Is it possible to "master" reefing?

[Gumbies R Us]

To add to my point, don't they say it takes 10,000 hours to master something?

 

[JayM]

Absolutely. If you can keep a tank with minimal “surprises” and know how to handle them when they do show up, you’ve mastered reefing.

 

[Cscultho]

Based on the official definition of what "Mastering" is I voted NO.

"To acquire complete knowledge or skill in a technique or art"

Reefing is an ever evolving skill and process we continue to chase and modify as we learn more about the hobby. What we know today about the hobby will change tomorrow. When I started reefing 20+ years ago is vastly different today. Just my opinion.

 

[PharmrJohn]

To add to my point, don't they say it takes 10,000 hours to master something?

LOL, I thought you stated 10,000 days! And in my mind I agreed! In my field, I  barely consider a new grad Pharmacist as an expert. Yes, they know a lot, but compared to a 30 year RPh, it's not even close. At my age I consider myself a master on most things and an expert on the rest (with what I deal with anyway --- one can never know everything). With the hobby, I would consider a master to be on about the 10 year mark. It just depends on the individual. Some make it earlier. Some never make it. With me, 15 years ago, I considered myself an expert. Now I consider myself intermediate. But I've got a lot of time left to learn......

 

[Paul B]

I'm not sure if you can master anything fully, I am certainly no master at keeping coral. But I think if you can get your fish immune and have them live for their presumed lifespan while never having been infected by anything and all your fish that can spawn in a tank are spawning, you have mastered fish keeping. At least for the fish you are keeping. We can't be masters of fish we have never kept and there are millions.

I am a Master electrician and still get shocked, so I guess I am not the master I think I am.

 

[Lavey29]

This is like asking me if I can win an argument with my wife.

 

[PharmrJohn]

This is like asking me if I can win an argument with my wife.

You can't. Don't try.

 

[Lavey29]

You can't. Don't try.

Yes I have mastered the " Yes Dear" response

 

[chip shop]

So how long running a tank with no losses everything growing like weeds and fish living to and beyond there life expectancy would you say,I’ve mastered this

 

[EliMelly]

Yes I have mastered the " Yes Dear" response

I’m still young so I try to win haha

 

[PharmrJohn]

Yes I have mastered the " Yes Dear" response

I learned a long time ago that if my wife has an issue with something I'm doing or with me in general, she's right 99% of the time. Women are generally like that. Not to man-bash, but women have their stuff together. Also, I used to be a tad controlling. Not much, just a little bit in terms of worrying. And she has NO patience for that. I do, however use my one time per year "Oh Heck No!" allocation. She ain't perfect and will, on occasion, come up with a real head scratcher. I tell ya, it's REALLY nice to be married to my Lady!

 

[HomebroodExotics]

I have recently mastered my technique and I feel like I fully understand most of the chemistry going on in my aqurium now. It feels good.

 

[Paul B]

So how long running a tank with no losses everything growing like weeds and fish living to and beyond there life expectancy would you say,I’ve mastered this

Then by that criteria, Maybe I mastered fish. I don't think I have had any fish die from any "communicable" disease in over 40 years. Of course I have had fish die from many other things, mostly jumping out or old age.

But I haven't kept all of the fish in the sea and there are quite few I know I can't keep so I don't keep them. I do have a problem with Banded pipefish, two spot gobies, orange spotted filefish and many others. If they don't die of old age, I consider myself a failure with them.

 

[danreef55]

I've been in the reefkeeping hobby for over 40 years, and I also ran a wholesale operation for 7 years. After being out of the hobby for the past 10 years, I’ve spent the last year reading on this site and other sources to get back up to speed. I'm diving back in this November, but do I think I’ve mastered reefkeeping? Absolutely not.

