does- we relied on the guys at the shop to steer us in the right direction! And it was a great experience!
You just need a guide sometimes...
Freshwater is no different to me than the hyper-focusing we do in reef keeping on things like Acros and Chalices. When haunting some of the planted tank forums and specialty discussion groups (like cichlids, livebearers, and killies), I realized that there is so much knowledge out there that it’s almost impossible to absorb it all. I was really blown away by the sophistication of the planted people…I mean, it makes running a reef tank look comparatively simple. And the people who breed some of the crazier cichlids and catfishes- they are on a whole different level. Going to one of their conventions a few years back, I was totally engrossed by the knowledge of FW people talking about arcane subjects that we don't even consider in he reef keeping game.
It was cool.
Of course, it's an Apistogramma borelli!
In addition to being humbled by the awesome amount of “stuff†there is to know in the aquarium world, I was struck by a sense of excitement and enthusiasm that I haven’t felt in years…It’s fun to learn about all of these new (to me) things. There are products, procedures, trends, and “experts†in these areas of the hobby that are completely unknown to us on the other side of the fence…how cool is that? These people have decades of experience with say, South American Cichlids- or even more obscure- the genus Amphilophus, for example. Etc., etc., etc. To know what they know, you simply have to DO stuff for a long time…Or ask those who know and LISTEN- then do your own followup research-Just like in the reef world. Sure, you can learn a lot by reading, and more by asking-but in the end, you have to DO stuff in order to get the valuable experience.
My advice, if you find yourself in a “reef rutâ€, looking for something to get you mentally back in the game? Do something, anything- that gets you mentally engaged in a new aspect of the hobby. Do some research, seek out advice of others with experience in those fields, and then…to coin a phrase from an old Nike campaign- Just DO It.
Powerful advice.
With an almost infinite amount of stuff to learn, and enormous resources at our fingertips, including friendly, experienced hobbyists-there has never been a better time to embark on new journeys in the aquarium hobby. Yes, the usual caveats about taking people’s advice with a grain of salt apply, but with the proper attitude, and the willingness to be humble and “new†at something again, the possibilities for enjoyment in the aquarium hobby are as vast as the oceans of the world.
Limitless possibilities.
Think about it.
Have a great weekend, play with your reef, spend time with your families..
And stay wet!
Regards,
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
thx for posting
) and growing at an unbelievable rate on NLS Goldfish formula, plus a betta in the same tank who seems happy as a clam with the space and his tankmates. Feeling proud of myself...and he's going on to teach my stepniece. n_______n
