Back to the Basics: Are there any "old" reefing practices you wish were still commonly used today?

[KrisReef]

Innovation and new ideas are usually a good thing, but is it always good that we disregard tried and true practices to make room for new ones? Have some of the niche and "easy" reefing hacks taken some of the joy and satisfaction out of reefing? As a young reefer, I would love to hear some tales about "old-school" reefing! Let's discuss it...

Are there any "old" reefing practices you wish were still commonly used today?

Yes, all you all youngsters missed the golden age of reefing pioneers. It’s not your fault, your parents are to blame. (I presume you already knew this?) They should have gotten together earlier to bring you all into the population back when Reefing was really happening.

What I miss the most about those days was the community spirit and support we shared. I have a lot to say about those golden years an I invite any of you alls to come by my reef sometime and I’ll have a nice drink and tell you the history of the Golden Age of Reefing while you can wipe down the inside of my tank so we can see better what it looks like today.

See you soon!

 

[slowngreen]

Greed has taken over this hobby in my personal opinion.

 

[Mellotang]

Friendship n frag swaps

Like actual frag for frag

Not meet up n ill
Sell you frag for $1500

 

[Justdrew]

I remember buying my first SPS from Jason at premium aquatics in ‘99-‘00. @premiumaquatics There was no discussion of what color it was, no fancy name. We talked on the phone about my power compact lights and he said you will be fine. Stayed alive for the next few years until I sold the tank off and moved cross country.

 

[Boehmtown]

Deep sand beds, I have had a few tanks with them. Once they get established they are so nice

 

[Sump Crab]

Real ocean liverock from the south pacific. The aquacultured florida rock will never be as good.

 

[Old Man Sauce]

I miss not having to heat my house with the metal halides on. And I miss feeling like I actually know anything about the hobby. So much has changed in the 12+ years since I broke down my last reef. I'm just getting back into it, so much new stuff to learn and old stuff to try to remember.

 

[MrGisonni]

The old days.... 40 watt flourescent corallife 50/50 bulbs, an occasional spoonful of kalkwasser powder haphazardly mixed into my sump along with a splash of kent marine trace elements. Ignorance is bliss!

 

[vlangel]

I miss not having to heat my house with the metal halides on. And I miss feeling like I actually know anything about the hobby. So much has changed in the 12+ years since I broke down my last reef. I'm just getting back into it, so much new stuff to learn and old stuff to try to remember.

The equipment has changed but the biology has not. You will do fine with your new tank.

 

[vlangel]

The old days.... 40 watt flourescent corallife 50/50 bulbs, an occasional spoonful of kalkwasser powder haphazardly mixed into my sump along with a splash of kent marine trace elements. Ignorance is bliss!

Ha ha, I still run my tank haphazard like that except I use All For Reef now.

 

[Osprey223]

Reverse flow UGF! I would love to see more people move away from the commercialization of the hobby and go back to basics. Tanks with massive ocean live rock walls rather than sparse aquascapes with too many corals, too much blue light, a sump full of equipment, and a 30 power cords any day for me! Keep it simple.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Books.

I started in approximately 1983 (ouch), and hobbyist devoured their books. The Reef Aquarium I, II and III had a huge impact on the hobby. The Conscientious Marine Aquarist another fantastic reference. There were so many good authors. Hobbyist really studied, it was a science. Now you can get your questions answered almost immediately.

I miss the days when a new movie, show or game came out and the only way to know it was good was either here about it on tv, have friends who went and saw/played it, or picked up a magazine that had reviews on the product. Now it’s google your question, or google the reviews on something and you know it instantly.

 

[Delatedlotus]

I feel a division in the hobby old vs new but maybe I'm imagining things

Paul B... is so spot on! The Diatomaceous Earth Diatom is one of the best inventions for any aquarium rather it be fresh or saltwater ever. Period.. Study about it's use and why..

Vortex International out of Florida I believe was the very 1st large scale manufacture of the diatom filter. I was a factory distributor for years (1983) and I used mine ALL the time... Way less livestock loss if any at all..! AND my tanks where pristine 100% of the time. Read about it's use and why it is so important to your tanks and any of it's inhabitants. Study and build one today..! They are so easy to make, not a arm and leg either

** IMO... They work far superior then any UV sterilizer ever, you are not just depending in killing containments like Aiptasia spores or eggs, any ick, pests, fungal disease, GHA spores, ect.. ect.. YOU are 100% removing them from the total water column. This is a again 100% total eradication, instant removal from your system!

 

[Battlecorals]

Still running 65k halides here lol. Does that count.


How about luft driven lime wood skimmer users? anyone?

 

[Delatedlotus]

Still running 65k halides here lol. Does that count.


How about luft driven lime wood skimmer users? anyone?

Still running 65k halides here lol. Does that count.


How about luft driven lime wood skimmer users? anyone?

Osome... Hey I don't know, maybe you do? Do you have a good outlet for Metal Halide bulbs? I could use a few....

 

[Battlecorals]

Osome... Hey I don't know, maybe you do? Do you have a good outlet for Metal Halide bulbs? I could use a few....

Unfortunately not for these guys. I believe I am in possession of the last box of Iwasaki 65k lamps I got before they were discontinued by eye lighting about 5-6 years ago now. If my math is right, I've got about 12-15 years worth of bulbs left.

The bulbs in the picture I put in September 2022, and I'm gonna get all of three years out of them for sure before I even think about replacing them.

However, I know you can still get radium's, and a few others. I had someone direct me to a link about a month ago to another company that has put out a 65K or something like that I may have to find it again.

Either way, there are halide options out there for sure

 

[GARRIGA]

No dino or cyano

 

[mad city fish]

$30 yellow tangs.

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

Plenums + Deep Sandbeds, I know some still use them but not as much as there was in the past.

GARF.org got a lot to answer for!

 

[AlexandraDreadlocksPanda]

Reverse flow UGF! I would love to see more people move away from the commercialization of the hobby and go back to basics. Tanks with massive ocean live rock walls rather than sparse aquascapes with too many corals, too much blue light, a sump full of equipment, and a 30 power cords any day for me! Keep it simple.

Why? There’s many of us with complex tanks that are healthier & more stable than was ever achievable before thanks to technology and automation. The big colonies of Acropora’s are testament to this… Couldn’t be bothered with a simple boring soft coral tank, many of us have much higher expectations than that now…