Hopes and dreams versus reality.

[reefinSC]

I have been in an out of this hobby a few times. The last time I left it was definitely a sad but also joyful day. This hobby is difficult and frustrating and a money pit. It's also filled with so much conflicting information and "flavors of the day".
Well.... I am either a glutton for punishment or have too much spare income, so I decided to jump in again. So, I have to ask the question: what is the real secret (or maybe it's not a secret) to those picture-perfect aquariums? Certainly, it's not the latest and greatest protein skimmer or Neptune controller. Nor is it a $2000 LED setup. I know the majority of reefers out there don't ever achieve the nuisance algae free aquariums that get posted in the tank of the month. Their zoas don't pop with magical colors and grow prolifically. They aren't propagating corals as a side hustle. So, what does it actually take?

 

[BryanM]

I have been in an out of this hobby a few times. The last time I left it was definitely a sad but also joyful day. This hobby is difficult and frustrating and a money pit. It's also filled with so much conflicting information and "flavors of the day".
Well.... I am either a glutton for punishment or have too much spare income, so I decided to jump in again. So, I have to ask the question: what is the real secret (or maybe it's not a secret) to those picture-perfect aquariums? Certainly, it's not the latest and greatest protein skimmer or Neptune controller. Nor is it a $2000 LED setup. I know the majority of reefers out there don't ever achieve the nuisance algae free aquariums that get posted in the tank of the month. Their zoas don't pop with magical colors and grow prolifically. They aren't propagating corals as a side hustle. So, what does it actually take?

First and foremost, none of those picture perfect tanks happen in short time. I have no facts, but I suspect those tanks are all 4 or more years old.

That answer lends itself to the next, often cited, which is maturity. Same same.

Last, near as I can tell is stable parameters... Which, theme coming.... comes from time.

i'm new to this myself, but this is what I've read and believe is pretty accurate.

 

[Tahoe61]

The secret to me is that it's my passion, it has been as long as I remember, even as a small child.
Lord knows I don't do it for anyone else. Sure I appreciate complements.
The hobby has changed so dramatically in my life time, and so has my life. One thing is certain, if there is a glass box within my territory I am always going to fill it with water.
There have been times when I could afford the best the industry had to offer. Other times other hobbyist were generous and giving.
For reasons I have never understood I am driven to fill containers with water and life.

 

[kevgib67]

First and foremost, none of those picture perfect tanks happen in short time. I have no facts, but I suspect those tanks are all 4 or more years old.

That answer lends itself to the next, often cited, which is maturity. Same same.

Last, near as I can tell is stable parameters... Which, theme coming.... comes from time.

i'm new to this myself, but this is what I've read and believe is pretty accurate.

^ This. All those beautiful tanks went through losses and never ending ugly stage’s but unwavering persistence, stability and time creates those beautiful tanks.

 

[BryanM]

The secret to me is that it's my passion, it has been as long as I remember, even as a small child.
Lord knows I don't do it for anyone else. Sure I appreciate complements.
The hobby has changed so dramatically in my life time, and so has my life. One thing is certain, if there is a glass box within my territory I am always going to fill it with water.
There have been times when I could afford the best the industry had to offer. Other times other hobbyist were generous and giving.
For reasons I have never understood I am driven to fill containers with water and life.

Love this.

I'm somewhere in the middle... but predisposed to it, as when I was a teenager I want from fresh to salt, and just didn't have the patience or money, or both, and it fell apart.

Fast foward to today... LONG story short I tease my wife with "lets get a snake", or lizard, or some other exotic critter.... NOPE NOPE NOPE.

Tanked was on one night, I popped off and said you'd never want a fish tank.... She said I was wrong, she'd love one.

Here we are. I do love it, I don't think quite at the level you do, but I have a very healthy respect for life and husbandry, and I try and do my best. Monitoring, automated testers and dosing, are quality of life gamechangers for me.

So close, but not the same, but it really is rewarding thusfar. It's dang expensive too.

 

[exnisstech]

Very few people have what it takes to create a tank like you see on YouTube igni etc. And many that you do see are a just set up for the video and haven't been running for years. I'm a skeptic sorry if I'm wrong, the internet has made me that way. I wish you total success but IMO you may be setting the bar too high to enjoy the hobby much if you will always be reaching for someone elses goals.

