Hitting that brick wall....

[hybridazn]

Have you ever hit that brick wall when it comes to your reef? I think I just did recently...

Since the holidays I've been spending less and less time doing things that I would normally do with the glass box, water changes have even become a chore. I hate changing out carbon, filter socks and heck, even dosing nopox is starting to be a drag.

A little back story...

If you aren't familiar with my build thread this is mostly for you. The early years of my tank were awesome, I never met an sps frag I couldn't grow into a colony. I was even growing acropora frags into colonies sitting on my sand bed! Then within the last couple years the wheels literally fell off. I had a total loss of corals at one point and ever since then it's been an uphill battle. I've tried different things over time and quickly realized that I needed to go back to what worked prior, and that is what I've been trying to do recently.

Fast forward to now. Sps is "ok" some grow well, Others not so much. Every time I look at the tank I feel exhausted, yes just looking at the tank makes me feel this way. I know most ppl would look at my tank the way it sits and think it looks good. Since October I've been working a lot of OT at work so I decided to change my water change schedule. I normally do 2x15 gallon changes per week, I changed it to 1 30 gallon. This seemed to make the biggest change in my tank for some reason. Sps started to rtn and lose color. Algae grew on the glass at an alarming rate. The last couple weeks I made myself go back to the old schedule but it's tough.

I want to put nopox on a dosing pump but I'm afraid of another dosing pump failure and overdosing that would be catastrophic, so daily dosing continues. I've completely rid my tank of filter socks recently because I am tired of cleaning them. I also removed carbon from my tank because changing it out of the reactor every few weeks annoys me.

I'm tired, exhausted, whatever adjective you want to use to describe this. The last couple years reefing wise have been rough.

So my question is, if you have experienced this same thing how did you get over it? Was it buying new frags? Equipment? What else? I'm stumped.

I'm trying to think of ways to get over and around this, I'm trying to simplify anything and everything dealing with the tank as well.

Help!

Sincerely yours,
Disgruntled reefer

 

[andrewkw]

I kept some different creatures. Dwarf Cuttlefish, Octopus, Garden Eels. Easier than a reef, hard enough they still require effort. Trying to keep something like a Moorish Idol may have a similar effect.

That was as burnt out as I got in more then 12 years of reef keeping. These days I love corals as much as ever. I didn't really lose interest as much as run into some bad luck like you. It was easier to try something new rebuild months / years of reef overnight.

 

[hybridazn]

I kept some different creatures. Dwarf Cuttlefish, Octopus, Garden Eels. Easier than a reef, hard enough they still require effort. Trying to keep something like a Moorish Idol may have a similar effect.

That was as burnt out as I got in more then 12 years of reef keeping. These days I love corals as much as ever. I didn't really lose interest as much as run into some bad luck like you. It was easier to try something new rebuild months / years of reef overnight.

If I didn't have bad luck with this tank, I wouldn't have any luck at all! Haha

But I hear you, it's been mostly bad luck. It's just been a rocky road and I haven't been having fun with my tank like I used to.

 

[Matthew Frost]

Have you ever hit that brick wall when it comes to your reef? I think I just did recently...

Since the holidays I've been spending less and less time doing things that I would normally do with the glass box, water changes have even become a chore. I hate changing out carbon, filter socks and heck, even dosing nopox is starting to be a drag.

A little back story...

If you aren't familiar with my build thread this is mostly for you. The early years of my tank were awesome, I never met an sps frag I couldn't grow into a colony. I was even growing acropora frags into colonies sitting on my sand bed! Then within the last couple years the wheels literally fell off. I had a total loss of corals at one point and ever since then it's been an uphill battle. I've tried different things over time and quickly realized that I needed to go back to what worked prior, and that is what I've been trying to do recently.

Fast forward to now. Sps is "ok" some grow well, Others not so much. Every time I look at the tank I feel exhausted, yes just looking at the tank makes me feel this way. I know most ppl would look at my tank the way it sits and think it looks good. Since October I've been working a lot of OT at work so I decided to change my water change schedule. I normally do 2x15 gallon changes per week, I changed it to 1 30 gallon. This seemed to make the biggest change in my tank for some reason. Sps started to rtn and lose color. Algae grew on the glass at an alarming rate. The last couple weeks I made myself go back to the old schedule but it's tough.

