Welp, I'm lost...

[Tinnerito]

Not trying to waste anybodys time so I'll just get straight into this. I'm confused, lost, and worried even. I thought I had a generally good understanding of captive marine aquaria for a beginner. But I am so wrong. I will give you the run down since I'm not a good elaborater.

Aquarist: This fish needs atleast 120 gal
Another aquarist: I have the same one living in a 50.

Aquarist: your coral has too much light
Another aquarist: this coral needs more light.

Aquarist: I've only had luck with big canister filters
Another aquarist: Canisters make my water too clean and kill my stuff.

Aquarist: Look at how much my corals recovered after I began dosing!
Another aquarist: look at how many corals died after i started dosing!

My point here is that trial and error is tough, and I guess what I've learned this week is that there is no right answer to the reefing hobby, and it goes several ways. This is helps, but is dreadful at the same time, and now I am lost. I don't know what's right, or what to do anymore. My biggest fear in the whole world is coming home after a long day to see my animals all dead because of a stupid mistake that I made which someone told me is wrong, but another said is right. What is even right anymore? It seems that marine organisms require specific things, but don't at the same time.

I'm sure that I am overthinking this, and that I'm doing fine, but I could be wrong, and who knows? Could reef roids and dosing be my lifesaver? Or the doom of my journy? The more answers I recieve, the more questions I get.

 

[exnisstech]

This is a huge problem for new people entering the hobby. Too much information, much of it wrong but how are you supposed to know who to trust? I wish I had a majic answer. I watched a video a while back, I think it was Ryan from brs speaking at a gathering. Apologies to all of it wasn't Ryan. He said stop listening to everyone and start listing to someone. May not be the actual words but it really made sense. The only suggestion I can offer is what I've done in the past. I try to vette people offering advice. I'll look at build threads and previous posts to try and get a feel for the person offering advice. It isn't easy and takes time but after a while I started to recognize the names and know if it's someone I feel comfortable trusting. Too many people just parrot what they've read online and if it gets repeated enough it becomes internet fact, even if it's wrong. Such is life with the internet. It's great but at times not so great. Also just because someone can do something it doesn't mean they should. Too many are interested in what they want and not what is best for the livestock. You sound like your most interested in what is best for the animals under your care which is how it should be.
Personally I only seek information here on R2R and never on social media sights. We have scientists and very experienced reefers to help here so I feel no need to go anywhere else for my info. You still have to weed through the info but it gets easier as you get more familiar with the folks here. I wish I had more to offer as I totally understand how you feel.

EDIT : Also don't assume because someone has a lot of badges that their advise is more reliable than someone who has none or just a few. I think this is a mistake many newcomers make and it's understandable.

 

[Tinnerito]

This is a huge problem for new people entering the hobby. Too much information, much of it wrong but how are you supposed to know who to trust? I wish I had a majic answer. I watched a videos a while back, I think it was Ryan from brs speaking at a gathering. Apologies to all of it wasn't Ryan. He said stop listening to everyone and start listing to someone. May not be the actual words but it really made sense. The only suggestion I can offer is what I've done in the past. I try to vette people offering advice. I'll look at build threads and previous posts to try and get a feel for the person offering advice. It isn't easy and takes time but after a while I started to recognize the names and know if it's someone I feel comfortable trusting. Too many people just parrot what they've read online and if it gets repeated enough it becomes internet fact, even if it's wrong. Such is life with the internet. It's great but at times not so great. Also just because someone can do something it doesn't mean they should. Too many are interested in what they want and not what is best for the livestock. You sound like your most interested in what is best for the animals under your care which is how it should be.
Personally I only seek information here on R2R and never on social media sights. We have scientists and very experienced reefers to help here so I feel no need to go anywhere else for my info. You still have to weed through the info but it gets easier as you get more familiar with the folks here. I wish I had more to offer as I totally understand how you feel.

I greatly appreciate your reply! I will be thinking about this!

 

[SaltyWalty]

I also think part of the problem comes from picking and choosing parts of some methods and not other parts.
I would advise finding someone’s tank and method you like, and one that fits your lifestyle, Then stick with the method they use. And all of it!
For example: So if someone is running a canister filter and an auto feeder running 5 times a day, if you are trying to copy their results you’d need both. I wouldn’t advise picking and choose what parts you like.

 

[BetteMidler]

The whole reefing experience is like a weight loss journey. Sometimes, you just have to figure out what works and what doesn't for yourself.

With reefing, you can read something that makes a lot of sense, but might not work for your tank.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Luckily the livestock tolerate a range of parameters and can adapt to changes within reason. Usually Reefers only give out one number instead of the high/low range. That may take some time for you to discover. As far as specifics, find someone who has a tank like the one you want, and mirror their success.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

For what it's worth, I honestly wouldn't be taking ANY advice from your LFS, since you're new to the hobby. As much as I hate to say it, those guys are in the business of making money. So of course they're going to say differing advice, and give you advice that's going to make them the most money in the long run.

The knowledge I've gained during my 1.5 decades in the hobby is from this forum. Reef2Reef is a great source for advice and education. With that said, there is still conflicting information.

I would probably start here, on Reef2Reef, as well as Bulk Reef Supply. They have a great library of educational videos, especially beginners.

