Fastest way to get new tank

[austin_socal]

Great hobby for people to get into at a young age.
It suits inquisitive minds & people that enjoy the puzzles of chemistry.
You will find some really, REALLY intelligent people with very technical careers who enjoy it long term for that reason.
It's relaxing, but it also makes you think.lots.
Good luck with the tank!
Stick with it and I'm sure it will all come good

Thanks buddy

 

[dkline]

This is what did it for me when I was a kid. I had a 40g tank in my room, no common space for a larger tank. Eventually I had it looking really nice to the point where my parents would want to show their friends my tank during tours of the house (obviously in my room it was a problem depending on my availability) and then it became a much easier transition to say, hey wouldn't it be more convenient to have a tank in a main living area where everyone can enjoy it? Also, easier access to water supply, fewer 5 gallon buckets being hauled up stairs, less potential for mess, etc etc.

Even if it doesn't go exactly as planned, whats the downside to having a really nice tank? I say go for this as your first step.

Agreed. I think if you show them your enthusiasm by learning about the science of it, tell them about the things you find interesting and share your enthusiasm with them it will help them see this is not just a fad but something you are passionate about and want to share with them. That sharing your interest with them and having them listen and even participate ( by going to the store with your or watching Reef videos with you ) makes you happy. I am sure they will eventually see that it brings you joy and will want to help support your interest. Good luck. Be patient.

 

[exnisstech]

Sadly my parents told me I am not allowed to get a job and it is more about my dad just not wanting me to have it then the money

So this is the current parenting method? I worked full time all summer long bailing hay, straw and cleaning stalls when I was 14.

 

[Dbichler]

So this is the current parenting method? I worked full time all summer long bailing hay, straw and cleaning stalls when I was 14.

It’s what I teach my kids you have your whole life to work, be a kid enjoy hobbies and sports. When they stop those then it’s time for a job.

 

[Aquariumaddictuk]

So this is the current parenting method? I worked full time all summer long bailing hay, straw and cleaning stalls when I was 14.

Two sides to this IMO.
I spent most of the early 90s fishing happily(despite being a non swimmer) & falling down hills & scraping my knees but sadly these days we live in a culture of media induced fear & litigation.
Also...the world doesn't seem quite so safe as it did 35 years ago.
Could be misty eyed nostalgia on my part.
Tough call.

 

[exnisstech]

It’s what I teach my kids you have your whole life to work, be a kid enjoy hobbies and sports. When they stop those then it’s time for a job.

I wanted things and in order to get them I had to work so I went to work. Different times I suppose. Financial stability probably comes into play also. My parents worked hard their entire lives but never made a lot of money. I remember as a kid pulling the cushions out of the furniture to try and find enough coins to buy a candy bar. The recliner was the gold mine lol

 

[Dbichler]

I wanted things and in order to get them in had to work so I went to work. Different times I suppose. Financial stability probably comes into play also. My parents worked hard their entire lives but never made a lot of money. I remember as a kid pulling the cushions out of the furniture to try and find enough coins to buy a candy bar. The recliner was the gold mine lol

My dad was sole provider didn’t have the nicest of anything. They wouldn’t let me get a job because of sports and to this day I appreciate it. Fortunately for me my wife makes great money and I’m a city worker with great benefits so I choose to let my kids be kids but force them to work side jobs with me to buy the nicer stuff they want and I buy all the sports equipment and so on. Yeah financially it would have made a difference obviously and we all have different budgets.

 

[austin_socal]

My dad was sole provider didn’t have the nicest of anything. They wouldn’t let me get a job because of sports and to this day I appreciate it. Fortunately for me my wife makes great money and I’m a city worker with great benefits so I choose to let my kids be kids but force them to work side jobs with me to buy the nicer stuff they want and I buy all the sports equipment and so on. Yeah financially it would have made a difference obviously and we all have different budgets.

