When do you consider yourself or someone else a "reefer"?

[ReefJake123]

A reefer is someone who has passion for our hobby.

Exactly it’s someone who has a true passion for the beauty of the ocean

 

[Servillius]

I think we’re being unfair. There is no one out there keeping corals alive for any length of time on a household budget (forget commercial maintainance for a second) who doesn’t know some solid basics of what they’re doing.

If some guy came out, ran tests, cleaned glass and did a water change for me, it would reduce the amount of thought that goes into my tank by none. It would just replace the less exciting hour of the month.

Actually, I suddenly wish someone would do that for me.

 

[Z3speed4me]

Well, I consider myself a reefer and have been "learning" this hobby since 1987. I do however use a maintenance company because of my travel schedule. But they follow my instructions and no matter where in the world I am they call me for my specific instructions before beginning the maintenance routines. I also test my water once a week and perform a triton test once a quarter. So am I not a reefer because I need some assistance due to traveling for work?

Being involved for that amount of time along with the simple fact you stated "learning"; I don't think anyone would oppose your passion for the hobby! They are asking you for instructions, you know exactly what you want and what is going on in the tank. Not the same IMO as someone that just has a company come, do stuff, and they leave with no idea what just happened.

Love this question because its loaded. My 2 cents - anyone who put in the effort or provide means for a reef environment to survive and thrive can all call themselves reefers. Let's not divide our community, but embrace all regardless of how they got here. Better ways to spend our time in the hobby. Much love and luck to all that at least try.

Not trying to divide by any means, I appreciate everyone that loves this hobby and the community. However just trying to determine if there is a line between just being an owner of something vs an enthusiast. Similar to the argument in the car world of bought vs built. Just because it's more expensive doesn't make it faster or you a better driver...also doesn't mean just because you paid someone else, you personally don't know what's involved or going on. As @Sharvey103 said, sometimes "time" is an issue, and we don't all have it. I have also called my wife multiple times during business trips to explain what exactly to do or check in on how everything is going. Thankfully she is now learning the hobby slowly as well!

I would say a true reefer is someone who’s been through their first couple of major disasters/complications and still stayed in the hobby !!

Dedication is definitely a deciding factor too, not walking away at the first mishap is a step. Granted it's just as bad if you keep letting the same thing happen, killing your inhabitants without an understanding as to what or why; that's a murderer to me

 

[Z3speed4me]

On that note; can't edit my OP anymore so the poll option is dead in the water unless an admin feels this warrants the addition to elevate the visibility of our discussion.

 

[Evee]

I thing is the time your self invest on the hobby make you a reefer, is like having dogs ,kids,other lets if you pay someone else to you your work is not you invesment money ways it is but blood,sweet and tears is not

 

[Purpletank]

If one considers a reefer anyone who owns a reef tank even if all the maintenance is done by a service, then one is saying dentist offices and malls are reefers. lol! The flip side of the coin is some people own reef tanks and maybe do a tiny bit of maintenance (like Dosing) but hire a maintenance service because their lives are just too full at the time to maintain the tank themselves. The real question here is who cares whether anyone else considers you a real reefer or not?

 

[Lofr]

I consider myself a "novice" reefer, very much in the learning phase. Started a 93 gallon reef tank (with the intent of a FOWLR). Now have 8 fish, about 13 corals (softies and LPS) and, of course, many CUC inhabitants. Having said that, have spent a *lot* of time, research, and mainly patience getting to where I am 5 1/2 months later but have only lost 1 fish and maybe a couple of corals. I think that's not too bad for a novice who still has tons to learn.

 

[Cae]

I am too lazy to be a reefer. You have to be tough to live in my house.

 

[Sipec]

So long story made short; I have a handful of friends that are into this hobby, a few of them I don't really consider as enthusiasts, reef-keepers, or anything of that sort. I basically say they own fish tanks... maybe I am being too harsh!?

This stems from the fact that they have pretty nice tanks setup, with quality equipment, stocked with fish, decent coral, etc... but don't "DO" anything for or with their tanks. Maintenance (bi-weekly/monthly) is paid for, tests are rarely performed on their own if kits are even owned, and everything is basically purchased based on what they are told by these, for lack of a better word, salesmen.

To me at least, the biggest part of this hobby is the accomplishment of building your system and taking care of everything through the ups and downs. During all of these trials and tribulations you are constantly learning and gain a larger appreciation and understanding of the biology and chemistry if you will of what's going on in there. Next time "X" happens you think you know, or at least can assume, it's because of "Y", vs simply saying wow that looks bad or good but really have no clue what's happening so you call someone.

Does anyone disagree? If someone just owns a tank regardless of how beautiful it is, are they really a hobbyist if they don't personally maintain it? Does that make them any less of an enthusiast just because they do not take care of their setup? Can you still LOVE this hobby but not be fully invested (not meaning financially) in what it means to be the owner and in my eyes, the one that should be maintaining a saltwater aquarium?

Discuss....??

Myself. My only friend that has a reef only has one type of coral, gsp, growing all over the tank

 

[Stigigemla]

In the local shop.
If you see someone talking about kH balance thats a Reefer.
If you see someone discussing wich of 3 wrasses is more agressive thats a reefer.
If you see someone wanting a smaller Dory because "my tank is only 10 gallons" thats not a reefer.
If you see someone asking how to make a big blue Acopora live well without having to test the water thats not a reefer.
I have customers that started like that and now they are reefers.
So please: Help them in a friendly way and they might become reefers.

