Does anyone get to actually enjoy their tank?

DamnPepShrimp

DamnPepShrimp

Moved On
I am finding myself considering taking a break from the hobby, downsizing, or making some change. With the economy the way it is, I could always use the money. I am supposed to get a new job in a couple months making more then double what I am now, and well move back out of my rent's house into a rented townhouse. But for now, it seems like everything is too much (probably because my FO sucks and everything is in QT, my reef has algae and aiptasia problems but getting better).
The biggest thing is I find myself only maintaining my setups, not actually enjoying them. This hobby takes up a good amount of my money (I have lots tied into it also) and just tossing the idea around of getting back into racing cars or stuntin streetbikes, which were former hobbies that I'd love to do again. Hopefully with the new job, I will be able to afford those hobbies, get a nice place and have nice tanks. But at the moment it is getting too much, having over 500g in my rent's basement, having humidity issues, cost to maintain/run etc etc. I love all my fish, corals, everything and they are all like pets/part of the family to me. So I would hate to see anything go, but at the same time, I could use the money towards renting a house, buying a new stunt bike or saving up for another corvette/fbody. I dunno, I really want to keep my setups, but just find that I only maintain them, and don't get much joy out of it right now, I don't think I am losing passion for the hobby, I go to bed thinking about stock lists for my 210g every night. But I have a hectic life right now, guess I just need to vent and hate how much my setups are such under construction.

So does anyone else find themselves just maintaining their tanks and not actually sitting back and enjoying it? I love setting up tanks, new stock lists, fish, corals, etc but dealing with algae/aiptasia problems, QT issues, it gets old! Am I the only one going through this right now? (geez, sounds like relationship problems! haha).
 
A break is always a good idea from time to time, i took a year off a few years ago. Gives you a nice prospective when you restart.

I did find a trip around a few LFS and a trip to big public aquarium also helped inspire me before I started back up.

Good luck.
 
I wouldn't mind taking a break, but I am very attached to my fish, they are like pets (dogs etc) to me. I'd hate to lose them, but at the same time, I don't get much enjoyment out of my systems right now since everything is a mess. I think I need to change my tanks up. I am considering trying to add my reef and FO tank together, don't know how the angels would do with the corals, and I am sure my eel would eat my goby/other bottom dwellers, not to mention my clean up crew would be destroyed by my wrasse. Also, when I move into a new place in a few months, it is going to be a B&%$#!!! Something I am not looking forward too!
 
I think about it but know I will kick myself every time I see a nice fish get posted on here.....yes I would still lurk even though I wouldn't own a sw tank. Just as I still lurk around the srt4 forum...I had to sell that car due to the constant pouring of money to make a really quick car even quicker. Had about $3000 in it within 6 months of buying it new. Already had over done the power such that the clutch couldn't hold it....only had 18000 miles on the car when I sold it. But as with the fish hobby, I was never content. I have issues though, perhaps you don't. So do what you need to do. Except for the eel, (based on what I remember you having) you could easily replace all of your fish right? I know they all have their own little quirks, but if you need to slow your roll so to speak for a while, just concentrate on one tank or the other....This hobby is too much $$$ and time to not like it.
 
Ahh your an import fan huh? (I know the srt4 is american, but not much on it is actually american!). I still lurk on the car and bike forums. I wish I had my new job because I just missed a 700rwhp vette go for 14k, this economy is definitely a buyers market right now!
Anyway, I agree, I would miss everything way too much! When I moved down to the beach last summer, I torn down my gorgeous reef, but fragged everything and started back up after the summer. I am glad I did that! I have my eel, klunzinger wrasse (never see another one of those), my 3 angels (also the passer, under my brothers care, which might have to go) and along with my reef, all the corals and fish in that which I love. I really don't know what to do, wish I could get this job already, then things wouldn't be a problem I hope. Also I don't know if I can take 500+ gallon systems to a new rented townhouse! So I may be forced to downgrade. I was thinking about downgrading the reef to a cool peninsula style tank (maybe a 65g) and maybe have my angels in the 120g, don't know what I'd do with the wrasse or eel though :(
 
Sounds like you have too much going on at a difficult time, with the move coming and all. I started out with a reef and I really loved it, but found I just didn't have time to deal with the balancing act of getting the light right, reducing algae, water top offs, etc, etc. So I gave up the reef tank and have FOWLR and a couple of sponges with T5 light to brighten up the fish colors only, and it has made life so much easier. I really do miss reefing, esp the critters that can't survive in my fish tanks, but its just not a good time in my life to put all that time into a good reef tank.

