What makes a master aquarist?

[stylaster]

I have been in the hobby for 24 years and still i am no where near being a master aquarist. I have successfully kept LPS, SPS, Softies even bred giant clams. I have never bred fish before or have much desire to, just not my thing.

What do you guys think makes a master aquarist? Some of my personal ideals would be keeping a reef tank going over 10 years without a crash, or running a successful NPS reef that imo takes some real skill
What do you think?

 

[Russellaqua]

In the end I think it boils down to the long term maintaining of conditions suitable for the livestock being kept. I know that's a very generic statement, but each tank is stocked differently and has a different bioload. If the aquarist is able to maintain the conditions needed to make their tank's inhabitants thrive for the long haul, I feel they have mastered aquarium keeping. After all, many of us start with softie and LPS tanks, and when we "master" those, some of us try SPS. Those that try SPS and succeed aren't necessarily better aquarists, they simply have different interests and learned a different set of skills. The same applies to those people who raise and breed fish or inverts. Simply a different set of skills.

 

[Mike J.]

I agree wholeheartedly with both of the above statements. Peer review is what makes a master aquarist, not self proclaimed through ego. You want to get a job building a tank for someone else then you should have a successful one of your own to show.

 

[Genesis Corals]

I agree with the duration of keeping a tank healthy is one aspect. I thought I knew all the answers, but through lack of knowledge and a little laziness my tank just crashed after a year and a half. I am taking my knowledge that I have gained through these forums and actually following it this time, I will let you know it 10 years if I think I have mastered this yet. Another aspect is the willingness to keep learning as I am sure Stylaster can acknowledge that 24 years ago the hobby was completely different then today and that with technology and research hopefully in 10 years from now things like AEFW, Ich, red bugs, etc will all have better remedies. The last aspect I want to contribute is the willingness to pass on a fish or invert because it won't work with your tank. Yeah, yeah call the tang police (even though tangs in the wild can travel well past what even the largest aquariums can provide), but the willingness to know what environment you can provide and the compatibility. I know this is a hobby, but we are still handling life and should treat it as best as we can.

 

[Paul B]

I think it is to have most of your animals die of old age which in many fish is over 20 years, many of your fish are spawning and keeping a tank healthy for decades, not just a few years and knowing how "not" to have any problems due to disease or environmental issues.

 

[Eienna]

I don't think this hobby will ever be truly "mastered." Even the best among us are still learning and growing.

 

[skinz78]

I honestly don't know, but if I do figure it out I'll let you know for sure LOL...

 

[Dtech07]

I agree with everyone but i don't believe a persons time in the hobby should be the in the measuring but how they think and act in the hobby. Meaning
"Do you practice what your preach" Have you (TRULY) taking to read and ask BEFORE you install or setup, do you React or Act when a issue arise, and whats your drive in the hobby Money or the Hobby itself. For me this has been the measuring lines i have set my self to and seen those who have been in the hobby far longer than i display.
I find that the younger hobbyist learn fast and bring the excitement to the hobby but react and change constantly (NOT ALL) while ones that come in older and do to life experiences take there time and not rush (sometime to slow haha).
I think it comes down to knowledge and being humble and asking question, reading, and researching PRIOR to doing and setting up then acting upon that knowledge and resources you now have available and adjusting as the hobby matures.

 

[vlangel]

Wow, I never really thought about that! I've had aquariums for 30 years but only began my first reef tank about 7-8 years ago. I maintenanced marine aquariums on behalf of a LFS for probably 7 years. I raised baby clownfish, have kept a crocea clam that seems to be thriving and haven't had a tank crash in probably 10 years but I definitely would not consider myself a master! I do things the old way and still know very little about reactors or LEDs.

 

[TJ's Reef]

Great Thread topic Roy, and also agree with above statements. I consider myself an 'Old Salt' as have been at this for nearly 32 years but.... also consider myself a lifelong student of the 'Art of Reefkeeping' when and if I ever feel that I've reached the ultimate pinnacle to this hobby I'll look for a new bump on my head which will either be a new lobe (ya... right) or some sort of injury from a fall. One of the biggest draws to this hobby has been its seemingly never ending learning curve.... the more we know, the more there is to know. Like Daryll (Dtech) aside from ones history I put more value to ones maturity no matter their age than to most other criteria in classifying other Reefkeepers.


Cheers, Todd

 

[bct15]

I don't think keeping a tank successful for a lengthy time with no problems makes a person a master aquarist. I believe experience allows for the mastery of anything. I feel to be a master aquarist you should have kept a tank going for several years and experiences and CORRECTED many problems. A master aquarist is somebody that people can turn to whenever they have any problem and that person can diagnose the issue and assist in correcting it. Somebody that has never had an issue isn't a master, they are lucky.

 

[Paul B]

I don't think this hobby will ever be truly "mastered." Even the best among us are still learning and growing.​

This is certainly true and the longer this hobby goes on, the more we seem to not know.

 

[vlangel]

This is certainly true and the longer this hobby goes on, the more we seem to not know.

Amen to that!

 

[Intricateart]

Patience and then some more patience.

 

[Zachary.gingell]

An aquarium master in my opinion is not necessarily someone who has had an aquarium for say 30 years without crashing. time with and easy Aquarium that had no problems won't make you a pro but I believe a true master has been in the hobby for many years and has come across problem after problem and either overcome or learned and found a solution to correct it. A. Master has seen most problems understand it, diagnosis it, and can fix it. They understand how the ecosystem works and how to keep it in balance. These masters are few and far between but I consider myself lucky because I know someone I would consider a master and in my inexperience has helped me overcome many issues I have had with my Reef without ever seeing it and I hope someday to understand this hobby even half as well as he does.

 

[Eienna]

This is certainly true and the longer this hobby goes on, the more we seem to not know.

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[NanaReefer]

A Master "knows" how to avoid disaster.

 

[Mr. Microscope]

A Master "knows" how to avoid disaster.

Well said.

Also, in reguards to the OP, I'd say being in the hobby 24 years and being humble enough to admit you don't know it all pretty much makes you as much of an expert as I think you can get without a marine biology degree or something.

 

[jt17]

Everyday there are new biological discoveries and there is still so much we do not know. Until we know everything there is to know about the oceans and marine animals in captivity, how can we master it? Until we can understand and cure STN or RTN it will be hard to master this hobby, and thats just one example of many unexplained phenomenon in reef tanks. Master Aquarist would have to be an honorary title given by peers out of respect for someone who knows more than they, but not everything. To proclaim oneself as a master aquarist would be more about ego than accomplishment. I've learned a lot in my time but consider myself master of none. One thing I love about reef keeping is I'm always learning something new and I fear if I were to somehow "master" it then it would no longer hold any challenges and I would then become bored with it.

What is the level just before Master? Maybe We can all strive to achieve that level. lol

 

[Aquaph8]

A very understanding wife