Simplicity

[Clownguy]

I was just doing my weekly maintenance and was thinking to my self that we often make reef keeping to difficult on oursleves. I know I don't talk for anyone other then myslef, but I feel like you always have to get that next big fancy piece of equipment to make your reef look and function right. As I was cleaning I realized that it is actually false. It is those simple little things we do that make our tanks look good, like doing our water change, getting the flow to go in a different direction adding some cheato to a refugium, etc... I guess what I really am trying to say is that simplicity sometimes is really the key to a good reef tank.

Chris

 

[liveforphysics]

My experience has also shown me that less is more in this game. I think the difference between a problem tank and no effort tank often comes down to the micro and macro organism level, which isnt something that all the tech in the world can provide.

All hobbies are influenced strongly by marketing product fads. Money plays a huge roll in this game, and more equipment = more money. Its only natural that more and more equip will be pushed on the hobby. Now, if that has a good or bad effect on the hobby... We know that the amount of people trying saltwater is higher than ever (likely due to greater marketing and internet info), but I often see times of less than a 1-1.5years before they quit of frustration. Is the tech level driving this frustration? Its a very interesting debate.

 

[CarlaW]

I think that the level of frustration and quitting come from getting bad advice right from the start, and then not being able to put up with the consequences afterward. JMHO

 

[Krish]

I think that the level of frustration and quitting come from getting bad advice right from the start, and then not being able to put up with the consequences afterward. JMHO

I agree with you Charlie...Also, not learning enough about the hobby before jumping in even if all the info is there...Like the mistake I made the first time around

 

[Llarian]

There's a dangerous dichotomy that people fall into of "it has to be simple, or I have to have all this fancy equipment!"

Neither of those is probably true, and it differs for each tank depending on stocking an such. Unfortunatly, everybody wants to believe that there's "One True Method" and it breeds evangelism in the message boards, which is really harmful to the hobby in my opinion, particularly for people starting.

That said, simplicity can be great! I love my only running tank now (20G nano) because there's almost nothing to it.

What makes a tank complex though, when you think about it? Automation is one. I can provide another calcium for SPS (probably) by dosing 2-part additives (simple, but lots of work), or I can add a calcium reactor which adds complexity.

Most of the equipment out there (with some exceptions that are obvious snake oil) has a reason for being sold and used in systems, but it doesn't have a reason for every tank.

So, um, I'm not sure if I disagreed with you or not, but I think this thread kinda ended up being a good place to soapbox about what I've been reading in about 75% of threads on RF lately.

-Dylan

 

[reedman]

Simplicity is a very subjective term. I find that having a aquacontroller and Ca reactor simplified my mainenance greatly. I can monitor the PH & temp in the tank at any time in seconds. I don't have to dose any products to maintain my Ca and Alk since the addition of the Ca reactor. Granted I have a few more risks in that I could fail a pump, or the controller could die, but that is a risk I am willing to take.

You have to also factor in the tank size. In a 5 gallon nano a water change is a pretty simple way to maintain water parameters and quality. In a 300 gallon, not so simple.

I'm with Charlie too....most people fail because they take any advice they get as golden without thinking it through. A little thought and research would help a lot of people.

 

[DonW]

Simplicity is a very subjective term.

I couldnt agree more. Ive automated pretty much everything. Ive also un-automated some things due to the complexity.
What ever way you take care of your tank it need to remain enjoyable. When it becomes one of those thing that is just a chore that you hate. Then it all goes downhill.

Don

 

[mojoreef]

Yea this is a very subjective topic. What is simplicity?? Automating aa process?? I dont think so, its a lazy mans way to stop doing daily things, I am all about that, lol.
Keeping a tank is pretty simple in regards to most things, water levels, lighting, movement and so on. Where most folks run into complexities is in the dealing with of nutrients/waste/detritus. In this concept folks ahve taken a few different routes to achieve an end result. Some folks go the direct route and export the waste/detritus prior to decomposition and also use LR and skimmers (along with other aides) to remove. Other folks tend to cycle nutrients or have them decompose and be locked into biological forms.
In looking at both methods I have have leaned more on the mechancial form as I have control over it, yes it has 4 or five peices of equipement attached to it, but a flick of a switch and it stops. As per biological means I find that to be very complex and mostly not fully understood yet. Its process has hundreds of steps and pathways, each interdependant on the oe prior and after. That and I have absolutly no control over it. Now which one is more complex?? I guess everyone will have a different answer to that one.


Mike

 

[lunchie]

First let me say that most of you have so much more experience than me but I felt I had to way in my opinion on this topic.

As for the comment:
"most people fail because they take any advice they get as golden without thinking it through. A little thought and research would help a lot of people."

First let me say, that in my experience everyone and I do mean everyone from the LFS, Books, to Internet Forums tell you something different. Whether your question is as simple as which food to feed or somthing as complex as which filtration method to use. This has been my biggest hurdle in this hobby. I am at the point where I don't want to ask questions because you get all different answers, and even if you try to give it a "little thought" you end up more confused then when you started.

Though I hate to say this statement and I am sure many of you will disagree with me, if I have learned anything it is that: "There is not a BEST way to do anything in this hobby".

I believe this is true because each of us have some many different variables in our tanks that what works for one will not work for others. But that does not help with the frustration that newbies goes through. I went absolutely bonkers setting up my tank and I still get aggrivated at times when I get 20 different answers to a question.

I know I have ranted a lot in this thread and that was not my intention. I am also not trying to say that I haven't received some really good advice however, I think there is a lot more to this hobby than:
"A little thought and research..."


Thanks for letting me rant!