after three years.. quitting the hobby... any tips?

B

betteroblivion

New member
I have had my fishtank sense 9th grade, and now I'm in 12th grade, getting ready for college. I am taking tons of college level courses, and I work for 4 hours every day. When I get home, I am ready to go to sleep, but I have to do about 3 hours worth of homework. I have no time for my fishtank anymore.

And once I go to college next year, I won't be around at all. I don't want to burden my family with it either.

So, my question is, what is the best way to "clean up?"
I might go to the fishstore today and ask them for advice, I am sure they will buy all my fish (purple tang, 3 clarkiis, blennie, starfish, emerald crab)

But then I have all the live rock. I didn't have a perfect tank, so there is a little bit of bubble algae on it, some sponges here and there, I don't think my fishstore would want it.

So should I remove all the rock and put it outside? I guess it could make a good yard decroation....

And then goes the live sand. I think if I just get a long tube, I could cyphon it out of the window into a baby pool or something, then drag it into our pond.




It is just kind of sad because I established an ecosystem, even if I do get all the fish out, I will be killing millions of micro-organisms, 1000's of a little snails, and the little sand critters. I'm sorry, but I'm just sensitive when it comes to stuff like that.

Anyway, any tips? I am ready to move on in life, but keep the knowledge that I learned through the years.
 
You should be able to sell/give away just about everything to local reefers. Do you have a local reef club? A local message board? The LFS is probably not the best way to go, since most only give store credit, and it doesn't sound like you would be using that anytime soon. FWIW, I did the same thing when I went to college, a FO and a reef.
 
I know how you feel. I had a freshwater tank through my undergrad years. I then broke everything down (sold stuff to LFS and friends) went I started grad school out of state. But after a few years, when I got used to the routine...I got back into the hobby...and am keeping my first marine fish now.

I would actually suggest that you look and see if there are local hobbyists in your area and if there is a forum specifically for your area. You could offer to sell or give away your tank inhabitants. I know that people actively buy/sell fish, coral, live rock and sand in the local forums that I read. In fact there are two people who are breaking down their tanks and other local members purchased and picked up everything within a weeks time.

This way all of inhabitants that you have nutured will contiue growing in other tanks.
 
yes, I think if someone takes the time to buy something from a local area, they are more than interested in the hoby and should take good care of my livestock.
 
I'm betting the local LFS would take your LR, you can always advertise in the paper if you don't have a local club.
 
Be careful, you know you can't sell them here, right? You must have 50 posts and they cannot be post padding posts.
 
no.. I realise I can't see them here. My main intent was for tips and stuff.

I don't know if my parents would be too crazy about people coming to the house and buying stuff lol
 
Are you sure your parents wouldn't like to keep it? I took over 2 tanks.
 
I've been at this over 40 years. At times I haven't had a tank; but then I always go back. Once a reefer...well, some day when you have your own place you'll find some lfs just too close to ignore, and there you'll be.

My advice: that live rock is worth its weight in gold: you should be able to sell it to your lfs, or to another reefer. I started my current tank with someone else's live rock, and had only a small cycle, despite its winter arrival out of water. The sand, possibly, if you can sell it to someone who is actually setting up: talk to your lfs, and let them sell the sand, if need be,bb but you deliver it to them when the other guy is ready to pick it up.

The fish and corals they can handle.

But because you'll be back, I'd take the tank, skimmer, sump, and main pump, cycle white vinegar through them, and put them and the light kits in a garage: that way when you do start up again, you won't have to buy basics, or sell them for a pittance. By then the bulbs may be worthless, but you'll be a number of dollars to the better.
 
But because you'll be back, I'd take the tank, skimmer, sump, and main pump, cycle white vinegar through them, and put them and the light kits in a garage: that way when you do start up again, you won't have to buy basics, or sell them for a pittance. By then the bulbs may be worthless, but you'll be a number of dollars to the better.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more! The LFS should want to take your livestock, including rock.
 
betteroblivion, from the viewpoint of a newbie contemplating the expense of live rock, if you can offer him a deal on pounds of the stuff, he should kiss your toes, and if he wants something fancier, he can use yours for a foundation. THere may be a forum member in your city who'd like to take the whole contents for what the lfs would give you, and show up and do the packing and porting.
 
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