Am I Crazy? 240 Gallon Tank . . .

[WDLV]

Don't worry, once it becomes the norm for you, you won't even realize you're obsessed anymore. One thing I still haven't figured out yet. Does this hobby make you OCD or do OCD types get attracted to this hobby???

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7742047#post7742047 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Only-In-Dreams
Some weird stuff is happening to me . . .

I've become totally preoccupied with this whole reef thing.

I think about it all the time.

I can't work, I'm too busy reading the forums.

I keep slipping off to the LFS.

Last night, my wife gave the the look (you know . . . the look!). I just smiled at her - turned on my side - and continued to read a thread on building counter current skimmers.

I even dream about reefs.

Is this how it is with you people? I had no idea!

 

[tacocat]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7737160#post7737160 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Only-In-Dreams
Thanks for responding. I thought $100 was a great deal too. I'm going back to the seller's home this evening to pick it up - had to arrange for a trailer to move it. The thing's huge!

I'll look into the books that have been recommended and start the education process. The forums are an amazing source of information - I printed off about fifty pages last night.

Charleston, SC has an active club and a few of the posting members are here in Beaufort. I plan to contact them for help on a local basis. There's nothing like face-to-face!

I'm not sure about the presence of copper in the tank. The lady claimed that the tank was used for salt water before but a lot of the stuff (colored gravel and plastic plants) seemed to indicate freshwater use. They are a Marine Corp family and the tank was moved to SC two years ago and has sat empty in their living room since - ugh! Can you test to the presence of copper?

Before you slap it in place, install a CGFI into the outlet. You may want to consider hiring an electrician to run an extra circuit or two to power the tank.

 

[Only-In-Dreams]

WETSLEEVES - I've checked with my shrink. He isn't sure but suspect this may be a for of "Reefer Madness". I'm sure my wife would agree . . .

TACOCAT - I have been considering electrical and plumbing issues. My office is near the breaker panel so I'm planning to install a new circuit or two with GFI. Our drop ceilings will also make it failry easy to run a water line to my office as well. I'm thinking about drilling a hole in an outside wall to run a drain pipe that will discharge to a ditch. I wonder if the EPA will come after me? More Time - More Money!

Anyway - I just took a long lunch and drove to a LFS about 30 minutes away. Not much came of it. The tanks were sparsely stocked and very dirty. The new owner was cleaning her tanks though. She didn't have any live rock or books on setting up or maintaining reefs. I did get to see some fish I had been reading about and was able to put some names to fish faces. When I told her the size of my tank - she thought I was crazy!

This is Madness - but I'm having fun.

 

[Only-In-Dreams]

WETSLEEVES - By-the-way, I like your tank. It's come a long way in such a short time. From what I had been reading, I didn't think you could get such good results so quickly.

 

[Chihuahua6]

Only-In-Dreams
I have had tanks most of my life and started into reefs two years ago. I have been completely obsessed with the planning of my 500 gallon. I read and read and read, every day, on several websites. Wetwebmedia is an excellent resource for indepth reading written by the experts.
BTW I live in Bluffton. I am hoping to start a club here since the closest is Charleston which is a tad too far for me. Once my tank is built and has water in it you are welcome to see it. It should be about a month from now. My husband will be building the tank, stand, skimmer and a lot of other equipment.
Enjoy the obsession.

 

[Only-In-Dreams]

Chihuahua6
I had actually come accross a post from you once before either here or on another site (perhaps on the Charleston Club site). I saw on your profile that you had four kids and live on HHI so I looked further and check out your cool site www.naturalebaby.com

We must have a lot in common. My wife and I have five kids (13,11,9,4,3) my web business is also child related - see www.churchnursery.com and my wife and I visit Bluffton just about every weekend. What a cool place to live!

We would love to see your tank once it's open and to talk about a local club. Would also like to hear more about your business.

 

[WDLV]

This statement may only apply to me and other people who gain most of their knowledge the hard way....
My intention with this post is not to dismiss research as unimportant, but as with most things in life I think the most educational learning experiences in this hobby come not from a book but from personal experience. Those oopses yield a lot of Ah-has. Many of the things you hear people attributing success to will not work for you and many of the things that you're told that would save you a headache, you will not try the first time around.
I think the best in this hobby (myself not included) have made a lot of fantastic blunders.

In short, get the basics down and jump in with both feet. Then rework it as you go.
Your next system will be unbelievable.

 

[WDLV]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7743459#post7743459 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Only-In-Dreams
WETSLEEVES - By-the-way, I like your tank. It's come a long way in such a short time. From what I had been reading, I didn't think you could get such good results so quickly.

Thank you! When you're waiting for frags to grow into colonies it seems like f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

 

[Chihuahua6]

Wow, 5 kids. That's awesome. Your website is really cool, some terrific ideas. Definitely keep in touch with an occasional PM. I 'met' someone from the area on this board who was also interested in a club. I believe there are a few Charleston Reefer people from Beaufort and Hilton Head as well. Keep us updated on your tank.