Maybe it would be enough to just pair down a bit--keep some frags like you did last time, start methodically breaking down your reef tank in preparation for the move, but stay in the hobby with the easy stuff til you get excited about it again.

As for me, my passion ebbs and flows, I find--you know, life just keeps comin' at ya'---I don't think I could ever leave--its so much more relaxing to futz around my tanks than to worry about work or whatever else is stressing me at the moment.

I bet if you take it down a peg and get through the move, you will find your passion for the hobby coming back.
 
Oh!, DPS!!! I hope you don't decide to completely let it go.

I understand where you are coming from. With my 280 and 180 build, I am in complete upheaval and have 6 tanks in my house right now!!! Plus with the ich issues (which looks to be clearing up thank God!)... It is very frustrating. I have considered "downgrading" into just the 2 tanks. Even throwing the mantis...my baby..into one of my 50 gallon sumps just to have a little more space!

What if you just cut back to your absolute favorite fish? Could you cut it down to the ones who could just live with the eel? I know the eel won't eat coral. Could you save just the irreplaceable corals? Or save them in a 'fuge with good lighting?

Are all of the tanks due to ich issues? (I haven't been keeping up. I just got a new baby goat--not goatfish, as if I needed anything more in my life!) Could you just combine everything and say "OK Boys, sink or swim"? I did that in my reef tank when my tang brought in ich. This is why you won't see any tang on any of my stock lists. Amazingly they all swam. It looked pretty bad for a while though. Of course I didn't actually really like any of those fish particularly well...

I understand why you would consider giving it up, but I hope you decide to stay with it at least a little.
 
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I wouldn't get rid of things completely because some of these issues are just part of starting a new tank and they won't be better when you return. Downsizing might be a better choice though. It sounds like you're going through a lot.

I tried keeping 5 tanks at one point, and it worked for a couple years, but it just became too much on top of everything else. I now only have one tank and it is soooo much easier to keep up with. It was really hard to part with the fish in the other tanks, but I wasn't caring for them as best I could because I was too busy, and they were not self sufficient. It wasn't fair to them, so I only kept the tank I liked most. I think it would be best to select your favorites and keep them in one or two tanks. Downsizing is a hard decision, but I think you'll be happier for it.
 
Well, it really depends where you're at in life I guess. It does sound like you're pretty tired of fish tanks right now. I know when I go through disease spurts it really gives me the urge to just stop. I know I'd kick myself a couple weeks later though so I've never done it.

My fish tanks arent a financial drain yet though... I run mine pretty cheaply, I figure I spend about $100 a month on everything including electricity, salt and food. Maybe $125 on a cold month ;) That really isnt bad at all for a hobby I can spend this much time with.

If my tanks ever started making life hard due to $$$ reasons though, I'd drop them like a hot rock, I wouldnt put my wife through "hardship" just so I can have my fish to look at. So I guess it depends how much they are worth to you and how much you value other things in your life. If you're wanting to get back into other hobbies that arent exactly cheap, then I'm going to say you're not really quitting for financial reasons ;)

Make your way out of this sick period and you'll probably be excited again. Do like Chugalug suggested and combine your tanks... cut costs and make maintenance a lot easier. Hell, FOWLR tanks are easy to treat for ich... just throw all your fish in there and hypo the whole thing. Yeah, it's not exactly perfect and you'll kill off most of your inverts, but in the end you've got a low maintenance means to get rid of ich. You'll probably enjoy your tank a lot better too. Sell off your other stuff cheap, just get rid of the "extras" and keep one big nice tank going. You'll probably be a lot happier.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Moving my 75 gallon and all my corals into my 210 was a refresher for me, I was going through some of the same issues with my 75 reef. I decided that putting all of the equipment I own together to make one nice system was the best thing. So far I have been really happy. Another thing that keeps me going is me membership to my local reef club, we get together alot and do tank tours. This keeps me motivated to keep on truckin in this hobby, when you see other people's displays it makes you want to have yours just as nice or nicer.

As far as your angel concern, as long as you know what could hapen to your corals and you can accept that, then I say go for it. I put all my corals in my 210 knowing that only the strong survive and some would not make it. Whatever the angels began to pick on I have sold or fragged out to some of my local reefers in hopes of getting it back again one day. Whatever you decide good luck.
 
