What Experience Looks Like

[Reefer Matt]

The word “experience” means something different to everyone, and it’s often used as a measurement of acquired skill over a period of time. In reefing, we start off with little or no experience, and build our confidence and skills as we progress through our journey.

At first, the perception of experience is often perfection. We see “flawless” tanks on social media and in stores, and think, “they never make mistakes or lose livestock”. That sets the bar in our pursuit of achieving our own experience, and getting similar results.

As time moves forward, it starts to seem like experience is finally taking shape. Things are growing, and success is becoming more and more common, these are exciting times! This is where most Reefers want to be.

After a while longer, things take a turn. What once was easy now seems harder. What happened? Where did it go wrong? You may never know, and don’t always need to. You may start to blame yourself, the tank, and other people, desperately trying to fix it. This is where you must stop, take a breath, and realize what experience is. This is not the time to quit.

You didn’t fail, you probably forgot, and it doesn’t make you less experienced or incompetent. This is the time to really dig in though, and do what needs to be done. Time to reassess the situation and find out what was overlooked.

Then that “aha!” moment happens, and the lightbulb comes on. You fix the problem and everything is better again, well, until next time!

After a while longer you’ll make the realization that experience isn’t perfection at all! It’s a continuous cycle of correction that seems endless! Nothing’s perfect, and it never will be. However, with experience comes the ability to make corrections more quickly and efficiently.

Experience is the ability to know that we aren’t perfect, yet we can succeed as often or more than we “fail” (If you learned from it, it’s not failure). Those with a lot of experience realize they will always be challenged, yet they still accept the quest. They aren’t perfect, they are just too stubborn to fail!

 

[BryanM]

Agreed , this hobby needs a certain level of stubbornness to succeed!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Agreed , this hobby needs a certain level of stubbornness to succeed!

Definitely different definitions of “failure” too. To me, that just means giving up before reaching a goal.

 

[Paul B]

Then that “aha!” moment happens, and the lightbulb comes on. You fix the problem and everything is better again, well, until next time!

I had that Aha moment probably 45 years ago and have enjoyed the hobby so much more after that.
At that time, or a few years before I learned how to not have to be concerned with diseases, quarantine, medications and all that so I can just enjoy the livestock.

Now the only issues may be a light that croaks or a pump that leaks. But those are mechanical issues, and we will always have them no matter what our experience level is.

Of course, my tank is not perfection by any means, but it is exactly like I want it to be and to me, that is the most important thing. This is, after all a hobby and not a contest. It is the journey that is important just like sailing.

If we go on a sailboat, it is not because we want to get anywhere fast. If we wanted to get there fast, we would go on a motorboat and not on a vessel that goes 5MPH in a good wind and you get wet in the process. It's the journey that's important and the little "incidents" that happen just make it more interesting.

If we didn't want anything negative to happen, we would collect stamps.
Now that's exciting.

 

[Tangdora]

Nobody knows everything. I simple view experience as the ability to solve a problem on your own when presented with an issue without panic or stress. Even if you are seeking advice from people your can still be experienced. Experience is being able to understand the information being relayed, determine or knowing what is actually valid and then doing what needed to achieve the end goal of your problem and the ultimate not making the same mistake again. If you just luckily able to retain more information in your head that’s just a bonus. But these days with the internet in the palm of your hand all knowledge is at your disposal.

 

[KrisReef]

I had that Aha moment probably 45 years ago and have enjoyed the hobby so much more after that.
At that time, or a few years before I learned how to not have to be concerned with diseases, quarantine, medications and all that so I can just enjoy the livestock.

Now the only issues may be a light that croaks or a pump that leaks. But those are mechanical issues, and we will always have them no matter what our experience level is.

Of course, my tank is not perfection by any means, but it is exactly like I want it to be and to me, that is the most important thing. This is, after all a hobby and not a contest. It is the journey that is important just like sailing.

If we go on a sailboat, it is not because we want to get anywhere fast. If we wanted to get there fast, we would go on a motorboat and not on a vessel that goes 5MPH in a good wind and you get wet in the process. It's the journey that's important and the little "incidents" that happen just make it more interesting.

If we didn't want anything negative to happen, we would collect stamps.
Now that's exciting.

I have an awesome Tramp Stamp myself, and I think stamp collections are best done at the entrance to foreign countries!

So many reefs to explore in exotic places!
None of them have been replicated in our confined aquariums, but I do understand why people try!

 

[56longroof]

Agreed , this hobby needs a certain level of stubbornness to succeed!

Indeed

 

[56longroof]

Anyone that claims to have a perfect tank is fooling themselves and everyone else. This hobby is a never ending circle of joy and frustration. Just when you think things are going great you get reminded they sometimes are not. LOL

 

[Jimbo327]

Experience is when you can sort through the BS and figure out your way to keep a tank up while having fun.