I want to put nopox on a dosing pump but I'm afraid of another dosing pump failure and overdosing that would be catastrophic, so daily dosing continues. I've completely rid my tank of filter socks recently because I am tired of cleaning them. I also removed carbon from my tank because changing it out of the reactor every few weeks annoys me.

I'm tired, exhausted, whatever adjective you want to use to describe this. The last couple years reefing wise have been rough.

So my question is, if you have experienced this same thing how did you get over it? Was it buying new frags? Equipment? What else? I'm stumped.

I'm trying to think of ways to get over and around this, I'm trying to simplify anything and everything dealing with the tank as well.

Help!

Sincerely yours,
Disgruntled reefer

My suggestion, drastic as it may be, take the tank down and sell off all of the livestock. Walk away from it for a while, take a vacation if you will. If you truly love doing this you'll come back to it. When you do, start fresh try something different, more DIY, different type of tank, different inhabitants, species specific, etc. Point is, we never shy from the things we love but even the strongest attractions to things fades from time to time. Rest from it a little, allow your passion to either be reinvigorated or ignited in something else.

 

[cthedaytrader]

I feel your pain completely, I have been in the hobby since 2001, and I have had those same issues from time to time, they tend to go along with either life taking over and becoming busy and you really don't have time for the tank and to care for it, or if there are problems with the tank. Obviously, those can go hand and hand and really make things worse.

I can say right now I am going through the same feelings. I think how you handle it just depends on the timing. I can tell you the things that keep me from taking down the tank now. About ten years ago, I was working a lot, just starting out, 6 days a week etc. Well, my tank was doing well but then I neglected it more and more until finally one day it just crashed. Lost just about everything, I felt awful on so many levels, so I took the tank down, sold it and left the hobby. I was out for about 2 years. Well, if you are hooked on it you will know lol. Because I kept checking the forums always wanted to buy a new coral, new equipment, wondering what my tank would have been like if I had kept it lol The old adage, you don't know what you have until its gone.

So now i think about that time, I also think about all the corals I have now, some nearly ten years, I know what they are the lineage, and I can't imagine trying to recollect them all, let alone the cost to do it lol.

Then my wife says I have to keep the fish, which I agree with, since i have had most of them for nearly ten years too, so whats the point of keeping a fish only tank lol

What I do to try and keep going though, I think buying new equipment helps sometimes, or new corals, or playing on a live sale, but it depends, some times spending money on the tank makes me more annoyed, when I just don't want to, and its at those times it seems like everything is breaking and needs to be fixed or replaced.

I think the bottom line, is caring for the tank feels like a second job, and it makes its harder to care for enjoy, so sometimes, the best thing to do is simplify the maintenance, and keep up with it, do the water changes to prevent problems, dont add much so you dont have to worry about pests of any kind, and keep the tank happy, to avoid a crash. I try and keep my hands out of the tank too, its better for the tank and me.

Then, when you do take the time to look at the tank and its thriving, it does make it worth it again, and then I think, for me at least I enjoy it again.

 

[derek yoonie]

LARGER TANK UPGRADE

 

[Abhishek]

Have you ever hit that brick wall when it comes to your reef? I think I just did recently...

Since the holidays I've been spending less and less time doing things that I would normally do with the glass box, water changes have even become a chore. I hate changing out carbon, filter socks and heck, even dosing nopox is starting to be a drag.

A little back story...

If you aren't familiar with my build thread this is mostly for you. The early years of my tank were awesome, I never met an sps frag I couldn't grow into a colony. I was even growing acropora frags into colonies sitting on my sand bed! Then within the last couple years the wheels literally fell off. I had a total loss of corals at one point and ever since then it's been an uphill battle. I've tried different things over time and quickly realized that I needed to go back to what worked prior, and that is what I've been trying to do recently.

Fast forward to now. Sps is "ok" some grow well, Others not so much. Every time I look at the tank I feel exhausted, yes just looking at the tank makes me feel this way. I know most ppl would look at my tank the way it sits and think it looks good. Since October I've been working a lot of OT at work so I decided to change my water change schedule. I normally do 2x15 gallon changes per week, I changed it to 1 30 gallon. This seemed to make the biggest change in my tank for some reason. Sps started to rtn and lose color. Algae grew on the glass at an alarming rate. The last couple weeks I made myself go back to the old schedule but it's tough.

