Is your tank a joy or a chore? How to keep it fun!

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Owning a saltwater reef aquarium is so exciting and full of joy! Or at least it should be! From picking out the critters and equipment to designing the perfect aquascape involves a lot of fun or we wouldn't be doing it. Then we get to watch our fish and corals grow from little to big from frags to mature and everything in between. But if we're not careful it will become a chore! So how do we keep that enthusiasm and joy from turning into a chore? Let's talk about it!

1. When does a reef aquarium hobby become a chore, become work to you?

2. What are some tips for keeping the hobby enjoyable and fun?


image via @Reef Hacks and their Exploring Water Changes article.

 

[MarshallB]

1. To me, it becomes a chore when a problem keeps being persistent. It could be that I don't really know the solution when I think I do, or I might not even know the real root of the problem. However, the challenge of fixing an issue in itself can become a joy if that makes sense.

2. It seems simple, but spend time actually viewing your tank. If you start viewing it as work then it will definitely become a burden.

 

[Billdogg]

I've been doing it for so long now (34 years?) that although I do still enjoy it, sometimes I just have to force myself to find the time to do the needed maintenance.

 

[dwair]

Never a chore. If it was a chore I wouldn't be doing it. Being able to say I have a living ecosystem in my office and the fact that I'm able to grow and keep healthy specimens is not somethign alot of people can say. I love my tanks and always will. The maintenance with them is just part of it. Just like tending an actual garden.

 

[BTimms]

It’s a chore when things aren’t going smoothly and more input is required than I would otherwise like.

As well, the cost of everything is way to high making it a painful chore.

Otherwise it’s pure joy!

 

[Dania]

It's all fun. Granted I just started this year so I may still be in the honeymoon period.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

It’s always been, “all good” my perspective has been that there is usually one issue or no issues with the tank or filter etc. at all times. And if there is an issue it’s sometimes challenging or maybe an easy fix. Either way it’s either one or none. Definitely well within my comfort zone.

 

[X-37B]

Its all fun or I would not be into the hobby. There are chores to be done in order to keep the tank and yourself happy, lol.

 

[Cool tangs]

I cant honestly say its always fun. It has its moments and challenges.

Overall i enjoy the hobby, but like everything in life there is always things we dont want to do haha.

For me automation has been a life saver! I wouldnt have it any other way and i get more time to view my tank. It also brings great stability for sps.

 

[Ron Reefman]

It becomes a chore... or worse... when something unexpected happens. Like a pump that quits working, or even worse, a tank springs a leak.

Sometimes it's even a chore when you have to do regular maintenance and you really have something else you would love to be doing, but can't because you have to do maintenance.

But sometimes maintenance is OK... maybe even fun. When you have the time and you get into giving the tank a serious look. Especially if you find something unusual that's good, like a sea cucumber comes out that you haven't seen in 2 months. In my case it was lifting up a rock to find a huge Chiton that I had added to the tank a year ago and haven't seen since!

I know I'm lucky, but part of what keeps the hobby fun for me is that my wife and I get to go snorkeling, photographing and collecting in the Florida Keys 2 to 4 times a year. I don't collect much, and a lot of what we see and photograph are things that couldn't possible go in any of out tanks.

You can read about it and see photos here. And I encourage anybody who wants to share, to join in. Comments and questions are always welcome.

Snorkeling & Collecting Discussion Group

Hello and welcome to what I hope will be an interesting and useful forum for talking about snorkeling and collecting of wild marine animals. I live in Florida and I’m able to go snorkeling in the Florida Keys several times a year. But I by no means want to limit this to just my snorkeling here...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Stoney]

I get bored all the time, but setting up a new tank always gets the fire going again.

 

[Siberwulf]

As someone on month three of fighting Dinos, it's become a little depressing. I love all the aspects of the tank, but when those little bubbles start showing up after I've tried another treatment...it hurts my heart

 

[Goaway]

1. When does a reef aquarium hobby become a chore, become work to you?

When I have to rework my rocks and glue down my frags because I have an urchin who likes to decorate.

2. What are some tips for keeping the hobby enjoyable and fun?
That's a tough one, most of the time we're the problem. We dose something and find out our water chemistry just went in all weird directions. We bought something that doesn't get along with everything else. Chasing numbers when your system is fighting you to adjust them itself. Our aquarium is a living thing.
Jot down numbers for months and months and understand what your systems comfort zone is. Not what you think it needs to look like.

What a complicated question to answer. I am going to look forward on what others have to say and with that on note.


I bought my tank to have an extra chore and some fun. But, it does what it wants. Not what I want. Just like this guy.

 

[Dana Riddle]

A thriving reef tank is a temptation to explain 'why' coral coloration is good, what fluorescent proteins are present, etc. It never ends - one answer asks 10 questions! Maintaining the aquarium is fairly easy considering the instrumentation that it has. The research part of it is the challenging issue.

 

[flyfisher2]

It's a distraction, entertainment, education, a sense of achievement, sometimes surprising, always addicting, primary source of sanity, never a chore.

 

[HJ99]

The construction phase was fun and interesting. Going on 5 months in and it's becoming a chore. Seems there is always something to stress over, try and research and end up spending more money on. That would be bad enough if the "solutions" always worked. I think the mental aspect is worse than the actual physical work. I have never done well with putting in a lot of effort on something that ends up failing. Just yesterday I dosed with FluxRX for bryopsis and GHA after trying to suck out as much of it as I could on Sunday. Will it work or just another 40 bucks literally down the drain ? If it does work, what next ? Seems there is always an issue and we haven't even started with corals yet.

 

[LuizW13]

The only time my reef tank ever feels like a chore is when I'm trying to glue frags underwater- it's soooo annoying and frustrating.

Me when the frags don't stick

 

[rtparty]

My 120g is basically all fun right now. Biggest chore is the growth is getting crazy.

My 50g is a pain in my butt and all work. Zero fun.

My new 250g peninsula build is in between. I love the build out but it's a chore trying to get everything together currently.

 

[JcoralAnton]

1. When does a reef aquarium hobby become a chore, become work to you?
When you get bugs. You know what bugs I'm talking about and if you don't, you're lucky.
2. What are some tips for keeping the hobby enjoyable and fun?
Only purchase from true pest free sources.

 

[WVNed]

The bipolar option. Sometimes one way and sometimes the other.