Observation/Experience after 30+ years

[NYCMAN]

RIght up front I need to say that I have decent experience in the hobby from kid to 63 years old. Koi ponds, planted freshwater tanks, and now my 3rd serious reef tank in 30 years, 120 gallons, after a range from 75 gallons to 220. I always buy the best equipment and take very good care of the water parameters daily. But I have come to a finding, at least for me and my practices, that seems definitive. Each time I start a reef tank I have a plan for aesthetics that aims for those tanks you see at stores, vendor shows or on the web. But in practice, mine that is, I always follow a path where the corals, (soft, LPS, and even easier SPS) that survive, grow and thrive over time become the default aesthetic of the tank. Some or many of the corals that I aimed for either die or do not thrive, and are replaced by the growth of those that did, or were added/replaced by me. So at about 2-3 years in my tanks become a product of the corals that ultimately accepted my tank conditions, surviving or even thriving, but are not representative of the design I originally hoped for. I look here at my latest tank, 2.5 years in, and I love it, it is beautiful and natural. But many to most of the corals, from soft, LPS, to SPS, were not part of my original plan. And btw, this is not one of those tanks were polys, xenia, and GPS took over. I know better than that. I am talking about Montis, ricordias, and not really cheap or easy corals here, but they are thriving. It comes down to a question of do you let the tank make the decisions on which corals are going to reside in it, or do I try to intervene instead?

 

[Waters]

RIght up front I need to say that I have decent experience in the hobby from kid to 63 years old. Koi ponds, planted freshwater tanks, and now my 3rd serious reef tank in 30 years, 120 gallons, after a range from 75 gallons to 220. I always buy the best equipment and take very good care of the water parameters daily. But I have come to a finding, at least for me and my practices, that seems definitive. Each time I start a reef tank I have a plan for aesthetics that aims for those tanks you see at stores, vendor shows or on the web. But in practice, mine that is, I always follow a path where the corals, (soft, LPS, and even easier SPS) that survive, grow and thrive over time become the default aesthetic of the tank. Some or many of the corals that I aimed for either die or do not thrive, and are replaced by the growth of those that did, or were added/replaced by me. So at about 2-3 years in my tanks become a product of the corals that ultimately accepted my tank conditions, surviving or even thriving, but are not representative of the design I originally hoped for. I look here at my latest tank, 2.5 years in, and I love it, it is beautiful and natural. But many to most of the corals, from soft, LPS, to SPS, were not part of my original plan. And btw, this is not one of those tanks were polys, xenia, and GPS took over. I know better than that. I am talking about Montis, ricordias, and not really cheap or easy corals here, but they are thriving. It comes down to a question of do you let the tank make the decisions on which corals are going to reside in it, or do I try to intervene instead?

Yeah, that is kind of the natural progression of any tank. WIth planted freshwater tanks you start with all kinds of plants only to end up with what grows and accepts your water conditions. Coral are no different. Some species will thrive in your conditions while some will refuse to survive. Everyone has that coral species that they would love to keep (and often have tried many times) only to see them die. The key to breaking that cycle is to figure out why the species you want to keep doesn't like your system.....easier said then done a lot of the time. Unfortunately, in most cases, the ones that thrive are the inexpensive, less attractive varieties lol.

 

[vlangel]

RIght up front I need to say that I have decent experience in the hobby from kid to 63 years old. Koi ponds, planted freshwater tanks, and now my 3rd serious reef tank in 30 years, 120 gallons, after a range from 75 gallons to 220. I always buy the best equipment and take very good care of the water parameters daily. But I have come to a finding, at least for me and my practices, that seems definitive. Each time I start a reef tank I have a plan for aesthetics that aims for those tanks you see at stores, vendor shows or on the web. But in practice, mine that is, I always follow a path where the corals, (soft, LPS, and even easier SPS) that survive, grow and thrive over time become the default aesthetic of the tank. Some or many of the corals that I aimed for either die or do not thrive, and are replaced by the growth of those that did, or were added/replaced by me. So at about 2-3 years in my tanks become a product of the corals that ultimately accepted my tank conditions, surviving or even thriving, but are not representative of the design I originally hoped for. I look here at my latest tank, 2.5 years in, and I love it, it is beautiful and natural. But many to most of the corals, from soft, LPS, to SPS, were not part of my original plan. And btw, this is not one of those tanks were polys, xenia, and GPS took over. I know better than that. I am talking about Montis, ricordias, and not really cheap or easy corals here, but they are thriving. It comes down to a question of do you let the tank make the decisions on which corals are going to reside in it, or do I try to intervene instead?

Your experience/observation is very similar to my own. I am on my 4th serious reef tank in almost 30 years, a 75g. I have had a 100g down to a 36g but many years worked with budget or 2nd hand equipment. I however did have the benefit of servicing tanks for the lfs that I worked at so my experience is extensive. I have even kept and raised seahorses in a reef.

For me, aesthetics is more about the background and rocks cape since I already know that I can't predict which coral will love or hate my tank. Plus I am an artist so I can't help but apply some of that to my hobby. Finally at 66 yrs old I want a tank that can be left for long weekends so that we can visit our grandkiddos which live states away. That means easy coral and easy fish that can live on flakes/pellets for a long weekend. The 75g is only 6 months old but everything in it was transferred from a 56g and the rock is probably 2+ decades old. This tank tells a story of peaceful serenity but always lurking in the shadows is the possibility of danger and isn't that what most of us hobbyist experience? Here is my tank: note the calm seadragons in the kelp but don't miss the menacing anglerfish and ribbonfish!

 

[rtparty]

Corals don’t “just die” though. The majority of the time we can figure out what is killing them and with proper husbandry that is avoided.

When I put corals in my systems, I fully expect them to survive and thrive. If they aren’t or don’t, that’s on me to figure out why and become a better steward of my animals

 

[vlangel]

Corals don’t “just die” though. The majority of the time we can figure out what is killing them and with proper husbandry that is avoided.

When I put corals in my systems, I fully expect them to survive and thrive. If they aren’t or don’t, that’s on me to figure out why and become a better steward of my animals

Agreed, but I have become a better steward by learning which coral that I have the right skill sets for and which coral are best left for someone who can care for them better than I.