Do you get support in this hobby

[Ladipyg]

I've been doing this since I was 13 or so....probably the only 2 people who ever supported my love of this hobby 100% were my mother and father.

I've been married 16 years and my husband bounces from actively hating the hobby to sort of supporting me in it...he's an electrican so he makes sure I have plenty of juice to run everything and set up a generator...but other than that.....

So I'm interested...where kind of support do you get in this hobby with those you actively share you life with...

 

[SaraB]

I get support from part of his paycheck paying for my addiction, does that help?

The hubby is happy I have a hobby ... just not sure he likes the expense of it is all. He just wants to look at the pretty corals and fish and not participate in any of the behind the scenes work is all as he has his own hobbies. He does get irritated of the time it takes as I've been doing a big build for about 2.5 years now LOL! He does join me for dinners at big reefing events locally and he even went out to the RAP show last October in California with me. He picks outs corals or fish he likes and I put them in his 29G Nano cube I set-up to hold all things he likes. I don't put his stuff in my systems since I'm not a fan of spreading zoas or ricordeas and mushrooms is all.

 

[EliteReefs]

i get full support.

I will admit that at first she hated it. when i set up the first frag tanks she lost her mind saying i was a moron and wasting a ton of cash for nothing. this remained her opinion until the first big day of sales. since that day she pushes me out the door to go by more corals lol.

as for the display tanks THAT she never cared much for. She thought it looked great but every time i came home with corals for myself she never liked it very much. in her defense now that i only have a small display i LOVE it. it is so nice not dealing with a big display tank. she does enjoy putting frags in the cube and watching the tank while we watch TV and such.

 

[reef-lover]

My wife tolerates it, she glances at the tank once and awhile and says everything looks nice. I'm sure if she knew how much money I've spent, I would have to change my answer to she hates it,LOL.

 

[stylaster]

My GF tolerates it, she says when i get something new.... ooh that's pretty honey now go mow the lawn...

 

[bushh23]

EVERYONE i know hates it and says it's a waste of money and time. But they are all just JEALOUS!!!

 

[dfurbee]

EVERYONE i know hates it and says it's a waste of money and time. But they are all just JEALOUS!!!

You probably are right about that :bigsmile:

 

[slojmn]

I get support...FOR THE MOST PART...There are those weeks where there is no mention of the tanks, rarely looks at them and doesn't notice when my prized acro is half dead from some unknown issue with the tank. I guess if I never had issues and it went smoothly all the time I might get more support but the stress of something being "wrong" with the tank gets to both of us when those things come up. I have always gotten the green light for whatever I want, but it does take some serious explaining, asking, and time to get what I want. I recently decided to go bigger on my main tank as my dream tank became available from a good friend. So, me thinking this wouldl be helpful, I tossed out the idea of getting rid of the 60g 2 x 2 cube in the dining room and replacing it with a little nanocube to house a few things I can't add to the new tank. Well, lo and behold, there was complete opposition to this idea. Things like "I love this tank" "This is my favorite tank" "You can't get rid of this tank" Hehehehe, I had no idea the low budget, dirty, half empty, cyano filled, tank was "The best tank". Mind you, my other tank is the "good tank" all high tech, acros, montis, chalice collection, etc. The dining room tank is an unhappy mess that I need to get on top of so it will thrive. Now I really have to get it in spick and span shape, LOL. You never know about this hobby and support until you start mentioning geting rid of something or adding something. All in all I feel really supported and I don;t get any grief for the time I spend on reefing in general. That is the best kind of support .

 

[EliteReefs]

EVERYONE i know hates it and says it's a waste of money and time. But they are all just JEALOUS!!!

thats one problem i dont have. every oen that comes over wants to ask 100 question about the tanks and corals. all friends old and new seem very interested. the gasp when i talk money but the end results they love

 

[bushh23]

thats one problem i dont have. every oen that comes over wants to ask 100 question about the tanks and corals. all friends old and new seem very interested. the gasp when i talk money but the end results they love

Oh don't get me wrong, when they are around the tank its questions central and i get all the ooo's and aaa's BUT when they are with me in the store or when i am picking up frags, all i get is the constant "man are you retarded for spending as much on this as you do!!!!"

 

[Reef Pets]

I get support 110 percent. My wife is starting to gain knowledge about coral therefore I think it makes it more interesting for her. Not knowing much about the reef keeping can make it boring in my opinion. I am sure that you guys/gals have had people say , those are really alive? I feel that a lot of the enjoyment of reef keeping is having the knowledge and know how to make everything work as an ecosystem.

 

[Ladipyg]

slojmn...if I mentioned getting rid of the tank...he'd have 4 of his buddies over here BEFORE the last word was out of my mouth...they'd be trying to haul it out while it was still running. And it's not like I wasn't doing this when we met and I've been doing it the whole time, so I really don't get it. Is it possible that he thinks the time I spend on the tank could be better spent with him...why? I spend time with my hubby doing the things we mutually love...fishing, camping, boating, traveling but I don't feel the overwhelming urge to tag along to the drag races...or spend the afternoon in someone's garage souping up a car. My grease under the fingernails, busted knuckle days are over since I sold my 64 Buick Wildcat (now THAT was a car) but if it makes him happy...well, then I'm happy.

 

[reefboy]

oh I could tell story's but my wife enjoys it now and she knows it's my third passion next to her and my daughter I think the biggest problem most folks have with there spouses or significant others is setting boundary's and not ignoring them for there tanks as it very easy to use your tank to get lost from reality if you balance both you'll find your life gets much easier

 

[Kris Zmurk]

My wife doesn't care about it, as long as I'm not blowing tons of money on it. But my tank is an inwall and is the focal point (or at least close to the bar) so, when people are over (and are usually drinking) they stare wonderously at the tank. I feel good about it, explaining how a reef works to a drunk, I guess she then feels it was worth it. Plus my 4 and 2 year-olds have to have thier "Nemo", so that gives me another reason to enjoy it. I think it's cool, my daughter can point to any coral and tell you the name and what kind of light and flow it likes.....I think she knows more about it than me

Kris

 

[SavetheReef]

I am lucky because my wife is from the Philippines and she use to snorkel as a child. When i got my 1st tank it was a 20g then a 24,60,100,125,180g and now a 225g.
Over the years she has actually gained much knowledge and i find out the other day she was giving advice on hair algae to some guy on facebook. i was like what the heck?

As for the money she us understanding and she loves to brag about the tank

 

[MarvinsReef]

Tolerates it: Doesn't take an interest but doesn't nag about it

sounds about right...

 

[green machine]

I couldnt choose any of those... my wife got me into the hobby. but at the time she wasnt into it, She picks out corals and fish with me, and tolerates it and loves the way it looks, but once im spending too much time with the tank, and shes upset at me its, "that stupid fish tank" lol

 

[Gimili the Great]

for the most part she doesnt nag me or bother me about this hobby, but about ones every 4 or 5 months she gets really ***** and nags the hell outta me and P!sses and moans about all the fish stuff in the house and yadda yadda, but i buy her a nice dinner and give her a back rub and we are good for another 4 or 5 months

 

[Chris22582]

Im lucky. other half took over my 24 when I started the 75. Worked out nice. She does get mad when I go on coral sprees. lol

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I knew my wife has crossed into a little deeper reefing water when she walked in the dining room yesterday and saw the new 250g for the first time. She said, wow I like it!

I was thrilled!!

Now I just got to talk her into getting in it for the mermaid shot!