How often do you feel like throwing in the towel
- Thread starter rogerwilco357
- Start date
I have moved 6 times for my job since 2007 to 3 different states and tried dragging my reef with me. I should have quit but refused to. The reward is I am never moving again and can finally let my tank grow as it should have. I don't believe you will quit, or not for long, once it is in your blood it will always be in your blood.
BigBarnacles
New member
I've never considered "throwing in the towel." I look at every bad experience as something to learn from. It's difficult when you invest so much time and money into something so beautiful and despite your best efforts get negative results. It is, however, to be expected. I mean, we are trying to recreate a small piece of nature in our homes. And not just any small piece of nature. Probably the most highly complexed and misunderstood piece of nature we have on this planet. We often find ourselves questioning why when given perfect water parameters and lighting our fish and/or coral still die. No one person may have the correct answer to that. There's just too many variables. Sorry if I dragged this on but I do have a point. You need to go into this "hobby" understanding that you are attempting to recreate a fragile piece of nature. You need to understand that despite the success many have had there is no guarantee you will always have the same results. And last but not least, enjoy what you have while you have it. This "hobby" will provide you with life and beauty few will get to experience.
psykobowler
New member
I never feel like throwing the towel because I have money and i earn money. Enough money to the point that I can recover from my past mistakes. That and the fact that I actually learned from my mistakes and I know my limits on what livestock my system could support. It also helps to have a few lfs who actually know what they are doing with sps and you know better to stir away from the bad stores who are only in for the buck.
The only thing I noticed bad in this "hobby" is that some people do not have their life priorities straightened out. Those are the people who should throw in the towel for the meantime. I've been to other forums where there are students trying to run a reef in a dorm or an apartment. I remember when I was a college student barely have enough money to buy food for dinner. I had many days with nothing but bean burrito from taco bell and ramen to say the least. Those students should be studying, not staring at an aquarium all day. You can do that when you have a real job and need to relax after the job. Plus, you are moving after 4 years so I feel bad for the livestock you purchased knowing nothing in your current life is stable.
If you look at the big picture, those with killer systems have stable income. Good enough to support their life and their aquarium. This is no disrespect to the reefkeeper skill, whether you are wealthy or not. My only point that I would like to make is that if you can't support the hobby then don't do it in the first place or throw in the towel while it's early. Every reefer I know has had problems with their reef. It is those that can recover from their disaster that end up with the hobby for long.
The only thing I noticed bad in this "hobby" is that some people do not have their life priorities straightened out. Those are the people who should throw in the towel for the meantime. I've been to other forums where there are students trying to run a reef in a dorm or an apartment. I remember when I was a college student barely have enough money to buy food for dinner. I had many days with nothing but bean burrito from taco bell and ramen to say the least. Those students should be studying, not staring at an aquarium all day. You can do that when you have a real job and need to relax after the job. Plus, you are moving after 4 years so I feel bad for the livestock you purchased knowing nothing in your current life is stable.
If you look at the big picture, those with killer systems have stable income. Good enough to support their life and their aquarium. This is no disrespect to the reefkeeper skill, whether you are wealthy or not. My only point that I would like to make is that if you can't support the hobby then don't do it in the first place or throw in the towel while it's early. Every reefer I know has had problems with their reef. It is those that can recover from their disaster that end up with the hobby for long.
rogerwilco357
Active member
well got the dosers on line and everything is looking better or was looking better till one of my acros the King Tut from Copps was pushed over right onto the Sunset monti and bamm lost the whole Tut again I am getting that feeling no matter what I do there will be losses in this hobby by the way before this I lost my Red tabling acro to major alk swing before the dosers live and learn ..live and learn in the mean time loose expensive acro's.ugh.
TOM BLEVINS
New member
DITTO, I have it going on right now!
tripdad
Frustrated Stick Gardener
It's kinda like golf for me, most days I want to wrap the club around a tree and then it happens...... I hit that sucker right on the sweet spot and it goes straight and true.... the comeback shot, yeah! Kinda like when you get that acro to turn the most amazing colors, three or four, and it actually GROWS! For me the toughest part is the amazing BROWN corals I grow sometimes, LOL.
TucanSam007
New member
This right here I couldn't agree more with. I'm 25 right now. I've always had fishtanks since the day 1 of my memory. Those tanks varied with my income and time I could dedicate to the hobby. Highschool was freshwater planted tanks, college was a betta fish, when I graduated I went to more advanced planted tanks with co2 and the such while working in a greenhouse making little money. Now that I have income to spend I can dedicate time to a reef which takes constant cash flow. Being single with a reef tank is what I call passion. I have had to choose taking dates to 15cent wings just so I could get the frag I wanted tomorrow. Luckily, when they see the reef tank, it's usually in the bag already :spin1:
You got great point! Income is truly important. Keeping a tank is like having a baby. It needs to be finance and taken care of with stability and guidance. Moreover, you might be disappointed at times when our reefs are young. Once our baby matures we can see it thrive and be proud of it. But i don't think anyone of us can ever throw the tower even tho we though of it. I sometimes think is this leisure or stress because i seem unable to relax after work. I worry about my tank, about corals turning brown and not growing. My fish are not eating, i have trouble sleeping at night. But at the end I can't live without my tank. Great topic guys!
ShaunMonahan
Clam nut
Roger-
Sorry to hear of your losses.
Sometimes we have to take a step back in order to move forward.
From some of your earlier postings, you have an amazing looking tank! When it comes down to it, would you be happy giving this all up?
Tyrenlds
Premium Member
this +1000
I had to break my tank down for financial reasons only 4 months ago. Im back on my feet and got a new job, so now im already ordering parts for a new tank im setting up. The only good thing about a tank breakdown is that usually when you do come back to the hobby you get an even bigger tank :lol2:
confusious
New member
Im with you guys about twice a year usually bit the last months have been really bad for me the power was out for a week so i lost everything i had in my 210 makes me sick to my stomach everytime i think about it so now a have a tank running with just rock and water something i used to be so proud of is so empty just cant decide what to do now
Mock
Saltwater Junkie
I dont think I have ever wanted to throw in the towel. There have been many floods, many heart aches, many times I have turned my back on my tank for a month and just let it go, chemo for 4 months to where I just couldnt do anything and then trouble getting back into a routine but, I always returned even more determined to keep on keeping on.
