Good Husbandry vs. Nice Equipment

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

If the goal is to have a beautiful reef, which is more important (meaning the second option can still be relevant and useful), in your opinion: Good husbandry practices and self-discipline or equipment that helps keep things consistent and well-monitored?

 

[Subsea]

While I agree that animal husbandry is more important than equipment, the bedrock of captive reef tanks is live rock.

Less technology more biology was the theme on John Tullock’s book

“Debunking the myth that reef aquariums need to be wildly expensive and technologically complex, John Tullock offers a new, radically simple approach to producing beautiful, captive microcosms.”
“Using live rock and live sand as part of a natural filtration system, the home aquarist can now create vibrant reef tanks that are biologically stable and simple to maintain.”

“With Tullocks suggestions, the reefkeeper can now mimic natural habitats such as a Florida Keys Lagoon, a Caribbean Turtle Grass Flat, an Indo-Pacific Deep Cave, or a Red Sea Patch Reef. With more than 200 color photographs and illustrations, Natural Reef Aquariums provides inspiration for both beginning and expert marine reef hobbyists.”

Amazon product ASIN 1890087017

 

[BryanM]

If the goal is to have a beautiful reef, which is more important (meaning the second option can still be relevant and useful), in your opinion: Good husbandry practices and self-discipline or equipment that helps keep things consistent and well-monitored?

Good husbandry, hands down. Equipment just helps.

 

[exnisstech]

Depends on the Reefer. Some people love a cool looking sump all color coded neat and tidy with everything organized like a cockpit. For them I suspect it a little of both. Me I'm fine with minimal equipment needed to get the job done. My focus is the tank and that responsibility falls to me so I say husbandry and a nice set of doors on the stand that stay closed.
I think its a dual hobby for many, reef keeper and techie/ gear head combined.

 

[BuffaloLake]

To me, the gadgets make the husbandry feasible. Having all of my testing and dosing performed automatically gives me more time to enjoy the reef. I find myself cleaning my equipment more often now, just because I have the time.

 

[EricR]

I vote good husbandry <-- funny word as I'd guess many of the wives might take issue with who that implies really does most of the "work."

That said, I don't have any automation to really make a case against equipment. I just don't know any better.