因此，您已经准备好设置第一个礁石！您已经看到了所有很酷的图片，阅读了流行论坛上的所有坦克构建线程，并在所有可用的珊瑚上流口水……是的，您真的准备好了！
但是，不是那么快。
如您所知，礁石水族馆并不像将一些东西扔进坦克和“当月坦克”那样容易。在您到达之前，它需要一些事情“哇，看看Xenia的脉动！”阶段…
Yeah, I’m not trying to be a “buzzkill” here, but you need to prepare yourself精神上就像您在技术上所做的那样well-从经济上……
相信我。我知道这一点。在礁aquarium world many decades (let’s just say I actually have the FAMA magazine when the whole “Mini-reef” concept was unveiled to North American hobbyists.) I’ve actually seen a bunch of this stuff from the beginning. I’ve personally killed more fish and corals than you hopefully ever will…most of them because I disregarded the very advice I’m going to give you right now.
A reef tank doesn’t just require some technical knowledge. It requires an态度。采用开放的思想，勤奋，最重要的是patience.It’s so easy to look at all of those tanks you see here and elsewhere and just want to get from “Point A” to…那里- 就像马上。
你猜怎么着？正如您可能推测的那样，您不能。那很好。拥抱这个想法，不要放手。
这需要时间。And in between, there’s algae outbreaks, that pesky nitrogen cycle, lousy advice from “them”, pump failures, water spills, protein skimmer adjustments, photoshopped corals, light timer programming, and at least 50 other equally frustrating things- before you get “there.”
Right now, you’re probably saying to yourself,“真的？这个家伙是人类等同于Valium和Tequila…。这是一个沮丧的人。礁石应该很有趣！”
这是。
Well, I should say, it is- IF you have the right attitude. If you understand that每一个thing我们在礁石上做是一部分process。以及过程 -旅行– is every bit as enjoyable as the destination, and perhaps way more important. You can’t rush it. Sorry. I don’t make this stuff up. “Sugar-coating” it and telling you it’s all flowers and unicorns only sets you up for real disappointment when stuff goes wrong. I’m a realist.
它是process.
您可以尝试一些“技巧”；在此过程中采取一些“快捷方式”……但是，如果事情出错，有些会带来风险和后果。进入这个thing-this crack at your first reef tank- isn’t super hard. However, itcan以水族馆爱好的其他领域几乎无法使用的方式来测试您的耐心。您将在判断中遇到一些错误；一些错误的决定……一段时间，他们会在后方咬您。我不会告诉你，因为那不是您需要听到的。您正在处理地球上最稳定但最具动态的环境的微型版本。发生了很多事情。很多可以去错误的。特别是如果您通过尝试“作弊”来使它复杂化。
The good news is that you can always learn from每一个mistake- every error in judgement…every rung on the ladder. And you can roll with stuff.
处理它。您将出现讨厌的藻类爆发。您将溢出盐水，误读折光仪。你是人类。
That’s your strength, if you let it be.
So why not enjoy the hobby the way only a human can? By deploying massive amounts of patience, enthusiasm, and humility. Let yourself savorwhere you are在此过程中，即使它凝视着充满藻类的岩石堆。接受它。知道充满藻类的水箱是有原因的。找出原因是什么。采取适当的措施消除它。冲洗并重复。
享受经验。他们每个人。并与您的朋友分享。这样，这更有趣，请相信我。战斗疤痕很酷。学会爱这个东西。实际上，蛋白质撇油器废水的气味可能会变得更糟。
Smile.
那就是爱好。当您在该论坛上看到那个性感的礁石并对自己说时，这就是您注册的内容，“我要那个！
这是一个过程。
Before the tank is purchased. Before the equipment is set up. Before a single drop of saltwater is mixed, the process begins. And it never ends, hopefully.
保持订婚。保持兴奋。保持耐心。留下来。
并保持湿。