I want to put nopox on a dosing pump but I'm afraid of another dosing pump failure and overdosing that would be catastrophic, so daily dosing continues. I've completely rid my tank of filter socks recently because I am tired of cleaning them. I also removed carbon from my tank because changing it out of the reactor every few weeks annoys me.

I'm tired, exhausted, whatever adjective you want to use to describe this. The last couple years reefing wise have been rough.

So my question is, if you have experienced this same thing how did you get over it? Was it buying new frags? Equipment? What else? I'm stumped.

I'm trying to think of ways to get over and around this, I'm trying to simplify anything and everything dealing with the tank as well.

Help!

Sincerely yours,
Disgruntled reefer

I know exactly how you feel man !!!! But you don't wanna know my answer or rather not hear it.
I went through a similar phase 7 years back and at the end just gave up hobby !!!!!

I still remember the day I went upto the attic a year back and dusted my M80 ballasts and reflectors from 7 years back, went through a wreckage to find my tunze pumps and GHL doser and the feeling when I first fired up my radiums for testing purpose - priceless !!!

Now when I look back I think, I should have never ever quit man or taken a break ! Can't imagine life without reef.

I would say - take deep breaths and change up things like may be getting new lights or new controllers or even better get new acros . Or may be sell off everything and start new and bigger ! But do not quit ...

You might wanna do what I did and walk away from it for a while but it might just eat you up not to have a reef tank .. I know it did to me !

Always missed the blue light for 7 years !!!

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[NY_Caveman]

+1 in trying to mix it up and keep it fresh.

Your situation is kind of how I felt a few months ago. I felt I had gone as far as I could with a freshwater planted tank. A few long lived fish had died and I was not replacing them. You ask how I got over it? Unexpectedly. One night, after midnight, the tank started leaking at the bottom. To save the living room I put the fish in a bucket of water and took the tank down fast. I decided to find a good home for the fish and took it as a sign to start a marine tank. Went from frustrated to never been as excited to start a new tank.

Setting up a new tank is probably what pops in many people’s heads, but the truth is that may not be the best for you. Try a few small changes in routine like small frequent water changes and keep thinking about how to reduce the maintenance.

 

[WWIII]

Buying new frags always gets me excited, but that only lasts so long. I like to switch something up with my setup. Whether it's implementing a new piece of equipment, or reworking something on my setup to be more organized and/or look better. This is probably why so many start new builds or move up to a bigger tank. A lot of the fun for me is doing the research and planning/dreaming of how I want everything setup and working. The benefit for me of having a fishroom/basement is I have plenty of room to do these "projects". Right now I'm planning on switching my sump to a bigger, different design. This will be the 3rd sump on my newest tank (almost at 2 years old). I just get ideas from seeing others and new things going on in the hobby and can spend quite a while planning the change and it keeps my interest going. Plus there's always room for improvement it seems!

I also enjoy all the new technology that comes out to "help" us with our reefs. Controllers and other technology are expensive, but for me it keeps my interest and excitement going by doing research and tinkering with what possibilities we can do with ever evolving technology.

 

[hybridazn]

My suggestion, drastic as it may be, take the tank down and sell off all of the livestock. Walk away from it for a while, take a vacation if you will. If you truly love doing this you'll come back to it. When you do, start fresh try something different, more DIY, different type of tank, different inhabitants, species specific, etc. Point is, we never shy from the things we love but even the strongest attractions to things fades from time to time. Rest from it a little, allow your passion to either be reinvigorated or ignited in something else.

I feel your pain completely, I have been in the hobby since 2001, and I have had those same issues from time to time, they tend to go along with either life taking over and becoming busy and you really don't have time for the tank and to care for it, or if there are problems with the tank. Obviously, those can go hand and hand and really make things worse.

I can say right now I am going through the same feelings. I think how you handle it just depends on the timing. I can tell you the things that keep me from taking down the tank now. About ten years ago, I was working a lot, just starting out, 6 days a week etc. Well, my tank was doing well but then I neglected it more and more until finally one day it just crashed. Lost just about everything, I felt awful on so many levels, so I took the tank down, sold it and left the hobby. I was out for about 2 years. Well, if you are hooked on it you will know lol. Because I kept checking the forums always wanted to buy a new coral, new equipment, wondering what my tank would have been like if I had kept it lol The old adage, you don't know what you have until its gone.

