Keep the reef tank or to give it away

Prehistoric Reefs · Jul 17, 2023

I am leaving next year to go on a mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am excited to go but it pains me to think about what to do with my reef tank... It is a 40-gallon mixed reef tank with a variety of softies, lps, sps, clams, shrimps, and 7 fishes. I will be gone for 2 years. My family offered to take care of it, but I am not sure. They have no experience with keeping aquariums. I can keep in contact with them so I can still help. But on the other hand, I know how difficult it is and I don't want things to die making them feel guilty.

What sucks is that everything is finally growing into colonies and the tank is doing so good right now. It would suck to tear it down. Also, I live in a small town where the only lfs is a big chain store and there isn't a reef club or a lot of people that have saltwater. So I don't know how hard it would be to sell everything.
At this point, I am probably just ranting.

So yeah, the question is should I keep the tank and teach my family how to take care of it? Or would it be better, in the long run to get rid of it and start new when I get back? Also if anybody has other ideas, it would be great to hear them. Thanks

collins.jason.k · Jul 17, 2023

Do you think you can teach your family to "really" take care of your reef to the expectations that you have set for yourself? If so then let them go for it. If not, find the critters a good home, clean the equipment and put it in storage and start again when your mission work has completed.

This will save you from any feeling of regret or answer with your family/friends if you come back to a reef that is not all you want it or expect it to be.

Just make the next one better.

Prehistoric Reefs · Jul 17, 2023

collins.jason.k said:
Do you think you can teach your family to "really" take care of your reef to the expectations that you have set for yourself? If so then let them go for it. If not, find the critters a good home, clean the equipment and put it in storage and start again when your mission work has completed.

This will save you from any feeling of regret or answer with your family/friends if you come back to a reef that is not all you want it or expect it to be.

Just make the next one better.

You make a good point. That is what I am thinking, I guess i just need to hear it from someone. Thanks.

BaliReefBox · Jul 17, 2023

yep break it down..if you dont, it will only be heart break when you come back

Cichlid Dad · Jul 17, 2023

BaliReefBox said:
yep break it down..if you dont, it will only be heart break when you come back

Agreed. It takes to long long to truly learn to reef an already setup system when you're starting with little to no knowledge

Northern Flicker · Jul 17, 2023

2 years is simply unreasonable imo. Anything more than a few months is unfair to your family. You chose to leave, so this is part of that decision.

ianw163 · Jul 17, 2023

I will suggest you teach your family. I will not want to tear it down If it was my tank. You have 1 year and you have enough time to teach them. But 2 years is just a long time.

bradreef · Jul 18, 2023

Give the corals to someone local with expectations that they give you large pieces if you setup again and they live. Family could possibly keep fowlr. Ide say its easier to take down.

Nano_Man · Jul 18, 2023

Take it apart keep your tank and equipment for when you get back . So you can start again good luck on your journey. You will definitely miss your reef but at least it will be there for you .

kamkam1999 · Jul 18, 2023

what is your maintenance method? if just a weekly water change i believe they would be ok

OscarHaglund · Jul 18, 2023

If they actually want to learn to be reefers themselves, then let them start maintaining the tank asap with you supervising. Otherwise break it down

Reefing102 · Jul 18, 2023

Have to agree with what’s been said. Unless the family member genuinely wants to become a reefer, 2 years is just an unreasonable amount of time, many new reefers don’t last a year after all the headaches. Sell the live stock and clean and keep the equipment and restart when your mission is over.

Nick Steele · Jul 18, 2023

If someone is wanting to learn and willing to take responsibility of it then teach. If they are saying yes just to please you get rid of corals/fish and keep tank to set up again.

Gumbies R Us · Jul 18, 2023

I'm going to have to say give it away, unless they are willing to learn reefing and maintain a tank for 2 years.

Cichlid Dad · Jul 18, 2023

Gumbies R Us said:
I'm going to have to say give it away, unless they are willing to learn reefing and maintain a tank for 2 years.

Agreed, even today I would not want to take on someone else's reef with the expectations of them getting it back in two years. If something were to go wrong I would feel horrible.