does it ever end?

[jacksonpt]

Maybe it's my nature to constantly tinker and tweak things. Or maybe its because I'm still, relatively speaking, new to the hobby. Or maybe it's just the way this hobby is.

Do you ever get to the point where you're happy with things? Sure, there will probably always be that one coral or that one fish that you long for, but at some point, do you get to where you are done adding/redoing/upgrading?

Would I like a bigger tank? Sure, who wouldn't? But all in all, I like what I've got. It's not the best footprint in the world, but it works well for my house and has enough room for a couple of neat fish and a good variety of corals. Maintenance is easy and it doesn't cost a ton to run.

And all in all I'm happy with my livestock, too. Sure, I'd like a bit more color, a bit more movement, and for the corals to grow in some more, but I'm not chomping at the bit to add anything.

But I'm always thinking about ways to reaquascape, ways to improve the flow, redoing the plumbing, overhauling my sump, reskinning my stand/hood, changing the lighting, etc. Is it me, or is that the nature of the hobby? Or maybe the hobby draws people like me... tinkerers who are never quite satisfied?

So I'm curious...
1) How long have you been in the hobby?
2) How long have your current tank(s) been running?
3) On a scale of 1-10, how "done" are they?
4) In your opinion, is a tank ever really done?

 

[wetbehindears]

1-three years in salt 4 in fresh
2-half a year-2 years and 1 year
3-not done
4-never done

 

[Mandragen]

1- a year in salt
2-4 months current tank
3-nope
4-nope

I think you are on to something, as most of us realize, it's the nature of the hobby and although sometimes you can be content you are never really settled. If you are settled then most likely you would get tired of doing maintainance, and consider that a pain, which would lead to getting out of the hobby. Whether it attracts people with that sort of behavior, or simply that's the nature of the hobby, well that's argueable. I would say I'm a perfectionist

 

[titoav15]

1) 2 year reef, 5+ fish
2) 5+ years
3) not sure
4) never
thats why i love it, there is always something to add or to do!

 

[naprestsleep]

1) 3 yrs
2) 2 yrs
3) 90% done on current tank, next tank is in the "pre planning" stage
4) A reef tank is a living creature, I think as things grow, multiply, die, etc, its always going to be changing a bit. There is always something we want to add/change. Plus there seem to be new tools, methods and ideas always coming out that hobbyist are applying to their tanks.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

over 17 years keeping reef aquaria now.

IMO/IME if you're a perfectionist you won't last over 5-6 years.

I wouldn't call myself a tinkerer.

I don't believe many reef aquarist's desire to try and shape the direction of their aquarium ever "ends" because (even) if you're able to succesfully grow corals (which is the main goal IMO) you'll need to trim them. Much like a successful garden, (or healthy wild coral reef), everything growing in a reef aquarium (and especially the watery environment inside the glass box) is constantly in flux. Ever changing. The need for making adjustments is therefore a necessity. This causes a need to "tinker"- whether you like it or not.

Somebody once likened it this way:

You can't have a successful kid without changing their diapers

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

8 years
current tank 7 years, almost 2 years since I last had to put its wheels back on.
Other than adding Zoa this tank is full, but everyday I wonder if one coral should be moved and where, and if I do that where will I place the coral it evicts. I haven't gotten to the point of needing to get rid of one thing to add something else and won't with this tank because the time and opportunity to expand came up. While excited it does make me hesitant as I won't experience a fully grown out tank for a while now. To be a lifer means handling a lot of ups and downs. If gardening were as easy as going out and buying a bunch of plants, throwing dirt over them, and every year after grows a beautiful garden, everyone would be a gardener; the same is with reef keeping. I've seen perfectionists and designers come up with incredible looking displays that become totms in no time, yet are unsustainable and shortly after are torn down for something else. Its ok to tinker and add things, even necessary, but remember only bad things happen fast, and a good deal of patients and foresight goes a long ways.

 

[dreaminmel]

1) almost 11
2) couple months
3) tossing a 5 here... looks fine but room for tweaking
4) Not imo/ime

 

[Kent E]

in for 9 years

tank is 3 years

I've redone the whole tank in that 3 years.

There's just no "done" in reefkeeping.

 

[cardiffgiant]

So I'm curious...
1) How long have you been in the hobby?
5 years fresh water african cichlids
5 years FOWLR
4 years reef

2) How long have your current tank(s) been running?
1 system. I've had my current 90 for 18 months, but I moved 6 months ago and added a basement sump at the new house.

3) On a scale of 1-10, how "done" are they?
7.5

4) In your opinion, is a tank ever really done?
This is the happiest that I've ever been with a system. Ever since I switched to the basement sump I've just been so happy with the way that the corals have responded.

That being said, I don't think that I'll ever be done. Here's a breakdown of some key areas of focus:
-I'm totally content with the size of my 90g display
-I expect that my tastes for my aquascape will evolve. Right now I like a very open two island approach, I might feel differently at some point.
-Corals: I started out into LPS and softies, got really into SPS for a while, and now my mixed reef has emphasis on zoas and SPS. Who know's how I'll feel later down the road?
-Expense: I'm always looking for a lower cost or more efficient way to do things.
-Supplements: Always looking for a better proven method to supplement my tank.
-Plumbing: I'm not thrilled with my plumbing now. I'd like to do some flex pvc and would like to consider some flow accelerators for my loc line returns.
-Flow: I'm ok with what I have going on now, but I'm always looking for a better way.
Lighting. I've been happy with T5, but I would like to switch to a hanging fixture and I've done put in a lot of reading and consideration for both LED and MH.
-Tank inhabitants. I have algae work horses and proven non-coral eaters. I'd love to add a hardy, reef safe, aptasia eater (who wouldn't?).

 

[amazo]

1-10 months salt 25 or more fresh (i've had fresh as long as i can remember) 2-10 months 3- 7 4-fresh water yes pretty much what you put in is all you get you want to control your alegae and keep your fish healthy salt on the other hand it is always in flux you put a rock in and crazy stuff crawls out and grows on it(live rock is like a box of chocolate...) you want to stop some stuff from spreading and to boost others(saltwater is some much more hands on I don't even have fresh water except for in my 90gal garden pond because its just not as exciting) I could use some better lighting and plumbing and of course i have to have a bigger tank I have the perfect place for 100gal or bigger.(i don't think i'll ever be happy)As for my current tank inhabitants my 55 gal is perfect the right bio load,and balance,i have great tank movement(everywhere you look there is something to see)Could use more coral but i'm doning mostly non-photo right now(better lighting is needed) and they are not the easiest to find.

 

[aquadonkey]

Does anything ever end?