What’s Your End Game?

[Reefer Matt]

Everyone has a vision at first. The tank, the livestock, the equipment. But not many set a goal that completes the journey. Some may say “I’m a lifer!” then quit when the first big problem happens.
I hope it never does!

So given everything you know now, what does your reefing end game (final goal) look like? I always thought I’d keep my sps tank forever, but now I realize I’m ready for the next challenge! And it’s coming down soon.

 

[vittpsu21]

watch things grow and enjoy the tank, especially the Mandarin :)

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Great question.

Spawning corals, or even creating hybrid corals through spawning, is something I have always wanted to aspire to. Some of it is tied to lunar cycles, but much of it comes down to supporting overall health and helping the corals reach a critical size.

That said, end goals have a way of evolving once you reach them.

 

[Subsea]

At my age, I have no end game. I am a dinosaur. Actually, I have a dream that I can grow seaweed to feed a community that includes reefers & vegans.

Great question.

Spawning corals, or even creating hybrid corals through spawning, is something I have always wanted to aspire to. Some of it is tied to lunar cycles, but much of it comes down to supporting overall health and helping the corals reach a critical size.

That said, end goals have a way of evolving once you reach them.

Thank you for pioneering new goals and illuminating the science.

 

[allof fish]

Everyone has a vision at first. The tank, the livestock, the equipment. But not many set a goal that completes the journey. Some may say “I’m a lifer!” then quit when the first big problem happens.
I hope it never does!

So given everything you know now, what does your reefing end game (final goal) look like? I always thought I’d keep my sps tank forever, but now I realize I’m ready for the next challenge! And it’s coming down soon.

I think being able to have a tank on auto pilot for a long time and completely fill it out and have it be perfect until you run out of room. Then time to upgrade and try the challenge again from frags. Almost like beating a game, to play again you have to restart it

 

[Fish Fan]

At my age, I have no end game. I am a dinosaur. Actually, I have a dream that I can grow seaweed to feed a community that includes reefers & vegans.

Patrick, you're an amazing reefer, and I learn from your posts nearly daily. What a commendable goal, and if anyone could make this happen, it would be you. If I can somehow help, please let me know

Thank you for pioneering new goals and illuminating the science.

@Ryan - Serious Reefs I agree with Subsea 100%. You've done so much over your career in this hobby to help us rethink our methodologies. I am very happy to see you active here on R2R, and I hope you'll stick around, even though I know that your focus is on Serious Reefs right now

I had the pleasure of meeting you personally, along with that other guy, @rtparty (you have to know I love you, RT!) at the RAP NY in 2025. My wife (who loves our tanks, but is not a 'reefer') told me that she's seen so many of your old BRS videos that she had to have her picture taken with you. I asked, and you kindly agreed; thanks dude!

My wife, Jamie, and Ryan B. at RAP NY 2025.

@Reefer Matt I remember meeting you at this RAP too

 

[Reefer Matt]

@Reefer Matt I remember meeting you at this RAP too

Likewise! It was likely a once in a lifetime event for me. Glad we could meet. I met Ryan there too and totally dorked out. Lol!

 

[Lithic_goose]

Not to sound cheesy or sappy or anything but when either my kids or their friends see my tanks and they get the look. That wow or awe'd look you know? It's not just in aquariums, its in my flowerbeds or anyhting else I attempt. To see life begin and thrive by something that I've built with my hands would be mine, the best part about that I believe is that it's always different with every try.

 

[Subsea]

“Patrick, you're an amazing reefer, and I learn from your posts nearly daily. What a commendable goal, and if anyone could make this happen, it would be you. If I can somehow help, please let me know “

. This thread may not be the right platform, but we will see.

I have a modest home grow out system which needs some help to expand. To that end, I need an apprentice to pour mariculture knowledge & hands on experience. Because I have only sold to LFS, I also require a marketing a sales partner.

I am working on job description for both candidates and intend to recruit from academia thru aquaculture department head at Texas State in San Marcus & UT in Austin. I also considered hobby website in San Antoine.

I will send you a PM with a rough draft in a day or two.

 

[Fish Fan]

Likewise! It was likely a once in a lifetime event for me. Glad we could meet. I met Ryan there too and totally dorked out. Lol!

Yep! I remembered that you drove down for quite a many hours, but it was very cool to meet you in person, brother. I'm also thrilled that you're back to posting on R2R

 

[BeanAnimal]

Uhh... are we supposed to have a plan? End game? Who plans? Planning is setting yourself up to fail, with no plan there is no failure, there is no let down, just success of a plan not failing. Feel good. Happy Reefing.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Yep! I remembered that you drove down for quite a many hours, but it was very cool to meet you in person, brother. I'm also thrilled that your back to posting on R2R

You can drive for hours and meet me in person. Just bring bacon, or you will be denied at the the gate. Kinda of like Bill Murray and the 800 number, but more like BeanAnimal and the bacon. If the bacon is good, then I will accept the meeting.

 

[Fish Fan]

You can drive for hours and meet me in person. Just bring bacon, or you will be denied at the the gate. Kinda of like Bill Murray and the 800 number, but more like BeanAnimal and the bacon. If the bacon is good, then I will accept the meeting.

Bean, I'd do unthinkable things to meet you in person over a big slab of house-cured pork belly - umm!

Thank you for your reply!

 

[rtparty]

I actually asked Ryan B this question a couple years back because I’ve been stuck with this question for a long time…

By nature I am an “end game” type of person. I build computers because I love the hunt for parts, build the system and make it look good. Then I get to move on feeling like I’ve accomplished something when I sell it and see the excitement from those buying it. Then it’s start over and do it again. Find the new challenges.

I’ve done woodworking in the past as well for the same reasons. There is an actual goal and task to finish.

Unfortunately, in reefing there is no end game or task to finish in my eyes. Building the system is the most fun for me. Maintaining it after the fact is just a pain at this point because there is no end game for me. I already accomplished what I set out to do.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I'm also thrilled that you're back to posting on R2R

Thanks. I’m still figuring that part out. I didn’t want any conflicts of interests here, but staying away from R2R doesn’t sit well either.

 

[keagan]

I lost my last setup to a hurricane and the ensuing extended power outage and chaos. So my endgame is building a system with every possible backup I can, supplies on hand, prepared for the inevitable big storm and possibly weeks without power. I'm not losing any more fish or coral I've watched grow for years. I'm too old to start a system that'll be going as long as Paul's but I aspire to get at least half as many years out of this tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It's not likely my final goal, but my current and only planned goal is to get a new magnifica anemone for my ocellaris clown trio and have them spawning while staying a trio in it.

 

[EricR]

End goal is a larger tank (5') with at least somewhat of a plan for types/locations of corals.

I kinda just stumbled forward with no plan in my current tank (3') and now pretty much out of room with just basic/easy stuff. (It works but not a lot of aesthetic appeal).

 

[Isherwood]

Have you seen Tidal Gardens place? LOL. no my end game evolves from day to day what I want most is stress relief. Unfortunately that comes with the stress of automation and gear fatigue. Honestly I am looking for less smart components less apps, I’m tired of the complexity of some things and I look back to my first tank in the 90’s and wonder how I did it. I had fun but life gets in the way and automation helps when we can’t be there. Lately I have had trouble with reliability of the extra things. Just want stability and healthy animals.

 

[exnisstech]

I've been thinking about this and I don't think I have an end game. I'll just keep doing it until I physically can't or it is no longer fun. I'm not a big plan ahead person and I've only ever set one life goal that I can remember. I just plug along one day at a time.