Why so hard?
- Thread starter Sump Crab
- Start date
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ZoWhat
10K Club member
When communicating, the perception one gives off to an audience is everything
SPS2020
2500 Club Member
One can enjoy the hobby without making it overly difficult, especially as a FOWLR. For me, the complexity comes into play maintaining stability across the board (Alk, pH, Ca, Mg, Iodine, PO4, NO3, Temp, etc.) to a more finite degree to make Acropora happy. My tank is only 18 months old, bare bottom, dry rock and Acro dominant. All of the aforementioned makes it a more detail oriented hobby than when I only had a tank of palys, zoas, mushrooms and leathers.
OP
OP
Sump Crab
Valuable Member
This is a very valid reason for maintaining a complex reef. Thanks for the insight.
One can enjoy the hobby without making it overly difficult, especially as a FOWLR. For me, the complexity comes into play maintaining stability across the board (Alk, pH, Ca, Mg, Iodine, PO4, NO3, Temp, etc.) to a more finite degree to make Acropora happy. My tank is only 18 months old, bare bottom, dry rock and Acro dominant. All of the aforementioned makes it a more detail oriented hobby than when I only had a tank of palys, zoas, mushrooms and leathers.
OP
OP
Sump Crab
Valuable Member
Missing body language and mannerisms internet perception of someone’s posts is usually decided by the readers rather than writer. Especially considering that most people read one post and do not bother to understand the context of the entire thread.
ZoWhat
10K Club member
You didn't hurt my dang feelings lol. I have a 15yr old tank doing great.... I just come out to R2R ppl watch and get involved in Live Sales
OP
OP
Sump Crab
Valuable Member
ok cool lol. I just realized that my answer from when you asked what I would do if you called me a fool should have been “zoa what” (so what lol). That would have been clever lol.
Jedi1199
2500 Club Member
It is amusing to me how some things seem to take a sharp left turn at Albuquerque and end up somewhere completely opposite of intended.
My ONLY stand on this topic is that "I am against harvesting live rock from the ocean.". That is all.. nothing more, nothing less.
All of my tanks were started using established dry rock from a running system. I fully agree that by doing this approach, the cycling and setup of ALL of my tanks has been far easier than if I had simply opened up a box of dry rock, poured in salt water and hoped for the best.
First of all, the sale of ocean harvested live rock is illegal here in California, so that option is off the table for us no matter what we want or think.
I have a couple boxes of new dry rock that I could add a couple pieces to my tank at any time to seed them and gift them out to any newbie who wants or needs them. This is my personal approach to sustainability. This also allows anyone who asks, to take advantage of the "easy" way to set up a tank that you are promoting.
As I stated last night, I am in agreement with you that running a tank does not need to be difficult. A little bit of applied knowledge and a few drops of experience can make a reef tank almost effortless. It is the gaining of that knowledge and experience that is the challenging part for new aquarists.
I have over 35 years of experience with aquariums. Most of that time was with FW, but the knowledge and experience I gained from that, allowed me to seamlessly move into the reefing side of the hobby. Consider the newcomer who doesn't have that background. They watch the BRS videos and believe that they need a tank full of the latest and greatest equipment, empty their bank accounts and max out their CCs to get it and have no idea why their tank is not running like this months "reef of the month".
Further, as has been stated in previous posts, the stock you intend directly influences how difficult your reef is to maintain. You have a beautiful tank full of softies. I applaud your success. Very well done! However, not everyone is going to be happy with the setup you run. As an example, I started my tank with the idea that I would go with something very similar to what you have. Simple softies, some fish and just watch it grow... As I got more involved with the hobby, my interests shifted and I wished to challenge myself, push my boundaries. I now have a tank with quite a few SPS as well as softies and fish. Personally, I do not find this any more or less difficult than it was before, but the addition of new pieces does change the dynamic of what I need to be aware of in order to sustain a healthy system.
So, MY tanks are all running on the mindset that "simple is easier and better" approach. I have no fancy hi-tech gear, no apex or whatever controllers, no UV this and gfo that.. I have simple canister filters, skimmers and not much else. The only indulgence I have allowed myself as far as equipment goes is my Kessil lights. Are they strictly "needed"? Possibly not, but since installing them in December, I have seen an explosion of growth that I have never experienced using bargain lights. I also am now able to keep SPS corals not only alive, but thriving.
To wrap up, I fully agree with you that live rock, or established dry rock from a running system, absolutely makes startup of a new tank easier and allows for more simplified integration of new livestock. On that point we are in full agreement. Does using live rock make reefing "easier"? Yes and no. It all depends on the individual hobbyist. Their personal level of experience and their specific goals for the system they intend to run.
My ONLY stand on this topic is that "I am against harvesting live rock from the ocean.". That is all.. nothing more, nothing less.
All of my tanks were started using established dry rock from a running system. I fully agree that by doing this approach, the cycling and setup of ALL of my tanks has been far easier than if I had simply opened up a box of dry rock, poured in salt water and hoped for the best.
First of all, the sale of ocean harvested live rock is illegal here in California, so that option is off the table for us no matter what we want or think.
I have a couple boxes of new dry rock that I could add a couple pieces to my tank at any time to seed them and gift them out to any newbie who wants or needs them. This is my personal approach to sustainability. This also allows anyone who asks, to take advantage of the "easy" way to set up a tank that you are promoting.
As I stated last night, I am in agreement with you that running a tank does not need to be difficult. A little bit of applied knowledge and a few drops of experience can make a reef tank almost effortless. It is the gaining of that knowledge and experience that is the challenging part for new aquarists.
I have over 35 years of experience with aquariums. Most of that time was with FW, but the knowledge and experience I gained from that, allowed me to seamlessly move into the reefing side of the hobby. Consider the newcomer who doesn't have that background. They watch the BRS videos and believe that they need a tank full of the latest and greatest equipment, empty their bank accounts and max out their CCs to get it and have no idea why their tank is not running like this months "reef of the month".
Further, as has been stated in previous posts, the stock you intend directly influences how difficult your reef is to maintain. You have a beautiful tank full of softies. I applaud your success. Very well done! However, not everyone is going to be happy with the setup you run. As an example, I started my tank with the idea that I would go with something very similar to what you have. Simple softies, some fish and just watch it grow... As I got more involved with the hobby, my interests shifted and I wished to challenge myself, push my boundaries. I now have a tank with quite a few SPS as well as softies and fish. Personally, I do not find this any more or less difficult than it was before, but the addition of new pieces does change the dynamic of what I need to be aware of in order to sustain a healthy system.
So, MY tanks are all running on the mindset that "simple is easier and better" approach. I have no fancy hi-tech gear, no apex or whatever controllers, no UV this and gfo that.. I have simple canister filters, skimmers and not much else. The only indulgence I have allowed myself as far as equipment goes is my Kessil lights. Are they strictly "needed"? Possibly not, but since installing them in December, I have seen an explosion of growth that I have never experienced using bargain lights. I also am now able to keep SPS corals not only alive, but thriving.
To wrap up, I fully agree with you that live rock, or established dry rock from a running system, absolutely makes startup of a new tank easier and allows for more simplified integration of new livestock. On that point we are in full agreement. Does using live rock make reefing "easier"? Yes and no. It all depends on the individual hobbyist. Their personal level of experience and their specific goals for the system they intend to run.
