Are we ever 100% satisfied with our tanks?

vlangel · Mar 17, 2014

This morning I am doing my Monday morning WC but of course I decide that my short tentacled torch now needs to be moved to the opposite side of the tank. After all don't we need a torch on both sides for symmetry? It was torch heavy on the left with both torches there! O and then there is the ' I have to cover up every little bit of LR that I can see' syndrome. Never mind that one of my rocks looks like a petrified clam and is really cool just by itself. I am constantly tweaking this, moving that, planning what I still need to buy to make the tank perfect. That is the crux of my thoughts today. Why do we always feel our tanks are still incomplete? It seems to be our nature as aquarists to never be satisfied with how our tanks look. Today I stopped and just looked at my tank and thought to myself, "ya know, it is great just the way it is!". I am going to make a conscious effort to enjoy it right now and resist the temptation to think it needs this or that to make it perfect. And tomorrow I will probably go out and buy a new coral! LOL

cdness · Mar 17, 2014

If I ever think mine looks horrible, I invite a few friends over who don't have tanks and let them compliment it for me

I am the same way though, always tweaking or fixing something. Lately it has been coral warfare prevention though.

mike007 · Mar 17, 2014

I don't think I will ever be 100% satisfied with my tank. I am always upgrading$$$$$$$

vlangel · Mar 17, 2014

Yes, friends who don't have tanks are way better for our egos than browsing reef forums and looking at all these awesome tanks that makes mine look like a total newbie did it!!! LOL

vlangel · Mar 17, 2014

mike007 said:
I don't think I will ever be 100% satisfied with my tank. I am always upgrading$$$$$$$

LOL, I hear ya. I call my tank the money pit!

Carter o51 · Mar 17, 2014

vlangel said:
Yes, friends who don't have tanks are way better for our egos than browsing reef forums and looking at all these awesome tanks that makes mine look like a total newbie did it!!! LOL

Friends come over and look at your tank and talk about how incredible the Gsp that I'm trying to get rid of is haha

vlangel · Mar 18, 2014

Ok, after I said I was satisfied with my tank and I was just going to kick back and enjoy it I went to the LFS to buy dog food. Of course I browsed the salt water and they just got a new shipment in. Well, there was the cutest Midas blenny I ever saw, it had a face like a puppy dog. Needless to say I was no longer satisfied with my tank until I bought that blenny! LOL

greaser9999 · Mar 18, 2014

There's no end to it!! Keep buying n buying to fulfill my need for a sick looking reef tank n BOOM!!!! 3 upgrades in 3 years..

vlangel · Mar 18, 2014

greaser9999 said:
There's no end to it!! Keep buying n buying to fulfill my need for a sick looking reef tank n BOOM!!!! 3 upgrades in 3 years..

Wow, I'm feeling like I got off easy with just a fish or coral purchase every several weeks!

oscellaris27 · Mar 18, 2014

i felt like my tank was some was complete then it was always something like a new reactor or maybe the water would take a nose dive it would like taking caring of a monster thats ever changing wow something had to measure up lol it my fix

revhtree · Mar 18, 2014

Never! Even if I feel happy about it the next day I have to scrape some algae! LOL!

Chris07 · Mar 18, 2014

I think not being satisfied is a great thing!! I think when you become 100% satisfied you become a little complacent.

Nuocmam · Mar 18, 2014

Hardcore reefers are their own worst critics. Nothing ever good enough. I think most of us have some sort of obsessive compulsive behavior that we somehow exercise through reefing. Having this level of control over an ecosystem inside of a glass box is fun and addicting. Yeah I'm sick and I need help

All Delight · Mar 18, 2014

Nuocmam said:
Hardcore reefers are their own worst critics. Nothing ever good enough. I think most of us have some sort of obsessive compulsive behavior that we somehow exercise through reefing. Having this level of control over an ecosystem inside of a glass box is fun and addicting. Yeah I'm sick and I need help

Great......sounds like me.

Eienna · Mar 18, 2014

Carter o51 said:
Friends come over and look at your tank and talk about how incredible the Gsp that I'm trying to get rid of is haha

Let them have it XD

Eienna · Mar 18, 2014

I can be satisfied for a time. When everyone's healthy and happy I can sit back and enjoy...but it's related to what I've had to learn as an autistic - It's okay not to be perfect.

vlangel · Mar 18, 2014

Eienna said:
I can be satisfied for a time. When everyone's healthy and happy I can sit back and enjoy...but it's related to what I've had to learn as an autistic - It's okay not to be perfect.

Right, none of us is perfect so why should our aquariums be perfect!

PaulKreider · Mar 18, 2014

I am ALWAYS moving things around, adjusting ect. And of course planning for future build XD

Nuocmam · Mar 18, 2014

It never will be perfect. But it's the pursuit of perfection that keeps us going.

vlangel · Mar 18, 2014

Nuocmam said:
It never will be perfect. But it's the pursuit of perfection that keeps us going.

You know that is so true. Its all about balance and finding that right mix of playing with our tanks and enjoying them and staying away from those restless unsatisfied feelings that push us to frustration instead of satisfaction.