What makes a master aquarist?

Cory · Apr 30, 2016

What makes a master aquarist is study, patience and trying again until you get it right.

What is the result of study, patience and trying until you get it right? A beautiful reef, with animals that as Paul b said die of old age.

Also having an ability to identify problems before they happen is a skill a master would know.

Im also a believer in "more biology and less technology". But i think id change that to, "more ecology and less technology".

Humblefish · Apr 30, 2016

I've yet to meet a "master aquarist" as we all have our strengths & weaknesses. I'm good with fish and treating fish diseases, but I'm not the guy you'd want to ask about SPS or help plumb your tank.

Similarly, I know some great coral growers who can't seem to keep any fish alive for very long. No one in this hobby is a master of all facets.

stylaster · Nov 1, 2016

Thanks guys for all the great comments

Paul B · Nov 2, 2016

I have a cousin who is a Professor of Marine Biology. He has never even kept a goldfish much less a salt water fish. For his degree he had to SCUBA dive exactly once. When he looks into my tank he has no idea what he is looking at because all of his experience came from a book. If I show him a worm, he can nane it and tell me the scientific name, where it comes from and what religion it is, but will have no idea how to keep it alive.
Marine Biology doesn't mean much in this hobby.
This hobby encompasses plumbing, electricity, DIY skills, patience and experience.

rockworm · Nov 2, 2016

Humblefish said:
I've yet to meet a "master aquarist" as we all have our strengths & weaknesses. I'm good with fish and treating fish diseases, but I'm not the guy you'd want to ask about SPS or help plumb your tank. Similarly, I know some great coral growers who can't seem to keep any fish alive for very long. No one in this hobby is a master of all facets.

I know this is an older post, but I can so relate in a different aspect. I have a large tank full of SPS that are thriving. However, I cannot keep a zoanthid alive, no matter what I do. I even have a separate smaller tank for LPS and "softies" and my zoas wont survive. I just dont buy zoas anymore, as much as I like them. This hobby can be funny at times and I have come to accept the anomolies.

Paul B · Nov 2, 2016

I have been in this for 60 years and I can't keep a goldfish alive. Those dam things keep dying.

rockworm · Nov 2, 2016

Paul B said:
I have been in this for 60 years and I can't keep a goldfish alive. Those dam things keep dying.

Maybe try them in freshwater?[emoji16]

Paul B · Nov 2, 2016

OMG, Freshwater!!!! How do you make that?

rockworm · Nov 2, 2016

Paul B said:
OMG, Freshwater!!!! How do you make that?

Lol. I tried it once for my daughter many years ago. Lets just say I was not very successful. [emoji1]

rockworm · Nov 2, 2016

ps PaulB, I love your threads and always look forward to your replies in various other threads. [emoji106]

Vaughn17 · Nov 2, 2016

rockworm said:
Maybe try them in freshwater?[emoji16]

HAHA!

Vaughn17 · Nov 2, 2016

I'm a fisheries biologist, and I wouldn't trade the knowledge I've gained over the last three years in this hobby for a masters degree, no way.

Paul B · Nov 2, 2016

rockworm said:
ps PaulB, I love your threads and always look forward to your replies in various other threads. [emoji106]

Thank you. I am emulsified and feel tingly all over.

I am also beside myself. A few moments ago I was over there ----------> and now I am over here.

I am very proud of the fact that I don't have a masters degree. Unlike thermometers, I have no degrees. Don't need them and don't want them. I have too many things as it is.

tripdad · Nov 2, 2016

I think there is the tendency to confuse "master" with " flawless or perfect". A master carpenter, painter, electrician, millright, etc. doesn't mean they are perfect. It means they have the experience , skills and knowledge to achieve the best possible outcome in the majority of cases. No one is perfect but they can use they're skills and talents to get through challenges and succeed most of the time. Are there "master aquarists "? I think some qualify, yes, not me by any means but some. The one difference I see is that we are dealing with "life". As someone said you can't master mother nature but I think you can master aquarium keeping skills and knowledge. An example for me would be Chinchai . He can repeatedly produce a great result given a challenge, he is not perfect but "skilled". Now if I could just "Master" this da.. typing stuff! I'm a craftsman not a bloody typist.

NanaReefer · Nov 3, 2016

Master Aquarist = ^^^^what he said^^^^ [emoji38][emoji38]

Paul B · Nov 3, 2016

We are all flawed (some more flawed than others and some of us have more hair) but I think something close to a Master aquarist is someone who always allows his fish to live to their supposed lifespan and never loses any to disease. If your fish dies from a disease, you failed. I am much better with fish than corals so I am also badly flawed.
Most of us can't be really good at everything, but we keep trying. I also can't break dance, sing or grow hair.

gregcoyote · Aug 6, 2018

I don’t know about “masters.” There are those that know a lot about marine biology, but can’t design a sump. There are engineer types like me that after 40 years still mispronounce the names of common corals. Knowledge is a wonderful thing but the truth is its consistency and perseverance that creates a long lived, stable reef. Paul is right, if your fish don’t live their natural lifespans or longer, you are no “master.” Corals have no lifespan, so the more old corals you still have, the more of a master you are.

Gareth elliott · Aug 6, 2018

I also think there are many different facets to master.

Theres some people that can make gorgeous aquascapes. Others that have the technical prowess to create a life support system that looks like it belongs in a magazine. Others can build their own equipment. And still others have successfully kept the most challenging of species, etc.

Mastery imo is knowing your strengths and seeking and accepting advice for your weaknesses.