 

[sbash]

Let's break it down a bit based on some key words in the OP...

When we consult the dictionary:

Hobby: an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.
Hobbyist: a person who pursues a particular hobby.
Enthusiast: a person who is highly interested in a particular activity or subject.
Keep: to take care of
Keeper: a person who manages or looks after something or someone.​

So based on simple definitions, if they do not spend time on their tanks they are not a hobbyist, however if they really enjoy the full marine experience (fish, corals and the like) then they are an enthusiast.

BUT, that does not answer the real question: are they 'Reefers'?. Does the term reefer represent the same thing as a gardener does to a garden? I maintain a gardens around the house, but I do not consider a gardener; I lack the enthusiasm for it and consider it a chore rather than a hobby. Some folks enjoy having a nicely landscaped yard, including a well kept garden. If they hire a landscaper to maintain the garden then they are also not gardeners nor do they keep a garden.

Is 'Reefer' short for reef-keeper? A grounds-keeper is not necessarily the one who owns the grounds, likewise with keeping a garden.

Here are a few definitions I pulled from the thread:

Reef Enthusiasts, are what I would describe your friends to be tho to be a Reef-Keeper I feel you have to be a reef enthusiast first!

I think that a "true reefer" is someone who is able to understand that nature is not a picture, but a set of interdependent beings and conditions, which are established and organized in a particular niche in a dynamic equilibrium.

I don’t think you’re a real reefer if you don’t t make and maintain you’re own tank

I consider a person a “reefer” when they have knowledge and appreciation for the wonderful living inhabtants of their tank, and are willing to learn the best was ways of caring for them , regardless of who does the actual work.

A reefer is someone who has passion for our hobby.

 

[madweazl]

When corals are growing instead of dying.

 

[DHill6]

A person who loves the beauty of what the ocean has to offer and comes back time after time when tanks crash. Someone eager to learn and understand how the chemistry affects the animals they have custody of. Persistent People reading Reef2Reef!

 

[DHill6]

A person who loves the beauty of what the ocean has to offer and comes back time after time when tanks crash. Someone eager to learn and understand how the chemistry affects the animals they have custody of. Persistent People reading Reef2Reef!

 

[PanchoG]

I hate to label people, let’s keep R2R spirit anyone who owns and loves his reef is a reefer, knowing or not knowing a thing about the hobby.

 

[lester lloyd]

When you take that bold step from just buying fish and learning what it takes to keep coral and one dot do it successfully you have graduated to a full fledged (reefer) not an owner

 

[zieg9479]

I first opened this thread thinking 'oh no, this provocative title sounds like some elitist thinking..'.

If one considers a reefer anyone who owns a reef tank even if all the maintenance is done by a service, then one is saying dentist offices and malls are reefers. lol! The flip side of the coin is some people own reef tanks and maybe do a tiny bit of maintenance (like Dosing) but hire a maintenance service because their lives are just too full at the time to maintain the tank themselves. The real question here is who cares whether anyone else considers you a real reefer or not?

But I am totally in agreeance with this. I know someone who keeps a home reef and takes care of clients tanks as a side job (actually a couple people like this). For example, an insurance agent has two tanks. It was the agent's idea to get a second tank and he kind of had an inkling for what he wanted, so he asked my friend to set it up. I consider him the owner and her the reefer, only because she husbands the fish and coral, makes the decisions. He ultimately defers to her for all decision making. He is not a reefer.

Alot of people own cars. Alot of people don't spend hours poring over components, tips and tricks for improved hp, mpg, etc or actually get greasy swapping out transfer cases. Those people aren't "wrenchers". They're just car owners. Their mechanics are the 'wrenchers' (reefers of the car world), and a minority of people do alot of DIy and I would call them the 'wrencher'.

By the way, no judgement! I don't fault someone who is too busy or uninterested in reefkeeping for outsourcing all of that. The one reason why it "does matter" is maybe I'll have different topics of conversation depending on how someone engages with the hobby.

 

[Forsaken77]

R2R should turn this one into a poll, hint hint.
I’m set on Reefer status only applying to us that are fully involved in our systems. Anyone who just pays someone else to do everything is called a reef owner and not even a hobbyist IMO. This is a hobby and if you think of any hobby, you do the work because you love it. If you are paying someone to come over and perform everything then you are watching a Reefer perform his hobby on the system you own.

So would you say that people who pay someone to clean up their dogs crap are not real dog owners? In essence, fish are pets, imo. Paying someone to clean the tank shouldn't make you any less of a pet owner. Some people play with their dogs more than others. That's basically equivalent to how much you would tinker with your tank, in a way.

Lots of people are reefers, but go about it at different levels. Just my 2 cents.

 

[NefTunzReef]

A reefer is one who enjoys having a slice of the heavenly ocean in their home or workplace and doesn't give a dang about labels...

 

[Z3speed4me]

So would you say that people who pay someone to clean up their dogs crap are not real dog owners? In essence, fish are pets, imo. Paying someone to clean the tank shouldn't make you any less of a pet owner. Some people play with their dogs more than others. That's basically equivalent to how much you would tinker with your tank, in a way.

If you don’t clean up your own dogs droppings you are a dog owner yes just like you said; not a dog lover. I have 4 dogs and they mean the world to us. There is no way I would compare the love of a dog to that of a fish.....

 

[Gino]

I think that everyone who owns a Reef Tank is a "reefer". There are two category of reefers. The one who owns a reef tank and enjoy his reef tank and the hobbyist. This one is like the majority of us in this forum. We get our hands wet.