BRStv YouTube channel 52 weeks of reefing series.

[HeatherAymond]

How many of you would recommend BRStv 52 weeks of reefing series for a completely green hobbyist? I am new to the hobby but seasoned in fresh water planted and non planted tanks. I decided to jump the fence and get into the saltwater side of things. I searched YouTube and found BRStv; which is how I ended up here. I went to a aquarium design store last weekend and was told that I am wasting my time watching that channel for education. I was told those are just influencers trying to sell their products. I feel like it’s helping me but am I going about it the wrong way? I don’t want to learn as I go; recovering from all the mistakes made like I did on the freshwater side. I want to set this tank up right from the beginning. Am I wasting my time watching that series? Are they right? Is there something better to learn from? Published book maybe?

 

[Pntbll687]

I highly recommend the original 52 weeks of reefing by BRS. It’s where I started when I got back into reefing six years ago. It even inspired me to try and help in my own way, here on R2R and yt.

THIS!!

The original is much better than the new 52 weeks of reefing. I like the original because it takes you from actually setting up the tank and plumbing it, to adding a sump, filtration, and then fish and coral.

 

[HeatherAymond]

Cop out for those claiming it, not you. Everyone is trying to selling you something. It is the world we live in these days. Reef Builders was dominated by their sponsors.

After 20 years and dozens of successful setups, I have seen and used most of it out there. 52 Weeks is a good start. The 5 minute series is also a good start from BRS.

I did watch those first. Then decided to dive into the research and I’ve gotten as far as making a decision on stank lol

 

[Fish Fan]

I did watch those first. Then decided to dive into the research and I’ve gotten as far as making a decision on stank lol

No no, you don't want stank! Stank is bad lol!

 

[EliMelly]

Find someone to mentor you and follow their route. I think that’s the best method.

I can teach you the basics if you’d like. Someone did it for me in happy to pass it on.

 

[buzzfin]

100% recommend. I gained tons of useful info from this series when setting up my reef.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

52 weeks of reefing is easily one of the best and most comprehensive series out there. I’ve watched it helped thousands and thousands of people get into the hobby.

It has a lot of information though. Some will find it confusing and too much. The great thing is you can watch an episode and then search for more videos or search here to see if it’s something you really NEED.

“Pushing products” is a cop out. If you are sold that easily, that’s on you. There is so much good information and that is what you focus on.

100% in agreement. It is what kept me going and now have a great reef. As you stated, I keep rewatching videos I've already seen ( not all BRS) and have found as your knowledge and experience grow, you will pick up on or understand better something by rewatching videos or books etc.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I like the BRS videos. Agreed, there is some product placement, but those are pretty easily ignored. I've been using the saying "Knowledge is Power" for 45 years. And there's a lot of knowledge in those videos.

 

[rtparty]

100% in agreement. It is what kept me going and now have a great reef. As you stated, I keep rewatching videos I've already seen ( not all BRS) and have found as your knowledge and experience grow, you will pick up on or understand better something by rewatching videos or books etc.

Precisely.

More data is never a bad thing and the more we learn and progress we understand to separate the good from the bad

 

[Reefering1]

Book recommendations please?

This is a excellent book...

 

[vlangel]

I also liked the 52 weeks of reefing! I have been doing this a long time and it still had good info that I found useful. I also watched the BRS LED showdown when I switched from T5s to LEDs. I had no clue how to choose an LED but their video on the different LEDs really helped me. I chose the ReefBreeder Photon and could not be happier with it.

 

[AquaNanoNZ]

THIS!!

The original is much better than the new 52 weeks of reefing. I like the original because it takes you from actually setting up the tank and plumbing it, to adding a sump, filtration, and then fish and coral.

I quite liked the WWC hybrid method videos and also the new talks Ryan did on the SeriousReefs channel

 

[Dr. D]

As a newcomer, I’ve found many of the BRS videos helpful. I also like the “Jimmy Newbie” series by Mr. Saltwater Tank / SaltwaterAquariums. Jimmy asks many of the same questions I would, and he and Mark have an enjoyable dynamic.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Precisely.

More data is never a bad thing and the more we learn and progress we understand to separate the good from the bad

And it's pretty amazing the differences between reefing 15 years back and the present. The data now is flat out intimidating. I mean, I can learn it, but jeez!!

 

[TangerineSpeedo]

This is one of my favorite books,

The Marine Aquarium Reference: Systems and Invertebrates​

It was a great book when I started. Still very relevant for it's age. Might not be the Reef keeping for dummies kind of book. But conceptually it is awesome.
Julian Sprung books are great also.

 

[Dr. D]

Also, Hilary Jaffe is a marine biologist with some good videos on SA’s YouTube channel. Helpful to me.

 

[naterealbig]

52 weeks of reefing is easily one of the best and most comprehensive series out there. I’ve watched it helped thousands and thousands of people get into the hobby.

It has a lot of information though. Some will find it confusing and too much. The great thing is you can watch an episode and then search for more videos or search here to see if it’s something you really NEED.

“Pushing products” is a cop out. If you are sold that easily, that’s on you. There is so much good information and that is what you focus on.

This a hundred times.

I've been in the hobby since i was 8 (I'm 42 now) and BRS makes Some of the best series I've seen on aquariums. Everyone is crying 'shilling' but I've got to call out their last major series on maturing biomes (among many others). I'm curious how many tens of thousands of dollars were spent On tanks and products they don't sell trying to put together a method to follow that would help new aquarists mature their systems more quickly.

Of course they talk about the products they sell. They are using them (and then usually later giving them away). If you watch more than one video, or, stop with the parroting/assuming, it's easy to see the drivers for the content. It's clear there is a desire to educate and help others answer/solve problems. I also firmly believe that they sell the products they truly feel are the best ones (and yes, some of them are top of the line). A stark contrast to the 'narrative' which seems to be - they only want to make money, and therefore create content on the stuff with the highest margins....

I would highly recommend their videos for both the novice and advanced aquarist.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

As a newcomer, I’ve found many of the BRS videos helpful. I also like the “Jimmy Newbie” series by Mr. Saltwater Tank / SaltwaterAquariums. Jimmy asks many of the same questions I would, and he and Mark have an enjoyable dynamic.

This was a great one, I think even better than the BRS

 

[Cichlid Dad]

And it's pretty amazing the differences between reefing 15 years back and the present. The data now is flat out intimidating. I mean, I can learn it, but jeez!!

We can just tweak the old ways a little with new information, and have a great reef. This is how I did mine.

 

[rtparty]

We can just tweak the old ways a little with new information, and have a great reef. This is how I did mine.

The most ironic thing is seeing the generational amnesia going on right now. All these “new methods” coming out which are just rehashed old information that someone spit shines and makes some think it’s the latest and greatest.

Yet, the info or method or science was very likely talked about in length by Randy or others 20 years ago.

 

[Fish Fan]

Also, Hilary Jaffe is a marine biologist with some good videos on SA’s YouTube channel. Helpful to me.

I do agree, Hilary Jaffe's Super Power is that she is a "real deal" PhD level marine biologist AND an aquarist. Nice point ;-)