Is experimentation a part of this hobby?

spanko

Active Member
There was a small discussion about this in another thread. I would like to open up this one to see what people think about trying different things. Maybe even get some opinion on what is experimentation and what constitutes outright abuse of generally accepted principals.
So I will start the discussion with a couple of things.
The addition of an angelfish to a reef is an experiment to me. Generally accepted knowledge says that you are putting your coral in jeopardy of being nipped at or eaten. However you will always come across people that have succeeded in having an angel be well a perfect angel with their coral, and for them the experiment worked.
The one that started the thoughts was someone that wanted to add two dwarf angels to a 55 gallon tank. Generally people will say no but I have seen some that have done so successfully.
Imagine the first people to succeed at a nano tank, when generally a 55 gallon was though to be the smallest tank you could do saltwater in.
So what are your thoughts on experimentation please discuss.
__________________
Henry
 

spanko

Active Member
That is a good point. Are you saying that you have tried to follow the book on things you have done with your tank and have not really gone outside accepted practice? Or have there been some less expensive things you have tried.
 

bang guy

Moderator
I believe that experimentation is what has brought this hobby up to the level it is today so I'm a proponent of experimentation.
However, repeating someone else's failed methods isn't experimentation, it's just a waste of life and an excercise in frustration.
 

spiderwoman

Active Member
I've actually ditched the books after making some major mistakes with our first tank which was a 55g. We started out by reading books and reading some more books and not reading any boards.
Since then I've joined SWF board and also joined our local reef club. The information I've received from especially our local club is invaluable. Before making any major purchases I would ask tons of questions, ask how others are doing a similar setup etc. and I really feel that we've made some really good choices with our existing tanks (75 and 150).
I won't even list the mistakes we made with the first tank, but I'll just say that it was a fairly expensive lesson to learn.
 

spanko

Active Member
Thank you bang. I agree that experimentation is what has helped evolve this hobby and will continue to do so.
Spiderwomen I think that we have all made the mistakes you talk about. But are those just newbie mistakes? I think that there is a difference between not knowing and experimtenting with new ideas.
 

spiderwoman

Active Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2724940
Spiderwomen I think that we have all made the mistakes you talk about. But are those just newbie mistakes? I think that there is a difference between not knowing and experimtenting with new ideas.
Definitely newbie mistakes and not knowing enough. I'm sure that with our next tank or even with the existing ones I will start experimenting with things like vodka dosing when I have enough information to do the dive.
 

nygel

Active Member
I'm all for experimenting. These expirements should be made with proper care obviously. Like myself having a scooter dragonet in a 30g for about 2 years before my tank crashed. That was more of an experiment than a 'newbie mistake'. I knew what I was getting myself into an was aware of the potentail dangers. But I kept it alive under proper care.
But why do we experiment? is it trying to advance the hobby or a desire to do things that most wouldn't?
 

spanko

Active Member
Originally Posted by nYgel
http:///forum/post/2725113
But why do we experiment? is it trying to advance the hobby or a desire to do things that most wouldn't?
And do the two really go hand in hand even if not a conscious effort in the beginning?
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I believe in experimenting. I think that without experimentation, we couldn't advance our hobby. And like Bang Guy said, I don't condone anyone who repeats others failed experiments.
I have experimented with all sorts of things ranging from deep sand beds, shallow sand beds, bare bottom, macro algaes (including mangroves), different pieces of equipment, DIY protein skimmers, filters, de-gassers, fluidized bed filters and probably everything in between.
I don't share most of my experiments because no one around me (besides you guys) wants to hear.
 

reefkprz

Active Member
it depends on your level of involment in the hobby.
if you just want to keep a few fish or corals and dont want to go further than that that is an acceptable route.
for others expirimentation is a HUGE part of this hobby pushing towards a greater understanding of the creatures we try to keep, and the environments we try to mimic.
I think without expirimentation there will be very little advance. expirimentation has to come in somewhere just not nescisarily for everybody.
 

coral keeper

Active Member
I'm going to try a Flame Angel in my SPS reef with clams. I've made TONS and TONS of mistakes in the beginning, like putting a powder brown tang in a 30 gallon tank. It died a week later.
 

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Oh yeah, sure we've all made mistakes... That goes without saying.
I wish more people would experiment and get involved in the hobby rather then passively wait for others to come up with new ideas.
Though, passive people generally pay for aquarium maintenance. :D
 

geoj

Active Member
I have found that knowing what is true and what is only conjecture is not possible. You either faithfully believe or you test for truth… Now I tend to test….
 

cranberry

Active Member
I feel I've done my share of experimentation in the seahorse world. My experimentation was with medications followed by necropsies.
 

mgatdog

Member
I say it's been experimentation for me. What gets me is when people tell you that this fish or coral is easy to keep . It usually dies and the stuff to stay away from I have no problem with .
What gives?
 

cowfishrule

Active Member
its how we learn. lots of people have some un-orthodox methods and things that they do to their tanks, and have great success.
for some its strict husbandry, and for some, its very lax husbandry. what ever works for you is fine.
 

mgatdog

Member
Example, everyone said stay away from clams if you don't have the right lighting.Stay from blue hippo tangs they're ich magnets. I've had good luck with them . Knock on wood.
 

nygel

Active Member
I kept a scooter dragonet in a 30 gallons for about 2 years prior to my tank having a mini-crash. yet for some reason I can never get a clown to live more than two months. Who knows?
 

hlcroghan

Active Member
I think experimentation is vital for anything to acheive better results. I think if it is something is obvious going to fail it should not be tried without having a seriously new way of doing it. Like for instance, dragonets in small tanks like a 10 gallon. I have seen the thread on here where the guy did it and he had a setup to breed the copepods separately to increase the store of the food. I believe the first fish died but the second did well. That is an experiment.
Then there is Slack ( I am just using an example, not purposely flaming him), who overstocks his tanks regularly with aggressive fish. Everyone knows that it is a bad idea but he continues to do it anyway. It is his business though. That is not an experiment, that is foolhardy. He continually has deaths in his tanks. There is no new way of doing anything. It is the same way, not an improvement.
 
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