Are "aquarium results" a good measure of success in this hobby? Are you successful?

[Suohhen]

The mindset of success is as fickle as the wind. Actual success in this hobby comes from patience and thinking about success does not help one to become more patient.

 

[Doctorgori]

“You are what your record says you are” Bill Parcells I think

Success is actually measured in enjoyment, I guess you could be both successful at something and hate it, but not in a hobby. I mean what’s the point otherwise?

 

[MnFish1]

That gif is crap. It’s not even the same tank. One has white seal the other has black. Seriously though that’s not one year of growth.

Curious - what are you talking about? - or which 'gif'

 

[jkr]

When I look at my tank and think, ahh that’s nice, I am happy !

 

[Ike]

In just about everything in life we tend to measure being successful or unsuccessful by results. Can the same be applied in the saltwater reef aquarium hobby? Are "results" a true measure of success? What type of time frame should we consider? What are the results that point to success? Let's talk about it!

1. Would you consider "aquarium results" a good measure of success in this hobby?

2. What do successful "results" look like? coral colonies, breeding fish, coraline algae, what are they?

3. What type of time frame should we consider when we're defining successful results? 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, what is it?

1.) That's what it's all about, right? Though success will be measured by each peron's personal goals with having an aquarium. You can be successful and just focus on fragging and propagating, of you can just have a tank for that fish you've always liked and keep it alive for years and be a success without ever having kept anything other than that one fish.

2.) For me, it's a harmonious balance of growing, healthy, colorful corals and fish along with long-term sustainability and achieving a balance without having to keep adjusting with additives. Also, naturally balancing and managing pests and nuisance algae.

3.) Arounmd 5 years if we're talking a successful reef as a whole...

 

[Lasse]

I vote others

Every day I can look at my tank and not get bored - that's my success.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Weasel1960]

I agree with the options being subjective and was awed by how many comments related back to are you happy with what you accomplished, relaxation, etc. I dont think you can put a time line on that success. As a newbie I plan on having a lot of little successes in the next couple months, and each will build on the last. My first success will likely come this weekend when I can take a card table, put it in the one place in the living room I can and see which of my 7 card board tanks fit the best in that space while being easy to maintain. The next success will be making sure the floor will support my choice....

 

[Anihiel1]

I think the measure of success is when all the lives that are dependant upon you, are healthy and happy. From cuc to corals to fish. It doesn't matter if they are growing large enough or breeding fast enough or as colorful as we'd like. Ultimately we are creating small balanced ecosystems in our homes, and each balance will progress at its own rate. When that ecosystem is functioning it is a beautiful thing.

 

[living_tribunal]

Success to me is fat coral dumps. The larger the poop, the larger the success.

 

[hotdrop]

Curious - what are you talking about? - or which 'gif'

The one in the first post. It came to my email that says 1 year growth and I was like no way. Maybe there is more to that story but I don’t think a lot of folks here will see that much growth in a year, the tank and layout are clearly different between photos.

 

[boacvh]

I think as long as my tank makes me happy and keeps me engaged I consider it a success. Keeping me challenged and entertained is what makes it a great addiction for me (sorry, meant to say hobby )

 

[Paulie069]

In just about everything in life we tend to measure being successful or unsuccessful by results. Can the same be applied in the saltwater reef aquarium hobby? Are "results" a true measure of success? What type of time frame should we consider? What are the results that point to success? Let's talk about it!

1. Would you consider "aquarium results" a good measure of success in this hobby?

2. What do successful "results" look like? coral colonies, breeding fish, coraline algae, what are they?

3. What type of time frame should we consider when we're defining successful results? 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, what is it?

@Char lie reef progression

Even though my tank is still basically a reef virgin I feel that I’m pretty successful so far
Even though I break most if not all rules in reefing,, I keep my tank at 72.5-73,, I have many seahorses in a single tank,, plus I have fish in the mix,, I don’t quarantine any new stock I put in ,, and over feed
I have an assortment of coral and it all grows nicely (will admit a bit slowly) because of temp. But all in all everything is happy n healthy, so go figure

 

[vlangel]

Does the tank look natural and realistic?

Success to me is if corals are growing fast and colorful, the tank is aquascaped well, it’s clean, and the corals in the tank go well together.

A lot of otherwise successful tanks look terrible to me because they don’t look natural.

I love a natural looking tank too.

0 new items by Dawn Gilson

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[Tankkeepers]

I would have to say that success is achieved when both you and your inhabitants are happy just because your happy dose not mean they are to

 

[LordJoshaeus]

As a freshwater hobbyist, I am inclined to think that one of the best signs of a healthy tank is when the fish are not only healthy but feel comfortable enough to spawn - assuming the fish will spawn in captivity, that is (not all fish will do so without hormones, alas). Healthy plants and little to no obvious algae growth are also big in my eyes, though in saltwater the plants would be replaced with macroalgae and corals.

 

[Oliver d]

I choose other because succes for me may not be sucess for some one else.Sucess to me is looking at my tank and seeing what I like and knowing what I have in it I can keep alive and thriving and enyjoying doing everything that goes with the tank.The tank putting a smile on my face that to me is the best make of sucess.

 

[mindme]

Success is waking up in the morning and not finding any bodies floating around...

I must admit that the first thing I do everyday is look at my tanks and count the fish and see how things are doing.

 

[Radicalrob1982]

In just about everything in life we tend to measure being successful or unsuccessful by results. Can the same be applied in the saltwater reef aquarium hobby? Are "results" a true measure of success? What type of time frame should we consider? What are the results that point to success? Let's talk about it!

1. Would you consider "aquarium results" a good measure of success in this hobby?

2. What do successful "results" look like? coral colonies, breeding fish, coraline algae, what are they?

3. What type of time frame should we consider when we're defining successful results? 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, what is it?

@Char lie reef progression

I'm trying to see what success even looks like. All my corals never change and all I do is test and maintain parameters at good levels with very little swings. Hopefully a year from now my success changes for the better

 

[glennf]

The ultimate Succes is measured by the joy you get from your hobby and everything around it.
When you wake up and the only thing you worry about is to how lucky you are to enjoy the most challenging hobby's there is.

 

[Doctorgori]

Does the tank look natural and realistic?

Success to me is if corals are growing fast and colorful, the tank is aquascaped well, it’s clean, and the corals in the tank go well together.

A lot of otherwise successful tanks look terrible to me because they don’t look natural.

I wouldn’t disagree, but I’ve become more flexible thanks to seeing a lot of successful “artistic” aquascapes. Comparatively some of the more minimalist designs look pretty real, OTOH some look like 60’s black light posters.