 

[X-37B]

There is no secret, imo.
Most that fail make it harder than it needs to be.
Have a plan for stability and what to do when parameters are out of line.
My current ext 170 is now 7 months old, stable and has 40+ acros already.
This is my old 18" aio nano cube at 10 months.
2 part, no skimmer, good light/flow.
This can be done with any system.

 

[BryanM]

I'll also say, because I'm paying up for large items right now... Just growing things takes TIME. All of those tanks have several huge colonies. You want to buy a 200 polyp zoa? You probably CAN, but you better have deep pockets.

I've got a few strategically (I hope) placed chalice like items that I hope grow out to "fill out" the thank.

But its amazing when you learn that a 5" trachy is likely 15, 20 years old... I can't right now imagine getting one small, and growing it that big.

 

[BryanM]

Very few people have what it takes to create a tank like you see on YouTube igni etc. And many that you do see are a just set up for the video and haven't been running for years. I'm a skeptic sorry if I'm wrong, the internet has made me that way. I wish you total success but IMO you may be setting the bar too high to enjoy the hobby much if you will always be reaching for someone elses goals.

Aye - I'm often a skeptic as well, but I really don't think you can just grab a bunch of awesome reef corals and put it together and take a pic.

I'll double down on that at least here at R2R, reef of the month, where the owners describe their jounrey.

So sure, some internet stuff might be BS, but I do believe the reef of the month tanks are 100% legit. And they took *time*.

 

[X-37B]

Yea it takes time.
My old 120 thread.
July 2019
January 2022

 

[exnisstech]

So sure, some internet stuff might be BS, but I do believe the reef of the month tanks are 100% legit. And they took *time*.

I totally agree.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I’ve been reefing for almost 30 years. I feel like any of the reefers with 10+ years experience and a few tanks under their belt could pull off a pretty stunning tank. It’s really method based.

Corals grow better in an ecosystem. Live rock is the quickest and easiest way to establish that.

Good lighting coverage. Strong random flow. Skimmer. Carbon. I like to run a refugium.

Almost 4 year old tank:

 

[BryanM]

I’ve been reefing for almost 30 years. I feel like any of the reefers with 10+ years experience and a few tanks under their belt could pull off a pretty stunning tank. It’s really method based.

Corals grow better in an ecosystem. Live rock is the quickest and easiest way to establish that.

Good lighting coverage. Strong random flow. Skimmer. Carbon. I like to run a refugium.

I hate the idea of a fuge.... But, I like the idea of an algae turf scrubber, which seems to be quite similar, but contained (thats what I do not like about fuges).

I'm probably adding an ATS, and ditching my reefmat... because I also love skimmers, and their aeration of the water.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

^ This. All those beautiful tanks went through losses and never ending ugly stage’s but unwavering persistence, stability and time creates those beautiful tanks.

I don’t believe you. “You” HAVE the picture perfect tank!

 

[kevgib67]

I don’t believe you. “You” HAVE the picture perfect tank!

Ah shucks, thank you but what you may not know I had a tank for 16 years that I started back in primitive times. Lots of trial and errors and loads of bad advice. My tank is now over 3 years old.

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Ah shucks, thank you but what you may not know I had a tank for 16 years that I started back in primitive times. Lots of trial and errors and loads of bad advice. My tank is now over 3 years old.

But you got there.!

 

[VintageReefer]

Stability I feel is more impotent than mst parameters. A decent light. Good flow. Established rock. Coral selection. Don’t pick drab coral. Buy the high end stuff. There is a difference in quality

 

[bobnicaragua]

Stability I feel is more impotent than mst parameters. A decent light. Good flow. Established rock. Coral selection. Don’t pick drab coral. Buy the high end stuff. There is a difference in quality

You walk the talk. Your tank is absolutely stunning!

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I think for the most part what we see are pictures that don't portray reality. I see it all the time, someone share pictures that have a lot of time in editing to showcase something unrealistic. I've seen many beautiful tanks in person and none of them look like their photos. Some people just know how to take a photograph.

As for the tank of the months, most of the pictures you see is the culmination of days of prep work just to get those shots.

If you come over my house 9 days out of 10, you're looking at a reef through glass covered with algae. No one is above that.

The sad thing is, people get lured into that idea, and also praise people only because they can take a good picture.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Having the patience to let the tank mature properly is the key for me. And I’m talking 1-2 years of drudgery: scraping, siphoning, cursing, and incurring loses. Trying to keep it interesting while going through the drudgery is the challenge, knowing that if you stick with the plan that the reef will eventually evolve into a stable ecosystem that allows for thriving corals.