Insane Reefer
11/16/2007, 12:38 AM
Not looking for discussion, just want to get an idea of how consistent and diligent people are in this hobby. Almost every "expert", in almost every book or article I've read about the subject, agrees that the more consistent one is in following these practices, the more successful the average hobbyist generally will be.
Basically, it is important to practice good reef-keeping habits and I think most hobbyists agree - but sometimes agreeing and doing are two different things.
I'm trying to find out how different...
Try to be brutally honest with yourself - if you lapse (even for a short while), then you lapse, and that isn't consistent. If you have to use words like "fairly" or "nearly" or "almost", again this doesn't sound like diligence. See where I am going with this?
I wouldn't feel bad if you rate somewhere in the middle, even a lot of really successful hobbyists probably won't rate much higher then 7 - if you scored a 10 then you should really think about entering the field of marine biology - you have the beginnings of a great scientist :)
I'll be the first voter, and you'll see I don't rate so well :rolleyes:
Good Luck and Thanks!
P.S. I know there are many other important practices not mentioned here, this was meant to hit what seems to be the 10 most commonly agreed on practices to ensure success.
___________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS
There are 10 questions. Read each question and answer Yes or No. Try to be absolutely honest, ok?
For each Yes answer, give yourself a point. Add your points up when you are done and Vote for the number of yes answers you had.
____________________________________________________
Do you always wash your hands (or wear CLEAN full length gloves) before working in your tank (and as much of your arm as you think will enter the water)
Do you practice a hands out approach (or do you stick your hands in the tank all the time, moving this, tweaking that, etc)
Do you wash your equipment each time you finish using them (test tube, buckets, mixing devices, pokers, syringes)
Do you change your water regularly (not concerned with frequency - looking for consistency in your selected schedule)
Do you stick with your chosen in-reef products (or try new stuff quite frequently)
Are you precise with your dosing chemicals (either you are or you aren't - "experience" isn't a substitute for precision)
Are you regular with your testing procedures (again not concerned with frequency - looking for consistency in your selected schedule)
Do you quarantine all new acquisitions (simple yes or no)
Do you regularly change your filter medias and clean in-tank equipment (again not concerned with frequency - looking for consistency in your selected schedule)
Do you always research organism particulars before making a purchase (do you make spurious or impulse purchases or do you actually find out what that organism needs to survive, by consulting a trusted source, before bringing it home - if you researched it after you brought it home, it doesn't count)
Basically, it is important to practice good reef-keeping habits and I think most hobbyists agree - but sometimes agreeing and doing are two different things.
I'm trying to find out how different...
Try to be brutally honest with yourself - if you lapse (even for a short while), then you lapse, and that isn't consistent. If you have to use words like "fairly" or "nearly" or "almost", again this doesn't sound like diligence. See where I am going with this?
I wouldn't feel bad if you rate somewhere in the middle, even a lot of really successful hobbyists probably won't rate much higher then 7 - if you scored a 10 then you should really think about entering the field of marine biology - you have the beginnings of a great scientist :)
I'll be the first voter, and you'll see I don't rate so well :rolleyes:
Good Luck and Thanks!
P.S. I know there are many other important practices not mentioned here, this was meant to hit what seems to be the 10 most commonly agreed on practices to ensure success.
___________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS
There are 10 questions. Read each question and answer Yes or No. Try to be absolutely honest, ok?
For each Yes answer, give yourself a point. Add your points up when you are done and Vote for the number of yes answers you had.
____________________________________________________
Do you always wash your hands (or wear CLEAN full length gloves) before working in your tank (and as much of your arm as you think will enter the water)
Do you practice a hands out approach (or do you stick your hands in the tank all the time, moving this, tweaking that, etc)
Do you wash your equipment each time you finish using them (test tube, buckets, mixing devices, pokers, syringes)
Do you change your water regularly (not concerned with frequency - looking for consistency in your selected schedule)
Do you stick with your chosen in-reef products (or try new stuff quite frequently)
Are you precise with your dosing chemicals (either you are or you aren't - "experience" isn't a substitute for precision)
Are you regular with your testing procedures (again not concerned with frequency - looking for consistency in your selected schedule)
Do you quarantine all new acquisitions (simple yes or no)
Do you regularly change your filter medias and clean in-tank equipment (again not concerned with frequency - looking for consistency in your selected schedule)
Do you always research organism particulars before making a purchase (do you make spurious or impulse purchases or do you actually find out what that organism needs to survive, by consulting a trusted source, before bringing it home - if you researched it after you brought it home, it doesn't count)