Is it normal to struggle this much when first starting?

[X-37B]

The hobby does not have to be difficult.
Their is plenty of different systems available but the basics dont change.

You need a plan from day one. Without one most will fail.

Pick a fellow hobbiest that shows systems from day one to current.
Their are lots out their without having to search much.

 

[muggle0981]

I think i was almost a year before i added corals when i got into the hobby. I was fortunate to have local fish store owner really help me when a local aquarium adventureland set me up with all the wrong stuff for my 55g.

takes time, patience and a willingness to let things just happen. Finding that one key person who can help you, forums like this are all awesome. Corals-start out with hearty, easy growth corals-it will build your confidence in reefing and as you enjoy the sucess of those corals, tank gets older and becomes more established and you raise your game and tank on more challenging items. In my experience, there’s too many people out there giving bad information or selling people items just to make a sale and not looking out for the reefer. Why finding a core group of people is so awesome when you do. Lastly, if you haven’t had an “ugly” battle, an epidemic wipe your tank out, you’re just not a reefer, i bet everyone who is a reefer has had sone level of catastrophic event as their tanks matured. And those who say once you get in a routine it gets easier-100% right

patience and repetiton…

off my soapbox…