I get it. I am going to try to work without my parents knowing or sell things for a long time till I’ve saved enough for a big tank and then maybe my dad will let me buy it

 

[-XENOMORPH-]

I agree with a lot of these points mentioned above. I have 2 kids myself. Older tho. Hahaha. I would say make the one you have work for a bit. Make it great. Master maintenance. Save a few bucks. It sounds like they are dead set on their decision so fighting it now probably won't get u anywhere and it's not worth fighting over.
I want a bigger tank as well but my wife doesn't want a 200 gallon tank in the family room..... YET !
PATIENCE.... planning.... scheming..... muh-haw-hahahhaha.
It will happen, just not right now.
Soooo..... not the advice you want... but.... just put it on the back burner for now.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Have they seen what a 5 year old beautifully maintained, rimless aquarium looks like? Show them pictures online and promise them that you will do your best to get THAT.

It doesn't hurt if your setup is also framed beautifully with a nice stand that matches items in the home.
I'd be thrilled if my son wanted to pursue aquariums, whether fresh or salt, but I guess im biased.

This is a smart person's hobby. It should be pursued. If you tell them you want to pursue biology or chemistry, a larger tank may help you "reach your goal of having a gorgeous and more diverse mixed reef." Something like that.

Its better than sitting around watching tv or playing video games. Again, thrilled if my son who is only 5 showed a great interest at your age.

 

[rhitee93]

Different strokes. I've been employed since I was 15, and my wife wasn't ever allowed to work until she got out of graduate school. Now, staring down the retirement barrel, we both turned out fine.

To the OP:

You aren't going to like any of my advice, but if you take a single piece of it to heart, you are a more mature person that I was at your age.

1. You have a long road of life ahead of you. So long that you are not likely to be able to understand. There are a lot of people on here who have individual fish that are older than you. As impossible as it seems, taking 5, 10, or even 20 years to achieve a dream is actually where a lot of the fun is. Try to slow down and enjoy the journey.
2. People take results seriously. Demonstrating that you can achieve results is the fastest way I know to get people to buy in to your dream. However, results take time to demonstrate. (See #1)
3. You are going to change a lot over the next few years. You will discover new interests and passions. Reefing may still be one of those, but the chances are really not all that high. Slow it down a bit and saver what you have. If you still want more in a year or two, you may truly be a reefing lifer.
4. Three years from now you will likely be leaving home either for good, or for long periods of time and lugging a big reef around isn't going to seem possible. Do you want to spend half of that 3 years trying to get a new system up and stable only then to have to consider tearing it down, or would you rather really push the current one to its limits to see what you can do?

This probably seems like harsh words from a bitter old man, but I am neither bitter or trying to be harsh. (Ya got me on old) I took the time to write this only because I see a lot of me in what you have written, and I can't go back and talk to 15-year old me so you are the next best person I can try to help.

EDIT: Sorry, I realized afterwards that the OP didn't state they were 15. Still, they must be close, so I left that reference in.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Two sides to this IMO.
I spent most of the early 90s fishing happily(despite being a non swimmer) & falling down hills & scraping my knees but sadly these days we live in a culture of media induced fear & litigation.
Also...the world doesn't seem quite so safe as it did 35 years ago.
Could be misty eyed nostalgia on my part.
Tough call.

Definitely two sides. That being said, I wanted my boy to get a job at 16 (mine was at 14.5). I was bored one day at work and decided to read the L&I rules. Saw that in my state, a kid could work at 15. Two days later my boy was working with me in a small independent pharmacy. And you're right about the world not being as safe as it was (It seems like anyway). But I'm comparing to 50 years ago.

@austin_socal ......Parents, in the end, just do their best. There's no book. It's just move forward the best you can and hold on for dear life. It's already been said that you should just talk to your Pop. My kids figured that out early. I'd say no, just because I was reacting to what information I had in front of me. If they had a good argument as to why I was incorrect (and I could afford it), and their argument was sound, I'd change my mind. That happened quite a bit. I didn't always say yes, but I ALWAYS respected the thought process behind their rebuttals. Just be mature about things and appreciate what you currently have. And talking to your parents about things will give you an idea of THEIR thought processes on issues. It'll help you understand. Just remember, they're doing the best they can. So! Lecture from a Boomer done, lol!

