I've seen what happens when hobbyists choose to use cast-off and garbage to accomplish their ends. That refuse quickly turns into religious icons.
"Look, I was able to use this 50-year old radiator from a wrecking yard to dissipate my liquid cooling rig! NO ONE can hope for, or use anything different unless they want to be labeled a heretic, and treated accordingly!!!"
Dramatic? Yes. But very true. I posted in a forum 20-years ago that was roiled for weeks with invective, hate and egotism for something as simple as an idea, responsive retail. Many of us wanted parts for our cooling subsystems that didn't need to be scraped of rust or soaked in alcohol/detergent for days before use.
While YES, I've been impressed with the things I've watched on YT, none of the videos included numbers related to scale, fish load or water quality after extended use. I have, however, SEEN an active-bed sump the size of my 125g. The swirling mass of media and detritus serviced a 1000g marine ecosystem. The water was crystal clear and the inhabitant's seemed fine. Out of politeness and respect I didn't touch anything or break out a pocket test kit. Nor did I russle up some tired, personality-driven internet tome about what the LFS owner MUST use to be "acceptable." I simply congratulated the gentleman for having a stunning reef tank and walked away starry-eyed and amazed.
Will I install an active-bed filter? Not sure yet. I need to justify it first, both intellectually and practically. The misses wants her own planted tank, which gives me an opening to try some cool stuff.
In summary, all I suggest is that we all try to think on our own and be aware of the tactics that pseudo intellectuals and control freaks use to get us to follow what they think is proper. I don't speak only about water and fish either. I suspect these conflicts have been around as long as human ingenuity and perceived need have existed.