I agree with you all, DPS, If you leave youll wish you never did and it will be that much more expensive to start up again. Combine tanks, Like I just did, and just owrry about 1. Alot easier that way. I always want to kick the hobby when things get frustrating, but when it comes down to it, it is a much healtheir habbit to have over boos and drugs! Id work a 3rd job fror my tank, only reason why I setup my $3200.00 new tank alone 300. Becasue of working extra. When you work extra on the side for a hobby and leave your full time job for the bill money it makes you feel better about spending money on the hobby. Just some thought, good luck with the moves either way. I cant stand moves and fishtanks! Horrible mix!
 
Dan, I didn't know you were a car enthusiast. You and I are alot alike man. Although, I don't like the ricers/4-bangers. I currently own a torch red SRT8 charger. Love the heck out of that car. I switched to that one from an 04 COBRA that was dyno'ing 525 to rear wheels, low 11's. I miss the cobra most of all. But to go into detail about this post life changes and we have to adapt. I adapted by keeping a muscle car and getting another muscle car, but with 4 doors when the 2nd child came along last summer. Time is another issue. We all have our breaking points where we just want to throw our hands up and say I give in. I am the perfect example of that. I work a full time job 10-11 hours a day (where I have access to RC, of course :) go to college full time via online classes, make time to do my weight training at least 4 days a week, keep up with my homework every evening, try to find time to spend with my two daughters, who are 5 yrs and the other 7 months old. And then there's my two tanks, which are big chores to keep up as you know. I have a full plate. This is my last semester of school and I can't wait to get it over with. But having all of these things on my plate is what keeps me going. I have thought many times about shutting my tanks down, actually did once and couldn't stand it. Only lasted 3 months before I bought another tank and went at it more vigorous than before. Keep your head up DPS.

BTW - off topic, but for you car enthusiasts you guys need to check out the Polaris RZR S. It's my latest addiction. Most fun I have had in a long time. These things are awesome. Fast, agile and they climb like a billy-goat. Doesn't get much better. Plus you don't have to worry about other idiots on the road trying to kill you.
 
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you need to sit down in front of your tank for a few hours and find yourself.if you cant sit down and enjoy your tank your in the wrong hobby.
 
I always enjoy my tank and except for electricity it doesen't really cost me hardly anything.
The tank is only so large so only so many animals will fit. The fish live forever so I don't really replace them unless I give them away.
My tank is automatic so except for changing water four or five times a year and cleaning the glass with a magnet whenever I walk by. Of course I do feed and hatch brine shrimp but that is part of the hobby and I don't consider it a chore.
One year on my boat costs way more than the 40 years I have had my tank, way more.
I know a lot of people are always testing, changing water, dosing and worrying, then testing again.
I don't test for anything, I don't really dose anything except calcium. If the animals look good and are breeding, they are happy and so am I.
I am going to sit in front of my tank now and enjoy it.
(until the phone rings)
:D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14531830#post14531830 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmccown
I currently own a torch red SRT8 charger.
Click to expand...

You just went up a notch in my book Jason, I love all the SRTs.

Yeah the tanks are a lot of work, but I certainly do enjoy them, particularly the 240. Big tank seems pretty dialed in at this point, just water changes, top offs, feeding, and scraping. Hard to imagine not wanting it, but things can change.
 
Paul B, I am another that never does testing. I try not to worry that much about my tanks. I don't test my reef tank either. I try to keep everything as simple as possible, leaving top-offs, occasional water change, feedings and scraping.

On my first go-round with SW tanks I was testing my water all the time and keeping logs and using medicines in my tank. Not anymore. For the last 2.5 years I have not tested my parameters or used any sort of medicine in my tank, except vitamin soaks for the fish food.


Kirkaz :thumbsup:
 
I find the hobby extremely relaxing- some nights, the SO and I sit in front of the tank keeping our hands busy with little projects or reading and just keep the fish company. Fortunately for me, its his tank, his money, and (usually) his problem. I'm pretty sure that helps.
 
Dont stop DPS. I have been keeping saltwater tanks for about 5 years now. About every year, I find myself unhappy with what I have. I have even thought about just having a small nano tank. But when I sit back and really think about it, I could never be tankless. This hobby has become such a big part of my life that I could not imagine living without it. Yes it has its downsides, and you will experience moments of extreme frustration. But in the end it is a hobby that will be with you for life.

Sit back and rethink your tanks. Sell some stuff and have a fresh start. That is what I did. I had a 240 gallon reef tank about a year ago. I was unhappy with it. I sold it, and started over with a new Elos system. Just doing that totally revamped my feeling towards this hobby.

~Michael
 
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