What's changed in the last 10 years

[billyboy69]

I'm getting ready to set up a 180 . I'd like to know what changed like lighting etc. some links ?? what's the best way to start out . I'm thinking I might gowith a mixed reef( I like a lot of fish) sp's would be nice but may ill save that for another day or my next tank lol. Just wanna start out the right way

[thegrun]

Lighting (LED's), pump efficiency, skimmer efficiency, controllers programmability and connectivity to the internet have all made big improvements during the past ten years.

[sirreal63]

Originally Posted by thegrun

Lighting (LED's), pump efficiency, skimmer efficiency, controllers programmability and connectivity to the internet have all made big improvements during the past ten years.

+1 and in addition I can say what worked 10 years ago still works today, in some ways what we did 10 years ago works better than what we do today.

[d2mini]

Originally Posted by sirreal63

+1 and in addition I can say what worked 10 years ago still works today, in some ways what we did 10 years ago works better than what we do today.

True! I'm loving my new Life Reef skimmer.

[dkeller_nc]

Radically inflated "designer corals":

Search "Reef Builders $2425 two-polyp Palythoa"

[Eric45]

LED's, GFO, trend away from bioballs toward refugiums; bare and shallow tank bottoms

[Potsy]

My reef technology hasn't changed much in the past 16 years, but I think the extent to which we can interface our tanks with computers and smartphones is increasing.

[jdaniels175]

internet. not really a positive.

[sirreal63]

True! I'm loving my new Life Reef skimmer.

Skimmers are one area that if anything we have not made any progress, and IMO we have gone backwards. Skimmer pumps have made progress though. Skimmer manufacturers have become much better at marketing and the general reefing public has become more gullible. We now have cone shaped skimmers, (not needed) bubble plates (not needed) cones on top of bubble plates, (you need to wear a cone on your head if you believe that makes a positive difference) speed control for motors, pumps inside the body taking up a large percentage of reaction chamber (with bubble plates and cones on the bubble plate taking up even more space) and the ability to draw so much air that very little water gets processed and from the looks of most people skim shots we are much better at producing weak tea colored skim than coffee black skim. Perhaps we have let ourselves be marketed right out of owning a good skimmer.

Controllers now have complete control, I think there are people who cannot go to the bathroom unless that time has been allocated for in their controller.

[AugustWest]

Some things that have changed off the top of my head : lighting from VHO and MH toward T5 and LED.

More use of Dry Rock over Live Rock and less of it in the tank. Good Bye " Rock Walls"

Shallow sand beds or bare bottom tanks. No more " where to get Southdown sand" threads lol. Although DSB are still used.

Less flow through the sump

Carbon dosing ( vodka,vinegar,bio-pellets etc)

Probably the biggest change, "Named" corals and the prices that go along with them.

[mussel and hate]

LED lighting, Controllable DC pumps. The rest are just marketing driven trends.

I'm with Jack regarding skimmers, there is nothing new going on here. Claims of increased skimming efficiency have yet to be demonstrated. In fact the only study I've seen indicated the old counter current airstone style skimmers keep up with all the silly thousand dollar machines that are currently in vogue.

Carbon dosing isn't new, bare bottom isn't new, rock wall vs open scape is an aesthetic choice and always has been.

[AugustWest]

I didn't say they were new. Was saying what is more prevalent today than then. Sorry to confuse you.

[billyboy69]

dry rock well that's new...so no more DIY rock?

[Mark...]

Originally Posted by jdaniels175

internet. not really a positive.

I disagree...forums like this are treasures of information and advise...

[rsaha]

Originally Posted by Mark...

I disagree...forums like this are treasures of information and advise...

Yup - I'd say this place is the best thing that's come along in the last 10 years.

[jdaniels175]

Originally Posted by Mark...

I disagree...forums like this are treasures of information and advise...

yes, there is tons of good info here, and on other forums/ interwebz. Try to sort the good from the not so good though. Impossible 'cause you can post anything you want. Sometimes it gets "proven" (use this term loosely because a lot of times the evidence is anecdotal at best) , sometimes not. still hold to my assertion that it is not all good.