Throwing In The Towel...

[thatmanMIKEson]

Good Morning Reef2Reefers,

I've got a project that I'm working on for a class and would love R2R's input. QUESTION: What HOBBY RELATED factor has made you (or someone you know) want to quit, take a break, or quit reefing altogether? I would like to stress the "hobby relatedness" of this poll. I am wishing to leave out factors such as: job change, health issues, family care, or loss of income. I did leave a option for "other" responses, if you do choose "other" feel free to elaborate

After my assignment is complete I'll be sure to post the outcome of my project here for some "peer review."

Thanks.

I didn't see an option for haven't lost interest or thought about it yet. Or is this poll only for quitters? Lol jk

I've had a salt water tank/tanks of some sort for over 20 years and although allot has changed the basics have not. I think if your in it for others or to show it off because its cool and looks good on IG, that could definitely be something you grow tired of, but if you truly enjoy something, the good and the bad is the journey and how could you leave something you love? I haven't hit rock bottom yet but maybe there will be a day, I'd say mine will be from age related or physically being unable to enjoy the hobby, then perhaps it will be time to hang it up.

Until then!

 

[fish farmer]

What was your initial end goal for your tank that wasn't easily achievable for you? and if you have a tank now, how have you changed things so that it is fun for you?

I'd like to comment on this. I think some folks currently may be inspired by amazing setups with "easy SPS" or mixed reefs and a ton of fish when they really should be focusing on less demanding corals and a fish or two.

I'm not successful with SPS and I've been in the hobby for a long time, my current set up which I started in 2010 with PC lighting I didn't set up for demanding corals, just softies and some LPS. Now I've upgraded to stronger lighting and made some space for them so may give sps a try again.

Back when I started in 2000 my local fish stores were softy and lps dominant and I didn't set my tank up then for sps because they were considered more demanding. My first reef flourished with real live rock, metal halide lighting, kalk additions, routine testing and water changes. I was growing weedy softies within 6 months from startup. I never remember worrying about nutrient levels....we wanted then zero back then anyway. I just fed the tank and harvested caulerpa and xenia.

 

[pepper89]

I'd like to comment on this. I think some folks currently may be inspired by amazing setups with "easy SPS" or mixed reefs and a ton of fish when they really should be focusing on less demanding corals and a fish or two.

I'm not successful with SPS and I've been in the hobby for a long time, my current set up which I started in 2010 with PC lighting I didn't set up for demanding corals, just softies and some LPS. Now I've upgraded to stronger lighting and made some space for them so may give sps a try again.

Back when I started in 2000 my local fish stores were softy and lps dominant and I didn't set my tank up then for sps because they were considered more demanding. My first reef flourished with real live rock, metal halide lighting, kalk additions, routine testing and water changes. I was growing weedy softies within 6 months from startup. I never remember worrying about nutrient levels....we wanted then zero back then anyway. I just fed the tank and harvested caulerpa and xenia.

I do agree. I think a lot of people see the experienced reefers who have been in the hobby with a lot higher bioload and nutrient uptakes in their tanks being successful, and they want that exactly, but it's because experience gives them the knowledge of how to maintain the water better, and they don't see how many months/years it took them to fill. I know I've fallen into this, as there are just a lot of really cool fish and corals, and you want to try a little bit of them all, and you don't want to wait. But I do think it's a good idea to limit, at least initially, what you add. Keep things easy until you get the hang of what the bioload and nutrient uptakes are. It is just easier to make minor adjustments then the major issues that can come with a sudden large change, or constantly adding things each week/month.

 

[ReeferHD]

Dino love SPS and plate corals. Every plate coral I had died. I had a hot pink one I really miss. All my SPS died except an unknown one at the back of my tank, I do not remember putting there, and two green slimmers that are battle weary but hanging in. Dino does suck.

i lost my favorite wellsophyllia to dinos, once it began receding nothing could stop it, it had such a unique growth pattern too, looked like a giant green and purple gumdrop.

 

[Crustaceon]

Currently thinking about throwing in the towel or at least taking a break. I have a 34 gallon AIO that is dealing with a bad phosphate problem. No matter how many water changes I do, it still creeps to 0.6-0.7. I have tried lanthanum chloride but it irritated my LPS. I feed mysis to my 4 fish and blood worms to my mandarin. I recently just got a macroalgae reactor from Tunze dialed in this week and hopefully it works soon. My tank was looking pretty good until last December, I have yet to see any growth since then. Even having some zoas close up and retract.

Do you vacuum your sand?

 

[FoolishWizard]

Only times I have ever left the hobby was due to moving. Tank break down, move, re-set-up just has always sounded like a nightmare to me so I just sell.

Voted Other.