To truly consider yourself a "master" in this field, you’d need to master several professions along the way each of which may take a lifetime Here's a list of just a few:

• Marine Biologist: Understanding the complex ecosystems, biological interactions, and life cycles of marine organisms.
• Chemist: Mastering water chemistry, including salinity, pH, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, and trace elements.
• Engineer: Designing and maintaining complex filtration, lighting, and flow systems.
• Electrician: Wiring and setting up controllers, lights, and pumps safely and efficiently.
• Plumber: Managing plumbing for drains, overflows, sumps, and reactors.
• Veterinarian: Diagnosing and treating diseases in fish and corals.
• Nutritionist: Understanding and providing the right diet for all tank inhabitants, from fish to invertebrates.
• Environmental Scientist: Balancing sustainability and understanding the impact of human activity on reefs, both in aquariums and in the wild.
• Aquaculturist: Breeding and propagating species in captivity, contributing to the sustainability of the hobby.

And that’s just a fraction of it. The hobby has evolved dramatically, and as much as I’ve seen and done, there's always more to learn. Mastery, in my opinion, is an elusive goal because the ocean’s complexity is far beyond anything we can fully replicate. Every day is a reminder of just how much more there is to discover and understand.

 

[RichReef]

I would interpret mastering it means that one is able to keep a quality reef tank and is happy with it.

I cannot see it meaning knowing everything, since there would be almost no way anyone masters anything by that definition.

This.

 

[Lavey29]

I learned a long time ago that if my wife has an issue with something I'm doing or with me in general, she's right 99% of the time. Women are generally like that. Not to man-bash, but women have their stuff together. Also, I used to be a tad controlling. Not much, just a little bit in terms of worrying. And she has NO patience for that. I do, however use my one time per year "Oh Heck No!" allocation. She ain't perfect and will, on occasion, come up with a real head scratcher. I tell ya, it's REALLY nice to be married to my Lady!

I just hang out with the dog

 

[PharmrJohn]

I've been in the reefkeeping hobby for over 40 years, and I also ran a wholesale operation for 7 years. After being out of the hobby for the past 10 years, I’ve spent the last year reading on this site and other sources to get back up to speed. I'm diving back in this November, but do I think I’ve mastered reefkeeping? Absolutely not.

To truly consider yourself a "master" in this field, you’d need to master several professions along the way each of which may take a lifetime Here's a list of just a few:

• Marine Biologist: Understanding the complex ecosystems, biological interactions, and life cycles of marine organisms.
• Chemist: Mastering water chemistry, including salinity, pH, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, and trace elements.
• Engineer: Designing and maintaining complex filtration, lighting, and flow systems.
• Electrician: Wiring and setting up controllers, lights, and pumps safely and efficiently.
• Plumber: Managing plumbing for drains, overflows, sumps, and reactors.
• Veterinarian: Diagnosing and treating diseases in fish and corals.
• Nutritionist: Understanding and providing the right diet for all tank inhabitants, from fish to invertebrates.
• Environmental Scientist: Balancing sustainability and understanding the impact of human activity on reefs, both in aquariums and in the wild.
• Aquaculturist: Breeding and propagating species in captivity, contributing to the sustainability of the hobby.

And that’s just a fraction of it. The hobby has evolved dramatically, and as much as I’ve seen and done, there's always more to learn. Mastery, in my opinion, is an elusive goal because the ocean’s complexity is far beyond anything we can fully replicate. Every day is a reminder of just how much more there is to discover and understand.

Incredibly well thought out. However, I first read Veterinarian as Vegetarian. My brain skipped. I could actually  feel my EEG flutter......

 

[Lavey29]

Then by that criteria, Maybe I mastered fish. I don't think I have had any fish die from any "communicable" disease in over 40 years. Of course I have had fish die from many other things, mostly jumping out or old age.

But I haven't kept all of the fish in the sea and there are quite few I know I can't keep so I don't keep them. I do have a problem with Banded pipefish, two spot gobies, orange spotted filefish and many others. If they don't die of old age, I consider myself a failure with them.

See this is more in line with what I would consider mastering reefing. Creating an environment that gives your fish a very long healthy happy life. Corals are secondary to fish in my tank but still important due to wallet involved.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I just hang out with the dog

In its house?

 

[vlangel]

I would say that I have mostly mastered keeping the kind of reef I have chosen to keep: a softie/LPS reef with ornamental macroalgae that is home to omnivore fish and some easy inverts. It's easy stuff to keep but my fish live long lives (decade/s) and I have had some of my coral a long time as well.