 

[BubblesandSqueak]

Hi everyone,
I’d love to upgrade my tank from a 25gal lagoon to a 50 gallon or maybe more. Only issue is that my dad doesn’t want to let me upgrade lol. Anybody young too had luck convincing your parents?
lol

Dad, that Tang I just bought needs a 300 gallon tank?

edit...I'm, being sarcastic, please don't really do that!

 

[austin_socal]

Definitely two sides. That being said, I wanted my boy to get a job at 16 (mine was at 14.5). I was bored one day at work and decided to read the L&I rules. Saw that in my state, a kid could work at 15. Two days later my boy was working with me in a small independent pharmacy. And you're right about the world not being as safe as it was (It seems like anyway). But I'm comparing to 50 years ago.

@austin_socal ......Parents, in the end, just do their best. There's no book. It's just move forward the best you can and hold on for dear life. It's already been said that you should just talk to your Pop. My kids figured that out early. I'd say no, just because I was reacting to what information I had in front of me. If they had a good argument as to why I was incorrect (and I could afford it), and their argument was sound, I'd change my mind. That happened quite a bit. I didn't always say yes, but I ALWAYS respected the thought process behind their rebuttals. Just be mature about things and appreciate what you currently have. And talking to your parents about things will give you an idea of THEIR thought processes on issues. It'll help you understand. Just remember, they're doing the best they can. So! Lecture from a Boomer done, lol!

Thank you man, I get it

 

[austin_socal]

Dad, that Tang I just bought needs a 300 gallon tank?

edit...I'm, being sarcastic, please don't really do that!

Haha

 

[bakbay]

It's great to be ambitious and follow your dream - in this context, a passion for a hobby. If I'm talking to my younger self, instead of buying electronics & cars -- invest! With the power of compound interest, those $$'s spent 40 years ago would have turned into millions. Use that money (hopefully can now produce passive income) to buy electronics & cars! My point -- work hard & invest now and use that capital to fund your toys & hobbies later. Reefing is an "expensive" (all relative) hobby. Are you prepared to burn $x and not worry about it? After all - it's a hobby and with any hobby, make sure that you have a disposable income to fund it.

My 2c

 

[NonstopSoda]

Lemme throw in my 2 cs, I started my hobby when I was around 15-16 and the way i started getting more tanks was showing my parents that I can take good care of them and make them look good. Back then I only a freshwater hobbyist but I love it so much that at our old house I had 6 separate tanks that I took care off. Saltwater is much much more difficult especially when you're younger because of how much it costs and how hard it is to maintain. I saw try your best with the 25 gallon first, fill it with coral and try to get abundant growth in that tank and then when the corals are too big and fill the entire tank then you can ask "Hey my tank is doing so good im running out of room! could I maybe upgrade to a bigger tank?" I think that would be not only the best way to get a bigger tank but also you will already have a bunch of corals to put in it! P.S lemme preface by saying that your parents do know best and its better not to rush into things especially because you already have a decent sized tank that is set up.

 

[austin_socal]

Lemme throw in my 2 cs, I started my hobby when I was around 15-16 and the way i started getting more tanks was showing my parents that I can take good care of them and make them look good. Back then I only a freshwater hobbyist but I love it so much that at our old house I had 6 separate tanks that I took care off. Saltwater is much much more difficult especially when you're younger because of how much it costs and how hard it is to maintain. I saw try your best with the 25 gallon first, fill it with coral and try to get abundant growth in that tank and then when the corals are too big and fill the entire tank then you can ask "Hey my tank is doing so good im running out of room! could I maybe upgrade to a bigger tank?" I think that would be not only the best way to get a bigger tank but also you will already have a bunch of corals to put in it! P.S lemme preface by saying that your parents do know best and its better not to rush into things especially because you already have a decent sized tank that is set up.

Sounds like a good plan, thanks man.

 

[shcrimps]

Just doesn’t want a bigger tank in the house- it’s in my room tho

if it’s in your room (what i would do)
just get your current tank thriving and slowly build up equipment and such for the 50
then go get one while they’re at work and set it all up
if they aren’t in your room often then they might not even notice for a while

 

[stewy14]

dont
remember
college!!!!! what are you going to do? let hours/months of work go to waste?