 

[HB AL]

I voted other since there wasn't an option for none. 37+ years and the thought never crossed my mind, although I've figured alot out thru trial and error (before internet) it really is simple, my opinion is the net has really helped and hurt people out now as they read and try things people tell em to do and they think that's the solution, but you really don't know what knowledge they have, i only take advice from a few trusted professionals on the board when i have a head scratcher in my unique tank. There's all these things now, controllers, dosers etc... I still do everything manually. manually.

 

[Reefing102]

What was your initial end goal for your tank that wasn't easily achievable for you? and if you have a tank now, how have you changed things so that it is fun for you?

I wanted a TOTM tank. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the multiple hundreds of dollars in equipment (calcium reactor, skimmer, reef ready system, zeovit, controller, etc).

I have two tanks now. My 65 gallon I’m working towards making an SPS system, that’s a bit off but I finally have a job where I can drop a few hundred dollars (if needed) and not have to “worry” about a more significant payment (car payment, house, etc).

 

[Megaloptera]

I wanted a TOTM tank. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the multiple hundreds of dollars in equipment (calcium reactor, skimmer, reef ready system, zeovit, controller, etc).

I have two tanks now. My 65 gallon I’m working towards making an SPS system, that’s a bit off but I finally have a job where I can drop a few hundred dollars (if needed) and not have to “worry” about a more significant payment (car payment, house, etc).

Love the goal, TOTM would be amazing. Just keep in mind you do have a TOTM, its your tank of the month every month.

 

[HB AL]

Love the goal, TOTM would be amazing. Just keep in mind you do have a TOTM, its your tank of the month every month.

My current tank is my favorite I've ever had, in my mind it's the tank of the month every month. People don't need all those expensive things to have a successful nice tank, just had to snap this pic as lights came on.

 

[Megaloptera]

My current tank is my favorite I've ever had, in my mind it's the tank of the month every month. People don't need all those expensive things to have a successful nice tank, just had to snap this pic as lights came on.

Fabulous. Absolutely gorgeous.

 

[HB AL]

Fabulous. Absolutely gorgeous.

I'm actually a tiny bit surprised how well things are doing. The corals are just for fun and trading and selling to locals or my lfs's, the fish are pets like my dogs. Here a vid from January. Current inhabitants are...

Japanese Dragon Eel
Miniatus Grouper
Broomtail Wrasse
Squirrel fish
Hippo Tang
Black Hawaiian trigger
Assasi trigger
Huma trigger
Undulated trigger

 

[Nemo&Friends]

Voted other. I am not thinking yet to give up, but my reason would be difficulty to take long vacations and finding someone to take care of my fish while I am away.

 

[Megaloptera]

I'm actually a tiny bit surprised how well things are doing. The corals are just for fun and trading and selling to locals or my lfs's, the fish are pets like my dogs. Here a vid from January. Current inhabitants are...

Japanese Dragon Eel
Miniatus Grouper
Broomtail Wrasse
Squirrel fish
Hippo Tang
Black Hawaiian trigger
Assasi trigger
Huma trigger
Undulated trigger

Great video. I'm guessing you don't have too many ornamental shrimp in there .

 

[Megaloptera]

Voted other. I am not thinking yet to give up, but my reason would be difficulty to take long vacations and finding someone to take care of my fish while I am away.

I take care of the tanks at work. I am always amazed at how much can go wrong when I have to be gone for a week and things are left to someone else.

 

[HB AL]

Great video. I'm guessing you don't have too many ornamental shrimp in there .

That would make for an expensive tasty meal. I guess it would be fun to watch and shoot a vid throwing a bunch in and watching the feeding frenzy!

 

[chousecat]

Do you vacuum your sand?

I actually do not, would that help? My aquascape makes it pretty hard to vacuum around my cube.

 

[chousecat]

Sorry to hear about your phosphate problem. Once I added Chaeto to my sump/fuges I no longer read any phosphates. I don't have the most accurate low range kits either but I'm hopeful that the macroalgae will take care of it. How are your nuisance algae levels with that amount of phosphates?

Thank you! Not too bad, I get a bunch of bubble algae but it doesn't look too noticeable unless you really squint into the tank. I am going to do a WC and going to test my water today, one week since installing the chaeto reactor

 

[Crustaceon]

I actually do not, would that help? My aquascape makes it pretty hard to vacuum around my cube.

There’s a good chance it will. You probably have a bunch of detritus locked in the sand and that will constantly leech nitrates and phosphates. I’m betting mainly in the back corners.

 

[chousecat]

There’s a good chance it will. You probably have a bunch of detritus locked in the sand and that will constantly leech nitrates and phosphates. I’m betting mainly in the back corners.

Thanks for the advice, I'll do it today during my WC. I see that my local petco sells a mini siphon vacuum. Looking at my sand now, it does look like it has some gunk to it