Times Have Changed

[Inertiatic]

I've just recently become active again in the reefing community. The last time I was active was between 2011 and 2013. I'm surprised how much has changed in such a short amount of time. Here are a few off the top of my head:

1. Smaller refugiums being powered by high quality grow lights - I remember the common thought was to go buy a cheap bulb at Home Depot and to have a LARGE refugium. A small refugium was just a waste of time.
2. Wanting a small amount of nitrates and phosphates - It seemed that have any detectable level of nitrates and phosphates back then was horrible and the reason for your problems. I was shocked when I saw products to dose nitrate and phosphate.
3. Heavy feeding - This kind of stems from #1 and #2, with the notion of heavy in, heavy out. I recall being very finicky with feeding to prevent over feeding and excess nutrients.

What about everyone else, what have you noticed change over the years from equipment, attitude, and/or husbandry?

 

[sp1187]

I got out in 1996 (divorce) and didn't get back in till 2018.
Imagine my surprise.... wave makers, gyres, led lighting, DC pumps, algae scrubbers, new ways to aquascape, loads of info available on the internet.

 

[Inertiatic]

Ohhh, gyres! That is something completely new, I had no idea what they were the first time I saw them in a video.

I'm not surprised, but it is cool to see how LED lighting has come. When I made my DIY Rapid LED fixtures, there wasn't a ton of info on them yet. If you wanted to buy a fixture, they were really expensive or the black boxes from China.

 

[X-37B]

I got out in 1996 (divorce) and didn't get back in till 2018.
Imagine my surprise.... wave makers, gyres, led lighting, DC pumps, algae scrubbers, new ways to aquascape, loads of info available on the internet.

I got out around the same time. Started in late 80's.
I still keep it simple.
No fuge, not needed imo.
T5 lighting was MH back then.
Filter sock.
Skimmer.
Carx.
4 controlable powerheads not seen back then.
Biggest for me and still not embraced is my " no water change system.
Much better ways to test parameters now too.
All the controllers now but I do not use any.
I have an apex and may never set it up.
Count bubbles, effluent and measure dkh for my carx.
Oh and feed my 11 fish 3-4 times a day.