We talk a lot about problems, how-to's, concepts, and stuff about the hobby in this column, which is a lot of fun. Ever thought about something as simple and concise as a list of stuff we like in the hobby context?
Yeah, sort of "Facebook-ized", distilled to a simple, "I like this!" It's a great exercise for us as reefers when we seem to think that stuff is just sort of "happening" and we're perhaps not feeling the excitement we like, or just feel like things are't really all that interesting at the moment (is there ever a time like that...um, for some...perhaps...). We get a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the hobby.
Here's a start...perhaps it will trigger some "likes" of your own:
Things I like...
*I like when I was a kid that the LFS owner would give me 8 Neon Tetras when I bought 6 of em...
* I like when you nail the temperature setting on your heater on the first try!
*I like when the package of fish stuff you ordered online comes a day earlier than expected.
*I like when the new fish that you didn't think would make it through the night is out and swimming about, eating everything in sight!
*I like when you buy a coral colony, and a little, teeny, tiny hitchhiker turns out to be an unusual "LPS"!
*I like when I manage to shake off all the water from my fish net after using it without getting a drop on the floor!
* I like when I really do get an 80% plus hatch out of my "premium" brine shrimp eggs!
*I like when my friend's tank is cranking!
* I like when I play a hunch, make some system "tweak", and the next day, my Euphyllia opens!
*I like waking up early in the morning and seeing all of my fishes still sleeping.
* I like seeing pictures of my customers' aquariums (reed and FW)!
*I like when some task I've been dreading turns out to be super easy!
*I like seeing my snails actually consume algae.
*I like seeing the sand rinse clear after just a few "swirls" in the bucket...
*I like when I can quickly and easily locate and stop "that" source of noise my tank has been making all day!
*I like when I find a bunch of fry swimming around in a reef tank!
*I like when I cut the perfect length of pipe for a plumbing connection on the first try!
*I like when the fish I've been looking for all year shows up at my favorite source!
*I like having a dry towel handy when that "unexpected" spill occurs.
*I like a big school of Zebrasoma...in someone else's tank!
*I like catching a glimpse of my shyest fish as I pass by my tank.
*I like being able to catch that ONE evasive fish on the first try!
*I like that "glow" a tank has after you complete a water exchange.
*I like catching a glimpse of mysis and copepods and little creepy-crawlies doing their thing in my tank!
*I like trading fish, plants, and coral frags with friends.
*I like taking a time out from whatever I'm doing and stealing a few minutes gawking at my tank!
*I like the smell of a clean aquarium.
*I like "trolling" an auction table at a fish event to see all the bags of cool fish and corals waiting to be snapped up.
*I like getting that Montipora secured to the rock without typing my fingers together!
*I like when the activated carbon rinses clean and it's ready to add to the media bag.
*I like inspecting clumps of freshly-harvested Chaetomorpha for "stuff"!
*I like chatting my friends up about arcane reef-keeping topics...for hours!
*I like seeing a few rays of morning sunlight poking into my tank before the lights come on.
*I like finding the exact plumbing part I'm looking for at the hardware store without having to ask the salesperson for help.
*I like feeding my fishes frozen mysis with a toothpick to make sure they snap up every piece.
*I like the gentle hum of a quiet water pump in action.
*I like finding the perfect piece of rock for that 'scape I've been thinking about.
*I like seeing Pumping Xenia actually...pump!
*I like seeing an awesome example of a "common" fish and being amazed by how nice it is!
*I like seeing clams "snap shot and "squirt" when you walk by them in a raceway!
I could go on and on and on...I think you get the idea..It's a fun exercise; one which I encourage you to do once in a while, especially when you feel like you're in a "rut", or just not feeling it...
What are some things YOU like in the hobby?
Stay engaged. Stay encouraged. Stay grateful.
Stay Wet.
Scott Fellman
Yeah, sort of "Facebook-ized", distilled to a simple, "I like this!" It's a great exercise for us as reefers when we seem to think that stuff is just sort of "happening" and we're perhaps not feeling the excitement we like, or just feel like things are't really all that interesting at the moment (is there ever a time like that...um, for some...perhaps...). We get a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the hobby.
Here's a start...perhaps it will trigger some "likes" of your own:
Things I like...
*I like when I was a kid that the LFS owner would give me 8 Neon Tetras when I bought 6 of em...
* I like when you nail the temperature setting on your heater on the first try!
*I like when the package of fish stuff you ordered online comes a day earlier than expected.
*I like when the new fish that you didn't think would make it through the night is out and swimming about, eating everything in sight!
*I like when you buy a coral colony, and a little, teeny, tiny hitchhiker turns out to be an unusual "LPS"!
*I like when I manage to shake off all the water from my fish net after using it without getting a drop on the floor!
* I like when I really do get an 80% plus hatch out of my "premium" brine shrimp eggs!
*I like when my friend's tank is cranking!
* I like when I play a hunch, make some system "tweak", and the next day, my Euphyllia opens!
*I like waking up early in the morning and seeing all of my fishes still sleeping.
* I like seeing pictures of my customers' aquariums (reed and FW)!
*I like when some task I've been dreading turns out to be super easy!
*I like seeing my snails actually consume algae.
*I like seeing the sand rinse clear after just a few "swirls" in the bucket...
*I like when I can quickly and easily locate and stop "that" source of noise my tank has been making all day!
*I like when I find a bunch of fry swimming around in a reef tank!
*I like when I cut the perfect length of pipe for a plumbing connection on the first try!
*I like when the fish I've been looking for all year shows up at my favorite source!
*I like having a dry towel handy when that "unexpected" spill occurs.
*I like a big school of Zebrasoma...in someone else's tank!
*I like catching a glimpse of my shyest fish as I pass by my tank.
*I like being able to catch that ONE evasive fish on the first try!
*I like that "glow" a tank has after you complete a water exchange.
*I like catching a glimpse of mysis and copepods and little creepy-crawlies doing their thing in my tank!
*I like trading fish, plants, and coral frags with friends.
*I like taking a time out from whatever I'm doing and stealing a few minutes gawking at my tank!
*I like the smell of a clean aquarium.
*I like "trolling" an auction table at a fish event to see all the bags of cool fish and corals waiting to be snapped up.
*I like getting that Montipora secured to the rock without typing my fingers together!
*I like when the activated carbon rinses clean and it's ready to add to the media bag.
*I like inspecting clumps of freshly-harvested Chaetomorpha for "stuff"!
*I like chatting my friends up about arcane reef-keeping topics...for hours!
*I like seeing a few rays of morning sunlight poking into my tank before the lights come on.
*I like finding the exact plumbing part I'm looking for at the hardware store without having to ask the salesperson for help.
*I like feeding my fishes frozen mysis with a toothpick to make sure they snap up every piece.
*I like the gentle hum of a quiet water pump in action.
*I like finding the perfect piece of rock for that 'scape I've been thinking about.
*I like seeing Pumping Xenia actually...pump!
*I like seeing an awesome example of a "common" fish and being amazed by how nice it is!
*I like seeing clams "snap shot and "squirt" when you walk by them in a raceway!
I could go on and on and on...I think you get the idea..It's a fun exercise; one which I encourage you to do once in a while, especially when you feel like you're in a "rut", or just not feeling it...
What are some things YOU like in the hobby?
Stay engaged. Stay encouraged. Stay grateful.
Stay Wet.
Scott Fellman
