How many times have you wanted to quit

S

stogie

New member
I have always liked the reef keeping hobby. I have never enjoyed any lasting success though. My Current set-up is my best effort to date. It seems that once I get started something in my life always happens that takes all the fun out of keeping a tank. Currently I am on assignment in Louisianna, help with some telecom rebuild after Katrina. I have been down here for 3 months and every time I come home my tank has something wrong with it. I lost my aqua controller and fish to the lightning storms that cuased power outages all over chicago land a couple of months ago. I have lost my desire to keep this tank going, and I have really just begun. I was just wondering if this happens to other people also?
BTW...My current set up is a 120 in wall with a maintance room in the rear. I have 75g sump. Right now I have just a couple of coral in this tank. A Monti Cap is growing well and a Red brain coral seems is surviving but have not seen any real growth.
Sorry for the sob story.....I just needed to vent
 
I've felt like it a few times but I've been doing this for around 12-13yrs now. I just can't seem to quit. If you need help, let us know.

Hang in there, it's worth it!
 
Never!
I had my tank set up for years and never had a problem,
I read about all these water test, high this low that, my tank was loaded with sps & lps about a dozen fish. All i had was a good skimmer and water changes every week of 10% and a good clean up crew.
I used 3 types of salt and made my own food.
It was too easy, not compared to all these problems i read here.
 
Hello stogie
In 30 years of marine aquariums, I had that thought once!
Check this forum for "Black Tuesday"!
Hang in there, it will get easier...
 
I had it during disastrous month setting up my current system. But if I were away more than here, it would be hard to keep up that's for sure. This isn't a hobby that tolerates long absence very well! Do you have a tanksitter while away???
 
I think a lot of people go wrong by getting in over their heads. Lets say you are looking at setting up a 200 gallon SPS system. If you don't know you will have the dedication to test parameters, do water changes, dose, ect - then set up something that fits your "long term" level of ambition. Another factor is budget, things like replacing halides and a huge electric bill may get old after a while. That is why I will be a fowlr guy for life. If I go out of town, non fish keepers can feed the tank. And, the costs are very reasonable: 20% water change a month, no real fancy equipment is needed and only about $20 a month for electricity.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8121111#post8121111 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BOTR
I've only ever wanted to quit once............
Click to expand...


You ready to get back in yet? I got your hook-up.


Go ahead man, it's just a monti digi, nothing too serious. Go on try it, you'll like it. Just come on back when you want some more.... - conversation overheard on a shady streetcorner near BOTRs house. :smokin:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8118290#post8118290 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Name That Tune
Never!
I had my tank set up for years and never had a problem,
I read about all these water test, high this low that, my tank was loaded with sps & lps about a dozen fish. All i had was a good skimmer and water changes every week of 10% and a good clean up crew.
I used 3 types of salt and made my own food.
It was too easy, not compared to all these problems i read here.
Click to expand...

Put down the bong, take a shower, change your clothes, get a job, move out of your mother's basement and stop fantasizing about that reef tank you always wanted. YOU REALLY DONT HAVE AN AQUARIUM AND CINDY CRAWFORD IS NOT YOUR GIRLFRIEND (I moved her out of Rod's and she now lives in MY closet!).



:frog:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8119167#post8119167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jmicky41
I think a lot of people go wrong by getting in over their heads. Lets say you are looking at setting up a 200 gallon SPS system. If you don't know you will have the dedication to test parameters, do water changes, dose, ect - then set up something that fits your "long term" level of ambition. Another factor is budget, things like replacing halides and a huge electric bill may get old after a while. That is why I will be a fowlr guy for life. If I go out of town, non fish keepers can feed the tank. And, the costs are very reasonable: 20% water change a month, no real fancy equipment is needed and only about $20 a month for electricity.
Click to expand...


I agree with you BUT....

If your a newbie, how do you estimate the commitment your getting involved in? I asked many many people and got opinions from "its not as bad as everyone says it is" to "quit your day job."

I've almost packed it in about three times. I mean actually seriously contemplated it three times. The challange has not been the up keep or daily committment, its the fustration of the UNPLANNED episodes; pumps dying, bulkheads leaking, heating/cooling issues, home electrical limitations, unavailable equipment at the hardware store, coral/fish death for no known cause, inaccurate test kits, equipment repairs, micro bubbles, algae outbreaks, ich, removing non-compatable fish, aptasia, majanos, and my wife's endless reminders of how the tank could of paid for a larger anniversary ring!

I'm not a dedicated reefer, I'm a masochist!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8122509#post8122509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Edward Smith
Put down the bong, take a shower, change your clothes, get a job, move out of your mother's basement and stop fantasizing about that reef tank you always wanted. YOU REALLY DONT HAVE AN AQUARIUM AND CINDY CRAWFORD IS NOT YOUR GIRLFRIEND (I moved her out of Rod's and she now lives in MY closet!).



:frog:
Click to expand...

LOL, Ed know one puts words together has nice as you.
Larry:lol:
 
I was seriously considering quitting myself recently. My husband talked me out of it, but I am still on the fence.

Cyano outbreak , nippers which I cant catch, skimmer and plumbing problems, making randy's 2 part , scraping coraline, dosing and topping off daily..
 
we have all been there. just think of the end reward. keep your chin up and ask for help if you need it. we have all been there and know the stresses that come with having this living art.
i was right there with you in wanting to throw in the towel earlier this summer with the high temps in the tank. adding the hugh expense of a chiller kept me on board and the addiction lives on!!hahahaha :)
 
That's why I'm staying away from SPS. Too many additions to the system, too many variables. I'm really happy w/my tank the way it is--just need more room! I hope I'm not making a mistake adding a sump & fuge to my upgrade...
 
I quit about 5 years ago b/c when I was away on a long weekend my fuse blew and my tank dropped to 65 deg. It was really hard seeing thousands of dollars going down the drain, even worse was the time and effort that was spent. Then a couple years ago I took up diving and I rembered just what I was missing. Now that I'm back i don't think I'll ever get out of it again.
 
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