Who's The Better Reefer?

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

What do you think?
Is the person who never had dino or algae, etc. the better Reefer?
Or is the person who had something, but solved it, the better Reefer?
And why?
This was on BRStv and a conversation between Than and Ryan, and got me thinking myself.

 

[blaxsun]

Don't keep us in suspense... what was their take? I don't necessarily consider myself a "better reefer" beyond those that choose to use tap water to fill up their saltwater tank (I kid you not, this happened recently).

 

[Ben549]

What do you think?
Is the person who never had dino or algae, etc. the better Reefer?
Or is the person who had something, but solved it, the better Reefer?
And why?
This was on BRStv and a conversation between Than and Ryan, and got me thinking myself.

Neither, it's the person who has made it through dino, algae, etc, and can now start tanks while avoiding them all together based on understanding. Luck doesn't make a good reefer but neither does brute force based on experience (without the understanding of the source of said issues). The good reefer knows how to establish a strong microbiome, chemistry, lighting, and inhabitants such that they are in balance.

It all comes down to the acquisition and application of knowledge. Experience can be helpful too but this industry changes so much from new research that experience from 10 years ago isn't as applicable now because of the different practices applied then.

I had challenges with my first tank but I learned a lot in 6 years. Now my new tank has avoided the vast majority of those issues.

 

[blaxsun]

We need a third option in this poll: "Neither".

 

[Slocke]

What do you think?
Is the person who never had dino or algae, etc. the better Reefer?
Or is the person who had something, but solved it, the better Reefer?
And why?
This was on BRStv and a conversation between Than and Ryan, and got me thinking myself.

I saw the video. I think Ryans answer was a bit of a broad statement on a very complex issue. Obviously the person who managed to battle through the problem knows more about battling than the one who didn't. But is the person who constantly is fighting X better then the person who dealt with the issue before it became an issue? Yes you want to know how to beat an issue but learning how to avoid the issue is surely more important?

 

[brandon429]

The never factored third option:

Fixes X for others, what happened in their own tank never matters

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

Neither, it's the person who has made it through dino, algae, etc, and can now start tanks while avoiding them all together based on understanding. Luck doesn't make a good reefer but neither does brute force based on experience (without the understanding of the source of said issues). The good reefer knows how to establish a strong microbiome, chemistry, lighting, and inhabitants such that they are in balance.

It all comes down to the acquisition and application of knowledge. Experience can be helpful too but this industry changes so much from new research that experience from 10 years ago isn't as applicable now because of the different practices applied then.

I had challenges with my first tank but I learned a lot in 6 years. Now my new tank has avoided the vast majority of those issues.

That's about where I am at too. But problems do arise sometimes.

We need a third option in this poll: "Neither".

Fixed it.

 

[Miami Reef]

I think we all go through uncontrollable events that can sometimes be out of our control: power outages, natural disasters, equipment failures, random pest outbreaks etc

I think if you are successful, you are a good reefer.

If you failed and tried again, you are a good reefer.

Nobody is better than others. So much in reefing is based on luck, I believe.

 

[7of9]

I don’t see it as a competition. I just want to be a better reefer than me a year ago.

 

[blaxsun]

I think if you are successful, you are a good reefer.
If you failed and tried again, you are a good reefer.

If you successfully place a tang in a 25-gallon tank, you're a good reefer.
If you share this with everyone, you're a bad reefer.

 

[1112-425XL]

 

[Ben549]

That's about where I am at too. But problems do arise sometimes.

Fixed it.

100% agree that you can't prevent all issues but the big ones like you mentioned can be avoided.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

The premise of this is public perception.
Someone who is highly respected is seen as successful. People assume they never have problems, as they more than likely don't admit to them.

Then there are those who admit to problems, overcome them, and share their results.

Of course exceptions apply to both.

 

[Ben549]

I think we all go through uncontrollable events that can sometimes be out of our control: power outages, natural disasters, equipment failures, random pest outbreaks etc

I think if you are successful, you are a good reefer.

If you failed and tried again, you are a good reefer.

Nobody is better than others. So much in reefing is based on luck, I believe.

In my opinion, people are better than others at certain things. I am a terrible brain surgeon for example.

I think the definition of a "good reefer" may be generalized as someone who is intentionally successful at providing the best possible environments for the tank inhabitants through the specific application of knowledge.

I also don't think luck has much to do with reefing in the long term. I think we are just ignorant to many factors and we become better reefers as we learn to better account for those factors.

 

[Ben549]

The premise of this is public perception.
Someone who is highly respected is seen as successful. People assume they never have problems, as they more than likely don't admit to them.

Then there are those who admit to problems, overcome them, and share their results.

Of course exceptions apply to both.

 

[Miami Reef]

In my opinion, people are better than others at certain things. I am a terrible brain surgeon for example.

I think the definition of a "good reefer" may be generalized as someone who is intentionally successful at providing the best possible environments for the tank inhabitants through the specific application of knowledge.

I also don't think luck has much to do with reefing in the long term. I think we are just ignorant to many factors and we become better reefers as we learn to better account for those factors.

I suppose so, but it’s a hobby. If you enjoy your tank, then you are good.

Just because you got lucky, doesn‘t mean you are knowledgeable.

But you also don’t have to have a tank to be knowledgeable. For example, @Randy Holmes-Farley doesn't currently have a reef tank, but I’d gladly take advice from him, and I think he’s a good reefer, even though he had a few problems in the end that made him ultimately shut down his tank.


I think the question is very nuanced.

 

[Miami Reef]

@Roberto Denadai never had dinos in his tank, despite keeping ULN. He doesn’t know why/how, but he’s had multiple amazing tanks with low nutrients. Is an any less of a good reefer just because he didn’t struggle with dinos? Absolutely not!

 

[Peace River]

This conversation reminds me of a discussion that I’ve been part of in the past about the difference between someone who has 10 years of experience versus someone who has one year of experience 10 times. The learning part is key.

 

[Ben549]

I suppose so, but it’s a hobby. If you enjoy your tank, then you are good.

Just because you got lucky, doesn‘t mean you are knowledgeable.

But you also don’t have to have a tank to be knowledgeable. For example, @Randy Holmes-Farley doesn't currently have a reef tank, but I’d gladly take advice from him, and I think he’s a good reefer, even though he had a few problems in the end that made him ultimately shut down his tank.


I think the question is very nuanced.

I don't think that it being a hobby is relevant; these are animals that should be treated as such. If you enjoy having 5 adult tangs in your 20 gallon, you are not a good reefer (even if it makes you happy) because a good reefer should be able to provide a stable and healthy environment for the animals within its glass walls. I know 5 adult tangs in a 20 gallon is a bit far-fetched but you see my point.

I would agree that Randy is a good reefer because I believe he can meet this criteria:
"I think the definition of a "good reefer" may be generalized as someone who is intentionally successful at providing the best possible environments for the tank inhabitants through the specific application of knowledge."
Whether he chooses to have a tank at this time doesn't weigh on how good of a reefer he is, IMO.

There's no shame in not being a "good reefer" if you are new, it gives you something to aspire to.

 

[Ben549]

This conversation reminds me of a discussion that I’ve been part of in the past about the difference between someone who has 10 years of experience versus someone who has one year of experience 10 times. The learning part is key.