So now i think about that time, I also think about all the corals I have now, some nearly ten years, I know what they are the lineage, and I can't imagine trying to recollect them all, let alone the cost to do it lol.

Then my wife says I have to keep the fish, which I agree with, since i have had most of them for nearly ten years too, so whats the point of keeping a fish only tank lol

What I do to try and keep going though, I think buying new equipment helps sometimes, or new corals, or playing on a live sale, but it depends, some times spending money on the tank makes me more annoyed, when I just don't want to, and its at those times it seems like everything is breaking and needs to be fixed or replaced.

I think the bottom line, is caring for the tank feels like a second job, and it makes its harder to care for enjoy, so sometimes, the best thing to do is simplify the maintenance, and keep up with it, do the water changes to prevent problems, dont add much so you dont have to worry about pests of any kind, and keep the tank happy, to avoid a crash. I try and keep my hands out of the tank too, its better for the tank and me.

Then, when you do take the time to look at the tank and its thriving, it does make it worth it again, and then I think, for me at least I enjoy it again.

I know exactly how you feel man !!!! But you don't wanna know my answer or rather not hear it.
I went through a similar phase 7 years back and at the end just gave up hobby !!!!!

I still remember the day I went upto the attic a year back and dusted my M80 ballasts and reflectors from 7 years back, went through a wreckage to find my tunze pumps and GHL doser and the feeling when I first fired up my radiums for testing purpose - priceless !!!

Now when I look back I think, I should have never ever quit man or taken a break ! Can't imagine life without reef.

I would say - take deep breaths and change up things like may be getting new lights or new controllers or even better get new acros . Or may be sell off everything and start new and bigger ! But do not quit ...

You might wanna do what I did and walk away from it for a while but it might just eat you up not to have a reef tank .. I know it did to me !

Always missed the blue light for 7 years !!!

Regards,
Abhishek

The thought has def gone thru my mind to sell and chill, but I have a few fish that I've had longer than ppl have kept dogs or cats! Lol

So parting with them is a no go. They are my babies haha

I love the suggestions though, a frag swap is coming up. Maybe that will be the shot in the arm I need haha

LARGER TANK UPGRADE

Oh I wish haha. Maybe one day

 

[smiley28]

Start a nano

Automate water changes

 

[hybridazn]

+1 in trying to mix it up and keep it fresh.

Your situation is kind of how I felt a few months ago. I felt I had gone as far as I could with a freshwater planted tank. A few long lived fish had died and I was not replacing them. You ask how I got over it? Unexpectedly. One night, after midnight, the tank started leaking at the bottom. To save the living room I put the fish in a bucket of water and took the tank down fast. I decided to find a good home for the fish and took it as a sign to start a marine tank. Went from frustrated to never been as excited to start a new tank.

Setting up a new tank is probably what pops in many people’s heads, but the truth is that may not be the best for you. Try a few small changes in routine like small frequent water changes and keep thinking about how to reduce the maintenance.

This is good and is kind of what I've been doing for the last few weeks. Maybe I'll keep the socks offline and also my carbon reactor and see how it goes.

Buying new frags always gets me excited, but that only lasts so long. I like to switch something up with my setup. Whether it's implementing a new piece of equipment, or reworking something on my setup to be more organized and/or look better. This is probably why so many start new builds or move up to a bigger tank. A lot of the fun for me is doing the research and planning/dreaming of how I want everything setup and working. The benefit for me of having a fishroom/basement is I have plenty of room to do these "projects". Right now I'm planning on switching my sump to a bigger, different design. This will be the 3rd sump on my newest tank (almost at 2 years old). I just get ideas from seeing others and new things going on in the hobby and can spend quite a while planning the change and it keeps my interest going. Plus there's always room for improvement it seems!

I also enjoy all the new technology that comes out to "help" us with our reefs. Controllers and other technology are expensive, but for me it keeps my interest and excitement going by doing research and tinkering with what possibilities we can do with ever evolving technology.

