Hopes and dreams versus reality.

[SudzFD]

Check out my build thread. I have a very budget setup to demonstrate that you can have these results without too many crazy expensive systems. Less is sometimes more and any way to achieve stability is key.

 

[Mark Goode]

I look at all those perfect tanks, then look at mine and, well, I then stop looking at perfect tanks. I had my perfect aquascape, but then had to tear it apart and move everything because of a pugnacious damsel. I've only got soft corals - mostly a veritable forest of green Kenya trees. I also have a few wisps of GHA. The overall effect is, while not exactly ugly, it's no feast for the eyes either.

But my fish seem to like it. They're a good shape, active, feeding well and, above all, almost never dead. I can live with that for now.

 

[SudzFD]

I look at all those perfect tanks, then look at mine and, well, I then stop looking at perfect tanks. I had my perfect aquascape, but then had to tear it apart and move everything because of a pugnacious damsel. I've only got soft corals - mostly a veritable forest of green Kenya trees. I also have a few wisps of GHA. The overall effect is, while not exactly ugly, it's no feast for the eyes either.

But my fish seem to like it. They're a good shape, active, feeding well and, above all, almost never dead. I can live with that for now.

I’d be hesitant to call any tank perfect, but I know what you mean. I just had a bunch of cyani I had to deal with. It’s all part of it. I have noticed two things. When I was frustrated and almost gave up and just left the tank alone for a while (months) with not much more than glass scraping and occasional water change, things started to improve. It’s almost as if the tank needs time to mature and figure itself out without a bunch of variables being thrown at it.

On the flip side, now that I’m past that I do adjust things more frequently and monitor parameters more closely. Anecdotally it at least seems that a period of maturation is imperative to success.

 

[VintageReefer]

I don’t edit my photos and most of them look just like the tank does in person, if not, 90-95% as close as in person.

Took these this morning. While tank appears “perfect” there’s little things you wouldn’t notice and that I don’t show off

I recently had two torches arrive, both shipped poor, and got bjd in a week or less. I did kfc on both multiple days in a row, they didn’t survive. And they infected my tank and now 2 other torches have bjd that I’m now fighting with full tank cipro dosing every 2 nights

Appears perfect

The torches I’ll show photos of look nice

But what I don’t show is really there all along in the full tank shot. I’m not hiding it. Just not calling attention to it

Oh and this acantho started bleaching out of nowhere and was moved to low light cave. Then he puked out a half eaten Nudibranch. Soooo. Unsure if this will survive or not

It’s all in the main photo but the bright corals call attention over these ones

Just wanted to make two points
1) not everyone edits photos and some of us have truly colorful tanks in person

2) nobodies perfect. Even if it appears so on the surface

 

[MUTiger]

I personally think that having an expert reef tank consult is invaluable. We spend so much money on tech and additives and…(you fill in the blank).

I recently went on vacation and had a really knowledgeable reefer come over to my house to help with my talk and do a water change while I was gone.

He found multiple opportunities within 30 min to an hour of being at my house that I had no idea needed to get fixed and/or addressed.

For example, my dosing pump tubing disconnected a month ago and dripped All for Reef onto the bottom of my tank stand. I had not idea that it dripped onto the power supply to the pump for my UV sterilizer.

I saw the disconnected dosing pump and reconnected the tubing and cleaned up the mess, but never realized that the pump for my UV sterilizer was not working. He caught it right away. I saw the light from the UV sterilizer and thought everything was working fine (NOT).

He also noticed that my overflow pipes were clogged which risked future flooding.

He also saw that my sensor for my reef mat was not mounted and working correctly. I thought that I got that right out of the box, but apparently not.

He also found a plumbing drip from a return line that was thankfully dripping directly back into my sump. It was simple to tighten the fitting.

I have over 12 years of reefing experience. It can be really invaluable to get a 2nd opinion and/or have an expert take a look. It was really helpful hearing his perspective.

By the time he came over, there was quite a bit of algae. He stated that I probably needed to triple or quadruple my clean up crew. In all fairness, he was right. I have no problem spending money on my reef tank, but I always resist spending $200+ on snails and hermit crabs…laugh.

He also made some helpful suggestions on dosing and my refugium and how I have my current flow set up in the tank.

In summary, if you are not getting the results you want, I highly recommend a periodic 2nd opinion or tank consult from an expert. You do not have to listen to everything they say, but your reef will almost certainly be better because of their expertise. It is money well spent ($150?). It is probably the best $150 I have spent on my tank in quite some time.

Personal trainers are great regarding results in the gym. Nutritionists are great in their own field. Same with doctors and lawyers, etc. If you are frustrated and/or not getting the results you want, I highly recommend a periodic expert reef tank consult.

You are so correct. This applies to so many things in life. I am a golfer and I have a buddy who was also a techy. He was constantly buying the newest and greatest clubs and swing aids. He went through clubs quicker than I went through a bag of Doritos. New driver, new irons, new putter, you name it. I finally told him “ why don’t you get a lesson?”. He did and saw instant improvement. It’s not always about the fanciest equipment. Sometimes it’s the skill, the patience, the knowledge.