Reef Aquariums: Do We Just Like to Tinker?

[Reefer Matt]

Hey Reefers! I had a thought today about reefing in general. Do you think we make reefing harder than it has to be? Specifically, do we tend to tinker with things by trying to get perfection, or complicate things because we assume it is the norm?

I personally think there are a few areas around dosing that are overcomplicated. Or trying to achieve a seemingly sterile and pest free tank. I can see where new reefers can get frustrated quick, because they may think it is all required.

What do you think?

 

[WarChief]

Hey Reefers! I had a thought today about reefing in general. Do you think we make reefing harder than it has to be? Specifically, do we tend to tinker with things by trying to get perfection, or complicate things because we assume it is the norm?

I personally think there are a few areas around dosing that are overcomplicated. Or trying to achieve a seemingly sterile and pest free tank. I can see where new reefers can get frustrated quick, because they may think it is all required.

What do you think?

I absolutely do think we over complicate. Especially when we are newer to the hobby. My brain tries to take over and do what it thinks rather than allowing some of the processes to naturally occur. That's honestly what keeps a lot of us in this hobby. But it is what it is. I love my reef!

 

[yanni]

I’m definitely guilty of this. I try to overcomplicate things for the sake of it. Add this for this, dose this for this. When in all my time, the easiest way has been letting nature pave its way, frequent WCs, and letting it grow in. I’ve simplified a lot recently, and my reefing experience has only gotten better and easier

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I feel like we have a tendency to make it more difficult than it should be at times. I know for me, I want everything to be perfect with my tank, the way the aquascape is done, the water temp and parameters etc..

 

[1112-425XL]

We definitely struggle to just sit and enjoy what we've created. Human nature to always want to improve, even if there's nothing wrong.

 

[o2manyfish]

I think there are too many people tinkering rather than solving.

People have inherent problems with their systems. Whether poor filtration, flow, etc -- And instead of drilling down and solving the problem they look for some chemical solution to resolve it. A band-aid never fixes a problem it only covers it for awhile.

Dave B

 

[MoshJosh]

I really enjoy tinkering. . . it is REALLY hard for me to just leave the tank well enough alone. . .

 

[mike550]

100% that some folks love to tinker, over-analyze, etc. The challenge for me is that there is a lot of great experience and strong opinions on this board, but I recognize very few things are “absolutes”. So it’s okay to cull the information and choose my own course of action.

I met a reefer that had two amazing tanks — both in the 50G range. I asked him about tank parameters, how often he tested, etc. Long story short he told me that he only checks things when something doesn’t look right. Talk about hands off.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I'll get back to you in a bit, im knee deep in repositioning my power heads for better flow

 

[Wasteoftime247]

Oh absolutely! One of the main reasons I like this hobby is because you can constantly tinker. That said, if you don't want to tinker you don't have to and still have success. I love tinkering with anything I do so it's great for me.

 

[dansyr]

I think we do like to tinker, but it's not always making things harder though it definitely can. Personally, building gadgets is one of the things i like most about the hobby (DIY about everything except pumps, including lights, dosers, AIO insert, ph, etc). But the tank itself is relatively simple - no skimmer, no fleece roller, no UV, no high-tech app-controlled pumps, etc.

I think where some of us go wrong is we conflate the fun of building with a need to change the tank, but those are hopefully separate for a happy tank.

 

[Borat]

I like chemical experiments - not sure though that marine pets share my excitement!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

The less I "tinker" the better my reef has always been!

 

[MnFish1]

Hey Reefers! I had a thought today about reefing in general. Do you think we make reefing harder than it has to be? Specifically, do we tend to tinker with things by trying to get perfection, or complicate things because we assume it is the norm?

I personally think there are a few areas around dosing that are overcomplicated. Or trying to achieve a seemingly sterile and pest free tank. I can see where new reefers can get frustrated quick, because they may think it is all required.

What do you think?

Yes

 

[kevgib67]

If you mean tinkering as getting your hands wet, I’m guilty, but I run my system very similar to how I did for 16 years when I started in the mid nineties. I am low tech and water changes are my first go to when fixing a problem.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

I don’t know how to explain it, but tinkering keeps the passion burning.

My corals everytime I walk over to the tank and roll up my sleeves:

 

[Cichlid Dad]

The less I "tinker" the better my reef has always been!

Aw admit it, you love to tinker!

 

[Reefer Matt]

If you mean tinkering as getting your hands wet, I’m guilty, but I run my system very similar to how I did for 16 years when I started in the mid nineties. I am low tech and water changes are my first go to when fixing a problem.

I mean tinkering as in not leaving things alone when they should be. Such as constantly changing lighting or parameters, chasing a percieved problem, when patience may be all that is required.

 

[jda]

I do not like to tinker. I like long-proven equipment, corals with high upside or long captive track records. I have used the same salt for decades, same calcium reactor, etc. I have backups to all of my favorite equipment (tunze flow pumps, for example). I only change something if I have to. I like the long game of having wall to wall colonies and then starting over (heart breaking at first, but then fun).

 

[vetteguy53081]

Fidgeting too much and adjusting too much relates to the term," why tune up a car that is running good". Often we see the reefers who moves the coral piece over 6" and now it has tissue recession and other issues.
My goal is to have stability-color-growth and knowing that disturbing anything that is happy will make it miserable.