 

[I never finish anythi]

I also think part of the problem comes from picking and choosing parts of some methods and not other parts.
I would advise finding someone’s tank and method you like, and one that fits your lifestyle, Then stick with the method they use. And all of it!
For example: So if someone is running a canister filter and an auto feeder running 5 times a day, if you are trying to copy their results you’d need both. I wouldn’t advise picking and choose what parts you like.

Sorry I disagree with this statement. No two tanks are the same .
I know a few people who run numerous tanks on the same sump same equipment, with much different results . One tank looks amazing while the other is full of all sorts of nasty stuff .

 

[apeshot]

For better and for worse this is the actual reefing experience. It’s the ebb and flow of knowledge paired with your experience applying (or not applying) that knowledge.

It’s like if you really like playing competitive basketball, but hate practicing basketball, you’re going to be miserable. Because to get really good at it, you’re going to have to be at practice every morning at 6 AM. It’s the daily practice that can feel miserable in the moment, but you’ll get better over time. The reefing hobby is the same, especially in the beginning. You have to pause and find some enjoyment in the journey and try to learn from the mistakes but just as important, you have to pause and celebrate the moments when everything seems to be going great.

Over time, if you stick with it and keep learning, you’ll find that you won’t panic run to the tank every morning. You’ll start to trust that it “might” still be ok in the morning. I’ve been there and still check the tank within 10 minutes of getting home. Time and experience will cure all, but it’s the journey you have to find joy in.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

For better and for worse this is the actual reefing experience. It’s the ebb and flow of knowledge paired with your experience applying (or not applying) that knowledge.

It’s like if you really like playing competitive basketball, but hate practicing basketball, you’re going to be miserable. Because to get really good at it, you’re going to have to be at practice every morning at 6 AM. It’s the daily practice that can feel miserable in the moment, but you’ll get better over time. The reefing hobby is the same, especially in the beginning. You have to pause and find some enjoyment in the journey and try to learn from the mistakes but just as important, you have to pause and celebrate the moments when everything seems to be going great.

Over time, if you stick with it and keep learning, you’ll find that you won’t panic run to the tank every morning. You’ll start to trust that it “might” still be ok in the morning. I’ve been there and still check the tank within 10 minutes of getting home. Time and experience will cure all, but it’s the journey you have to find joy in.

The "Panic Run". Isn't that the truth... Every morning and as soon as I'm home from work, and as soon as the lights turn off for the evening

I'm not even new to the hobby and still do this haha!

 

[apeshot]

The "Panic Run". Isn't that the truth... Every morning and as soon as I'm home from work, and as soon as the lights turn off for the evening

I'm not even new to the hobby and still do this haha!

lol. I think I still have ptsd from when I first set up my dosing pump. We were headed out to dinner and I just had to set it up before we left. Well, I set the doser to like 500 ML instead of 50 for my alk. At dinner I saw my alk rise from 7.5 to 14. Now I feel like I have to check the apex app every morning first thing. lol. Probably not the best habit.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

lol. I think I still have ptsd from when I first set up my dosing pump. We were headed out to dinner and I just had to set it up before we left. Well, I set the doser to like 500 ML instead of 50 for my alk. At dinner I saw my alk rise from 7.5 to 14. Now I feel like I have to check the apex app every morning first thing. lol. Probably not the best habit.

Yikes… I just got my apex hooked up, with trident and DOS. I feel lost trying to configure it and know that once I’m dosing via pump, I’ll be full psycho.

Never have had a controller so super excited about that aspect.

 

[apeshot]

Yikes… I just got my apex hooked up, with trident and DOS. I feel lost trying to configure it and know that once I’m dosing via pump, I’ll be full psycho.

Never have had a controller so super excited about that aspect.

I’m only a few months in but message me if you have any questions. It took a bit of trial and error and error and worry and trial.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

I’m only a few months in but message me if you have any questions. It took a bit of trial and error and error and worry and trial.

I appreciate that! I definitely will!

I’ve already had a handful of questions just about the hardware, and my “source” can’t help me out lol. Gonna dm you soon.

Thanks again!

 

[Dburr1014]

This is a huge problem for new people entering the hobby. Too much information, much of it wrong but how are you supposed to know who to trust? I wish I had a majic answer. I watched a video a while back, I think it was Ryan from brs speaking at a gathering. Apologies to all of it wasn't Ryan. He said stop listening to everyone and start listing to someone. May not be the actual words but it really made sense. The only suggestion I can offer is what I've done in the past. I try to vette people offering advice. I'll look at build threads and previous posts to try and get a feel for the person offering advice. It isn't easy and takes time but after a while I started to recognize the names and know if it's someone I feel comfortable trusting. Too many people just parrot what they've read online and if it gets repeated enough it becomes internet fact, even if it's wrong. Such is life with the internet. It's great but at times not so great. Also just because someone can do something it doesn't mean they should. Too many are interested in what they want and not what is best for the livestock. You sound like your most interested in what is best for the animals under your care which is how it should be.
Personally I only seek information here on R2R and never on social media sights. We have scientists and very experienced reefers to help here so I feel no need to go anywhere else for my info. You still have to weed through the info but it gets easier as you get more familiar with the folks here. I wish I had more to offer as I totally understand how you feel.

EDIT : Also don't assume because someone has a lot of badges that their advise is more reliable than someone who has none or just a few. I think this is a mistake many newcomers make and it's understandable.

Love this post!
Perfect, 100% spot on.