Thank you for this post and for the thread! By far one of the most thought provoking threads.I'm seeing a major increase of Emergency threads on R2R with a general question of "Why are things going wrong?"
Seems like a mass majority of threads is a direct result of the hobbyist not allowing enough time to pass for water chemistry and all ecosystem items like LR, substrate to mature.....to be cultivated.
Starting a reef is not a turnkey operation.
You wouldn't buy a $60,000 muscle car right off the lot and with 100miles on it, take it to a Track and race it hard. Pushing the 100mile engine to extremes. You brake an engine in slowly. Allowing integral parts and fluids to brake in together.
Tanks and corals is a process of cultivating an ecosystem with balanced water chemistry over time.
But many of us with mature tanks have made same the mistakes as well....buying our first batch of corals, killing them in an immature tank. Then finding more success when 12mos has past
BOTTOMLINE: you have picked a hobby that takes 9-12mos of well planned out maintenance to cultivate an ecosystem worthy of supporting corals.
Short cuts = FAIL
Allowing an ecosystem to mature over time = a great chance at success
It's a shame that most (not all) LFS are out for only one thing, and that's $$/profit. They will tell you what you want to hear, to sell you the next best thing, and happily help you stock your freshly cycled tank with all the nicest coral that will inevitably die within 2 weeks of you introducing them into an immature ecosystem. IMO, that's where the problem starts and it permeates from there.
the one that frequents is ::
help- Please Identify. I bought these 4 corals today at LFS and not sure what they are, Can someone please help id and tell me what care they need?
Its like wow, but I do answer respectfully despite wondering why are they buying something and not knowing what it is and if it is easy or challenging to the most experienced hobbyist.
Bottom line- Grunt all you want but do help them regardless and if it rattles your bones that much, simply dont reply rather than asking them why are they buying it or need a different hobby
And @vetteguy53081 says it best... That's what I enjoy about my profession and reefing... helping those that haven't seen or experienced what you have been through. Teach, don't judge. We all have made mistakes along the way and teaching others from our missteps is what it's all about.