Spouses happy?

[Bear Necessities]

My SO was not thrilled at first. He has supported me though through it from the first 5 gallon tank - and still does 15 tanks later . Even after I had a big mess up and let my RO line running (before my auto shut off valves) and damaged the ceiling of our newly finished basement (that took us 3 years to waterproof and redo).

I catch him looking at the tanks and he has even surprised me with corals as gifts and has treated me to LFS shopping sprees. I count myself beyond lucky.

Thankfully I technically work two jobs (full time and freelance for extra spending cash on this hobby). As long as I use my freelance money I am good to buy what ever I want.

Also @Byronyk

 

[KMSReefer]

My wife is more than supportive and likes the tank and fish. It helps a lot that she is a quilter and likes new shoes and clothes. The only time there has been an issue is when I leave stuff lying around...that and the time she came along for a trip to the lfs in the area and realized they all know me by name. Didn't help that the one store has a point system linked to your phone number and the girl at the cash knew my number by memory lol!

 

[southerntnreefer]

My wife has her own tank. She chooses the stock, and the coral. I clean it and acclimate and dip but it's hers.

 

[samnaz]

Don't currently have a partner but I can tell you that I wouldn't be anyone who wasn't happy with me doing what makes me happy. I'm not exactly one for the traditional life-long marriage thing, too many sacrifices to be made. I'd rather not be told how to spend my money and time, haha.

On the other hand, my brother (roommate), my friends, and my mother are very supportive.

 

[MDandD]

My 110 display was her idea. She hated my Fluval 13g nano but liked a little yellow goby we had that died. Sent her to the LFS to get another goby and they sold her A HUGE MANDARIN. When we were then told it was pretty much going to starve to death, she bought a mature 110 setup with sump. I built a whole wall of mirrors for the tank, equip and one side for her shoes Now she buys huge stocks of pods every other week.

That said, without the Mandarin, she wouldn't care at all. Most expensive dang fish in the world..

 

[oldfishman]

My wife likes the tank but complained pumps too loud, replaced, non fans too loud, ordered new fans, now moon lights on too long. But she lets me get whatever I need

 

[h8edpurdie]

My wife was the pushing factor into me getting corals. I kept predatory fish and was happy with it. She wanted more colors and movement. My tank crashed last August and I lost it all, but one hermit crab. I was going to leave the hobby and sell everything. She's the one pushing for me to get it going again. As jealous as she's gotten at times with how much time I spent on my tank, she's the one encouraging me to keep at it.

 

[Tiger-Paws]

No wife, so no problem, if my one of my Lady friends complains about my tank (soon to be tanks) they are gone.

End of story. Being single has its advantages.

 

[squampton]

My wife likes the tank just not the money I spend....lol She prefers the freshwater tank though since it requires little money to maintain.....

 

[CraigMixedReef]

What reef? I don't see anything... Keep moving!

 

[o00brandon00o]

How many of y'all know if u come home from work you better put your hands on your wife [husband] 1st, before your hands go on [in/near/app/top-off/"just 1 ph test"] your tank!?

Kids 2nd, not there yet !

Fellas, positive results! Hands on wife first, then tank. #priorities

Checkout my ...err OUR...

50-gal Build Thread:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/o00brandon00o-50-gallon-build-thread.395370/page-3#post-4772301

 

[keithdoc]

The misses is NOT a fan.

She says the basement smells bad.
(I don't have the heart to tell her it's her cats, and not my fish that smell>.>)

She does appreciate when I'm not "fooling with that tank".
Since I've switched to Triton Method, there ain't much fooling' with it anymore
. . . . But she doesn't know that

@o00brandon00o I wash my hands first, pet the dog, then go for the rest of the family. Just wait for Kids. You'll pay them to keep their hands off YOU (sometimes / work clothes)!

 

[manilaboy1vic]

My wife is all good as long as the tank stays clean and colorful. And my daughter gets to lean a bit about the ocean too.

same here.. my tank was kinda neglected and she wasnt too stoked on the cyano, said it was an eyesore..

so, sandbed delete, and she likes it now again.. she likes colorful fish..

 

[andyg1960]

My wife is happy that I'm happy, so while she would never have a reef tank without me, she seems to want to learn about all the different stuff in there

 

[Snuggs]

My husband doesn't care much at all about the corals beyond an occasional "oh yeah that one is cool" but he is an animal lover and enjoys the different fish personalities. For a while the money was an issue but we've resolved that one by creating a "fish budget" - he knows there are certain things I have to buy regularly to keep things stable. I don't buy unnecessary things unless we work it into the budget and can afford it. On the flip side, he's seen how much joy and serenity my tanks give me. He loves me and I love my tanks, so we're all good

I have to add that I am very, very lucky.

Interesting to have a female’s point of view. What started as an endeavor that we would take on together has ended up as one of my passions. All upkeep is my responsibility (and I so enjoy it ) yes it is time and money..but I have learned what I need and what is snake oil. We have regular outings to our Lfs and pick corals together. But I am the one to make up saltwater , haul buckets change filter socks etc. still feeling lucky to have any of this at all

 

[Roggio]

I could honestly throw up at how submissive some of the guys here are.

 

[Dierks]

My fiance is cool with it. I just let her name everything.

This is exactly how it is for myself.

My wife is my love, my tank is my hobby...I'm not going to lie in order to have either...she knows the tank is part of who I am...that comes with loving me. I'm a blessed soul!

This sir is the best comment on this entire thread. I am in the same boat, and with that because I like it she is also on board the same way I would be for any new hobby she were to get into.

 

[CenlaReefer]

My girlfriend of 8 years (Yeah yeah...) was originally neutral/skeptical about the 250 gallon tank in our living room, but eventually she has come around to loving it. She now knows (and uses) fish and coral species name, not just "Ooo, nemo!" and "OOOoooOOoOO, anemonemoneee!" She has bought coral pieces at the LFS/expos, and takes an active role in helping me solve algae problems.

For those of you with a SO that hates the tank, here's my suggestion: CLEAN YO **** UP! My tank sits in an open concept living/dining room. To make my girlfriend happy, I keep my fish **** cleaned up (such as):

• Put your test kits awawy
• Put your 5g buckets away
• Put your fish/coral food away
• Got a sump? Close the doors.
• Dropped alk/calc solution on the floors? Wipe it up, otherwise you'll have white powder on the floor.

This may not make your SO happy about your tank, but it will at least make them not mad. Baby steps

Put away razor blades, super glue, and other fragging stuff. This is especially the case if you have young children. Consider getting a storage cabinet besides the tank. Keeping things neat can improve the outlook of your significant other.

 

[whs6704]

I am curious how people's spouses feel about them keeping a reef tank. I think my wife enjoys it but wouldn't care if we had a reef or not.

My wife cares nothing about my reef aquarium

 

[ReefWithCare]

My wife bugged me for nearly 10 years to start up a reef tank knowing I had them in high school and college. I was the one who kept saying no because I know how expensive and time consuming they are. She wanted to get the kids involved and learn about them as much as possible.

I threw all the cons at her at once so she knew what we were getting ourselves into lol. I’m also not one to keep multiple tanks or fish rooms so that probably keeps me out of trouble as I don’t want fish to take over our lives. I’m also uber clean with my setups and layout management. I don’t want the meth lab or dungeon feel to my aquarium setup. It need to look like an accent to the home [emoji28]

She also happens to be very handy so she is loving getting involved in the plumbing, aquascaping, and cabinet builds. She was digging the power tools we had to purchase to build out the tank lol.