Does it ever get easier?

[Bitcoin Reefer]

Reefing is hard. Very hard. And very expensive. At many times we all have questioned ourselves and many of us have even contemplated quiting… a lot.

I had many freshwater tanks and ponds over the last 15+ years, but I couldn’t have imagined how hard reef tanks would be in comparison. Every week seems to be a new battle. Algae, algae, algae, pests, parameters, floods, ich, diatoms, cyano, plethora of coral health issues, fish fighting each other, aiptasia, fallow, learning proper QT, more algae, getting refugium dialed in, tankmates eating each other, the list goes on and on and on.

I just wanted to say that it DOES get easier and more rewarding over time. I think for the first time since setting up our 300gallon tank 14 months ago, I am really happy, and feel like I’m winning battles, and may actually win the war. I don’t want to jinx myself, but things feel good right now. I finally have beat my hair algae and turf algae issues.. for now. Next battle is unsightly massive troves of spirorbid worms, but in general things finally feel under control.

Thanks so much everyone here for all of the help over the last 14 months! Really love this community!

If you’re contemplating quiting, feel free to vent here? What battles are you dealing with currently? Do others feel similarly that it gets better? Is anyone thinking it won’t get better? Cheers!

 

[Jekyl]

I think it's about as simple as it gets. Don't over complicate. I top off daily, test weekly and change water a few times a year.

 

[Someshmuk]

It's as hard as the number of changes you're introducing to the tank and what kind of systems you've set up to control the various parameters of your tank.

I was contemplating selling my frag tank setup since I neglected it for 4 months. Completely hands off and honestly forgotten. To my surprise the tank is doing better than I left it 4 months ago with only replenishing dosing chemicals and ato with my only water change being some time in January.

All changes done on water chemistry have a very long lagging effect on the tank so whatever you're fixing now was because of what you did 1+ month ago. And your fixes are going to show their effects a month later.

It does get easier as you get experience in how to make stable conditions. The route I took involves 12 dosing lines and a Google sheet to record deviations.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Whenever I kill a coral, I add some macroalgae, which is often equally as lovely and often much more easy to care for. I have a lot of macroalgae now.

 

[exnisstech]

I'm from the school that less is more. Less fiddling and chasing numbers. Adjustment have to made for sure but as things mature less adjustments are needed. Unless sps is growing like crazy and you need to dose but even then 2 part works for most. Why over complicate things. It's not easy but from hanging out here I find many people make it much harder that it has to be. Dose this dose that, chase numbers, oh my God I gave a spot of hair alage etc. Relax, and I keep an eye on things. Don't freak out over a little algae or an alk reading book that is 7.9 instead of 8.1. Oh and take time to just relax and watch the tank evolve, or mature your choice of words.

 

[Miami Reef]

My tank became much easier to manage overtime.

 

[StatelineReefer]

I don't think the hobby itself becomes easier, I think we as reefkeepers become better educated, better prepared, and more diligent as time progresses.

In the beginning, it's always a rush to get everything set up, then we rest on our laurels as the tank cycles, then it's a rush to 'beat the ugly stage' and then we relax as the tank clears, then it's a rush to beat Dinos or Cyano because the ugly stage strips the tank of nutrients, then we relax because those things are beat...

I think a more complete notion of what 'cycling for stability' means should be espoused, but thats a topic for a while different thread.

In conclusion, the reef tank doesn't change much, but it feels easier because WE harden ourselves to our own demands and routine.

 

[AydenLincoln]

If I could tell my future/past self something it’s go 10x bigger too! I wish I would’ve gone bigger than a 20 that being said I have completely stopped testing my water other than my Apex and salinity. I was trying to make it “perfect” and every time I tested my parameters I was disappointed. So now it’s regular maintenance for me. There is no perfect parameters or tank especially in a nano.