I agree, new frags are exciting but it almost feels like a bandaid at this point lol. I have a UV I could set up to just pass the time I suppose lol. I also thought about maybe the new COR pump or even the apex ato since my tunze ato pump has been getting loud haha. It is going on 9 years old now

 

[hybridazn]

Start a nano

Automate water changes

I do have a 2x2x2 cube just sitting in my garage hahahaha.

 

[smiley28]

Messing with my nano during nursing school has been great and also I remember your big tank and the crash you had. I have felt the way you do due to transitioning from the military and going through a lot of changes. In my opinion there is always something new to learn about as far as reefkeeping goes so I try to research when I get bored.

 

[hybridazn]

Messing with my nano during nursing school has been great and also I remember your big tank and the crash you had. I have felt the way you do due to transitioning from the military and going through a lot of changes. In my opinion there is always something new to learn about as far as reefkeeping goes so I try to research when I get bored.

Same here, being here on r2r def helps.

Great ppl, great forum. What more could you ask for?

 

[wattson]

When I got into the saltwater world,,the "Ultimate Candy Store"I got everything to try and make the perfect reef tank that anyone would be proud of..At the same time I still had to learn ALOT about the saltwater world of a reef tank..
Always spent time reading ,,playing with rock scape,,trying to find the most favorite coral and so on..
Then one day my system crashed and I went into hypo mode trying to save everything I could..Sadly it ended up being what is was going to be..Almost a complete coral loss..
I was super depressed and just did the bare minimum to keep my system alive and the few corals left alive,,as time went on I started with trying a few types of palys and zoas (my first obsession)and everything I have is pretty much utmost nessesary bare bones for tank decor and function for the sake of enjoying the corals them self and more focused on coral growth and trying to keep water params steady for the corals..My tanks are in the basement..All bare bottom and on one sump.Actually one tank is filled with water and no corals it for more water volume and possible place for more corals in the future,,but not hurry to fill it..
This way is far less laborious trying maintain a full decor of a reef tank and more enjoyable on the coral end now..
My tanks are very simple and geared for enjoying the corals than something pretty to look at..
Im happy to say that this is something to enjoy than being a chore..

 

[smiley28]

A cool reef club or a million bucks?

 

[tripdad]

My first two reef tanks I could throw a coral chip into and take out a frag in a month or two. Everything just grew with very little effort. My new tank has been a rough road. I simplified per advise I received from Adam at Battlecorals. No GFO, No carbon, no crazy dosing plans and I have turned the corner. Still a ways to go but it sure is nice to see stuff grow again. I also started indulging my hitch hiker side. Collecting weird things that hitchhike into my LFS on corals and rock. I like finding something new and unexpected. Recently I found tunicates growing in my tank. I wish you the best.

 

[Abhishek]

The thought has def gone thru my mind to sell and chill, but I have a few fish that I've had longer than ppl have kept dogs or cats! Lol

So parting with them is a no go. They are my babies haha

I love the suggestions though, a frag swap is coming up. Maybe that will be the shot in the arm I need haha



Oh I wish haha. Maybe one day

I know you love metal halides and acros a lot just like me but since you have a 2x2x2 tank, have you thought of a NPS tank only. Its a lot of work and different beast all together to successfully keep NPS gorgorians, dendronephthya, balanophyllia, dendrophyllia and other NPS with species like crinoids.

Its a whole different ball game together and will make you do everything different than an acro dominated tank. But at the end, the beauty is undeniable and most importantly will keep you crazy busy with new ideas and new reefing ways.
I have the same dream to set one up with automated food dosing using a freezer but currently just happy to be back in the hobby with my dear acros and would take on NPS once I have managed to grow the acro frags to decent sized colonies.

Just to inspire you here's links to 2 of my most favorite NPS tanks of all times :-

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/1/aquarium

https://reefbuilders.com/2012/11/12/sun-coral-tubastrea-aquarium/

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[don_chuwish]

Start over. It was most fun when you were building it right? The daily drag of mundane maintenance gets old. I don't mean get rid of everything and completely start over. But pull out all the coral and fish into a temporary tank, pull out all the rock into tubs. Thoroughly clean the sand. Redo the aquascape a completely different way and when the dust settles, move the livestock back in.