Students and Teachers: Do you have a reefing mentor?

[AlyciaMarie]

I personally do not understand how people become so fluent in their reefing knowledge, but we see these people in our community every day! Some of these members lend their experience and knowledge randomly, while others are more present in the conversation and are more intentional with helping new and inexperienced reefers. But the fact stands true: We all could use help now and then. But do you have someone specific that you turn to when things start getting hairy?

Do you have a reefing mentor? Brag on them in the comments!

 

[Bruttall]

There are a couple of people here who I listen to above all overs. They are; @vetteguy53081, @ISpeakForTheSeas, @Randy Holmes-Farley, @Paul B. There are a few others, we interact a lot so you know who you are, but those 4 stand out to me, Vette cuz he has huge tanks and knows the pitfalls and was the first person who's build thread I looked at, Paul B. cuz 47 years dang! and Randy and Ispeak are 2 of the smartest people I have read stuff from IMO. They have, all 4 taught me so much and I look forward to learning even more.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I used to have a couple locally, but they both left the hobby after 10 years of reefing. Now I just read up on what I have questions about or ask for opinions.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Not currently, however there’s a few people on here who’s advice I always take and love to see what they have to say.

 

[MissMolly]

The Reef2reef community is a better mentor than anyone I have ever met IRL.

 

[Reef Puncher]

There are a couple of people here who I listen to above all overs. They are; @vetteguy53081, @ISpeakForTheSeas, @Randy Holmes-Farley, @Paul B. There are a few others, we interact a lot so you know who you are, but those 4 stand out to me, Vette cuz he has huge tanks and knows the pitfalls and was the first person who's build thread I looked at, Paul B. cuz 47 years dang! and Randy and Ispeak are 2 of the smartest people I have read stuff from IMO. They have, all 4 taught me so much and I look forward to learning even more.

yep! on here, they all have helped me! and on youtube, without a doubt, BRS has taught me. they not only have tons of explanation videos, but do great experiments no one else does. Especially Ryan from BRS. love his passion.

 

[JoJosReef]

No mentor, per say, but I draw inspiration from a number of experts on the forum. For macros @vlangel ; for clams @minus9 ; for wrasses @Slocke @i cant think @Tcook and @Crabby48 ; for mermaid related issues @OrchidMiss ; for RFAs and possum wrasses @jkcoral ; for electrical, structural and all things reefing @fishguy242 ; for comraderie #SmorgasbordFamily and #Cronies ; for administration @tbrown ; for critters and hitchhikers @ISpeakForTheSeas and @EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal ; for heretical issues and convict tang fixes @Fish Styx ; for memes @907_Reefer and @fishguy242 ; for bacon and thinkly veiled threats @BeanAnimal ; for gas exchange @Nate Chalk ; and for things that she might have said @rmorris_14 @Fish Styx @Stang67 @tbrown and @Mschmidt

 

[Red_Beard]

I study hard at life's school of hard knocks. lessons learned there are not soon forgotten.

 

[timmyrules]

I don’t really have any mentors, actually, now that I think about it, I’ve never actually met a reefer in person…i do have all of you helpful folks on here though! you guys are kinda like mentors.

 

[BristleWormHater]

I've got a guy at my favorite lfs, he gives me demonstrations like how to use a refractometer. He gives me good advice on additives and food and shows me pictures of his success using them. He also saved me a lot of money on test kits.
But my main mentor (or mentors I guess) is *mostly everyone on reef2reef!

 

[fishguy242]

No mentor, per say, but I draw inspiration from a number of experts on the forum. For macros @vlangel ; for clams @minus9 ; for wrasses @Slocke @i cant think @Tcook and @Crabby48 ; for mermaid related issues @OrchidMiss ; for RFAs and possum wrasses @jkcoral ; for electrical, structural and all things reefing @fishguy242 ; for comraderie #SmorgasbordFamily and #Cronies ; for administration @tbrown ; for critters and hitchhikers @ISpeakForTheSeas and @EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal ; for heretical issues and convict tang fixes @Fish Styx ; for memes @907_Reefer and @fishguy242 ; for bacon and thinkly veiled threats @BeanAnimal ; for gas exchange @Nate Chalk ; and for things that she might have said @rmorris_14 @Fish Styx @Stang67 @tbrown and @Mschmidt

And @Jay Hemdal and his #fishmedic crew and not to be forgotten
@revhtree and the #MODS ,for dealing with our ...

 

[tbrown]

No mentor, per say, but I draw inspiration from a number of experts on the forum. For macros @vlangel ; for clams @minus9 ; for wrasses @Slocke @i cant think @Tcook and @Crabby48 ; for mermaid related issues @OrchidMiss ; for RFAs and possum wrasses @jkcoral ; for electrical, structural and all things reefing @fishguy242 ; for comraderie #SmorgasbordFamily and #Cronies ; for administration @tbrown ; for critters and hitchhikers @ISpeakForTheSeas and @EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal ; for heretical issues and convict tang fixes @Fish Styx ; for memes @907_Reefer and @fishguy242 ; for bacon and thinkly veiled threats @BeanAnimal ; for gas exchange @Nate Chalk ; and for things that she might have said @rmorris_14 @Fish Styx @Stang67 @tbrown and @Mschmidt

But are they truly veiled?

 

[Slocke]

Reef Dork on Youtube is probably my biggest mentor. Though on here I learned a ton from @lion king @SaltyT @i cant think and @ISpeakForTheSeas. Though if I listed everyone I’d never finish this post.

 

[BristleWormHater]

I've got a guy at my favorite lfs, he gives me demonstrations like how to use a refractometer. He gives me good advice on additives and food and shows me pictures of his success using them. He also saved me a lot of money on test kits.
But my main mentor (or mentors I guess) is *mostly everyone on reef2reef!

I also love watching Fragbox Corals, @Reefer Matt, polo reef, and the @SBB Corals podcast on YouTube as well!
Also @ISpeakForTheSeas for all my ID help and weird questions

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Many of my mentors have passed by now, or have retired and are no longer active. Roger Klocek retired from the Shedd Aquarium was my greatest personal mentor in the four years I worked for him. The late Robert Straughan, through his writings, got me my start in marine aquariums back in the 1960's. Jack Rudloe, still running Gulf Specimen Co. was a mentor for me in regards to Gulf of Mexico ecosystems, even though I didn't actually meet him until 2021.

Barrett Christie, a public aquarium curator, is one of the very best applied chemistry/fish disease person out there.

 

[vlangel]

Yes, I was mostly mentored by my boss at the lfs I worked at in the 1990s. He taught me the methods of the day and the biology behind them. His imparted knowledge gave me an excellant foundation to build from there.
I have also learned so much from being on forums, this one included.
Finally 25+ years of experience (the good the bad and the ugly) has probably been the most impactful.

 

[Dom]

I wanted a mentor I could turn to when I got involved in the hobby. But you can't rely on the LFS, so, R2R has been mine.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I also love watching Fragbox Corals, @Reefer Matt, polo reef, and the @SBB Corals podcast on YouTube as well!
Also @ISpeakForTheSeas for all my ID help and weird questions

I definitely don’t belong in that sentence with those awesome pros, but thanks! I try to help where I can.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I definitely don’t belong in that sentence with those awesome pros, but thanks! I try to help where I can.

Are you kidding me man!? Be more positive! YOU are awesome!!

 

[BristleWormHater]

@VintageReefer is the go-to for coral problems!