Overthinking Reefing

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I remember the days when I didn’t overthink reefing and honestly had some amazing reef tanks.

I think, overthinking all the trace elements, all the diseases, all the bells and whistles etc. takes away from the experience. The hobby becomes a job.

You’ll never work a day in your life if you love what you do….also applies to reefing.

Just overthinking out loud here!

 

[Waters]

I think the issue is that we didn't have access to the information that we do today.....complicates things lol.

 

[PPBlimpy]

I just try to leave stuff alone. decent equipment. I rarely ever test anything. Do water changes and regularly. When a tank starts maturing and corals starts growing out and filling in, I start dosing kalk, just a set amount everyday and observe. The tank will tell you what it needs.

I could not imagine testing daily/weekly. i am lucky if i test monthly.

I run a dirty tank though. Throw whatever I can in it. Never ran a QT. Same way i ran one 20 years ago. even going back to halides. set and forget

 

[JumboShrimp]

Makes my think of the Jackson Browne line,

"But the times when we were happy, were the times we never tried."

 

[rzimm33]

I agree with the overthinking. When I get hyper-focused on a specific issue, I find myself stressing about the tank.

There was a point after a bout of dinos where I kind of backed off and only checked alk and salinity once a month. Honestly, I had zero stress—and the tank did perfectly fine.

There’s definitely a balance between being too involved and not involved enough.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I think the issues is we didn't have access to the information that we do today.....complicates things lol.

Good point! More knowledge is not always a good thing. Ever Google an ailment that you have? Ha!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I agree with the overthinking. When I get hyper-focused on a specific issue, I find myself stressing about the tank.

There was a point after a bout of dinos where I kind of backed off and only checked alk and salinity once a month. Honestly, I had zero stress—and the tank did perfectly fine.

There’s definitely a balance between being too involved and not involved enough.

Boy I can relate to the stress of Dinos!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Yup, and a lot of the hype is to sell products. In reality, simple maintenance alone will keep a tank healthy for most Reefers. If you try to emulate those social media tanks as a new Reefer, you likely don’t see the years and years it took them to get there. You might fail trying to copy them. Just keep it simple and fun, and the tank will thrive in time.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Yup, and a lot of the hype is to sell products. In reality, simple maintenance alone will keep a tank healthy for most Reefers. If you try to emulate those social media tanks as a new Reefer, you likely don’t see the years and years it took them to get there. You might fail trying to copy them. Just keep it simple and fun, and the tank will thrive in time.

100%!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I tended to do this a lot when I first set up my tank. Now that I have more experience and knowledge, I feel like it is easier for me not to overthink something simple. If it is simple, it is simple for a reason, haha.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Yup, and a lot of the hype is to sell products. In reality, simple maintenance alone will keep a tank healthy for most Reefers. If you try to emulate those social media tanks as a new Reefer, you likely don’t see the years and years it took them to get there. You might fail trying to copy them. Just keep it simple and fun, and the tank will thrive in time.

100% percent agree!! When I had a tank 19 years ago, I didn't test anything but salinity! IT did great. I keep my tank today similar. I don't use a bunch of fancy equipment either. Probably the most new fangled thing I use is an ATO. When something seems off, I research, and test. otherwise I might test monthly.

 

[tripdad]

The best advice I've ever heard came from one of the most accomplished reefers, David Saxby. " Just focus on keeping the water." Keep that stable and at correct parameters and all else will follow

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

The best advice I've ever heard came from one of the most accomplished reefers, David Saxby. " Just focus on keeping the water." Keep that stable and at correct parameters and all else will follow

What does he know? Oh everything! Haha! Good advice!

 

[exnisstech]

Some people are just wired to thrive on problem solving. The more problems to solve the more satisfying something is. Then you have gear heads and techies that think complication simplifies things lol.
I feel no need to make things more complicated than they need to be. I have a hunch my 8th grade education contributes to that thought process. Hanging out around here with so many intelligent/ educated people I can't help but think peoples thought processes develop differently with further education. The need to know how, why and what if seem to be driving factors. I'm content if i never have a problem to solve lol. I'm thankful we have folks like that because if the world was full of people like me there would be zero technological advancements good or bad.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Some people are just wired to thrive on problem solving. The more problems to solve the more satisfying something is. Then you have gear heads and techies that think complication simplifies things lol.
I feel no need to make things more complicated than they need to be. I have a hunch my 8th grade education contributes to that thought process. Hanging out around here with so many intelligent/ educated people I can't help but think peoples thought processes develop differently with further education. The need to know how, why and what if seem to be driving factors. I'm content if i never have a problem to solve lol. I'm thankful we have folks like that because if the world was full of people like me there would be zero technological advancements good or bad.

Those are really good points! Makes me think of a new thread idea!

For some overthinking is stressful and for others it reduces stress! What a conundrum!

 

[smitten with ocean life]

tell me if im overthinking- again and again when i have friends over, they walk over to look at the tank. they always ask about the coral. if its real or fake. i explain about it. then....sob..... they ALWAYS ask.....choke, sniffle..... ''is it freshwater?'' maybe i should just go back to freshwater!

 

[Waters]

Good point! More knowledge is not always a good thing. Ever Google an ailment that you have? Ha!

I have....never ends well

 

[CKW]

I remember the days when I didn’t overthink reefing and honestly had some amazing reef tanks.

I think, overthinking all the trace elements, all the diseases, all the bells and whistles etc. takes away from the experience. The hobby becomes a job.

You’ll never work a day in your life if you love what you do….also applies to reefing.

Just overthinking out loud here!

I wholeheartedly agree. I’ve had aquariums for well over 70 years. I enjoyed those earlier years just as much if not more than today’s overly detailed tanks.

 

[X-37B]

Many overthink things in general, partly due to media influences, instead of actually thinking for themselves.
Think about what you are going to do instead of trying to copy and paste everything together.
Thought requires thinking and overthinking brings stress and confusion to your thoughts with no resolve.
I have noticed in todays, world at our fingertips, many cant process all the information which leads to the overthinking dilemma.
Thinking requires focus while overthinking clouds your focus on any given subject.

 

[56longroof]

I dont pay attention to media influences or marketing. Starting my first reef in the 90's and I still apply alot of those principles. Surprisingly it leads to a pretty stress free hobby for me.