Mark's 180 Starfire upgrade

[Underwaterparadise]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15379816#post15379816 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
What happened Rob

I'm done with the store bro. too much work and taking too much of my family time. I missed a lot of things with my 6 year old son the past 2 years(karate Tourney's, school plays, etc) and I don't plan on doing the same with my new boy. The rewards do not out weigh the amount of time and effort put into it, not too mention how soured I am now on the business side of the hobby.

I'm going to step back and enjoy being a hobbiest again. My tank has never looked better and I want to enjoy it and the family!! Took my first camping trip in 2 years last week and it was great!!!

 

[mpoletti]

Rob, thats great to hear about the family. Congrats

As for the store, its totally understandable and I could only imagine what it really took to keep the doors open. Watching what you and John have gone through really kept things in perspective. I still go overboard as a hobbyist as I have been burnt out for awhile. When I heard that Karl was breaking down his tank, my reaction was a bit of jealousy. As Emma keeps getting older and the tank just sits there, its a slow ticking clock. I have been dreaming more and more of just a few corals and a couple new angels

Oh well, Best of luck Rob

 

[Underwaterparadise]

WOW I had no idea Karl was getting out. I have seen sooooo many people leave the hobby in the past 6-8 months it is sad.

I still enjoy the hobby and will be keeping my tank but now I will have more time with the family and more time to go fishing....................my other favorite thing to do

The older I get the more I realize how important that family time is.

TTYS
Rob

 

[mpoletti]

Yep. Livestock and tank was removed last week

As the tank gets more and more of a chore, it makes Tim's tank even more amazing. To see people have the same tank up and thriving for that long is amazing.

Alot of what goes on in my head may be just the summertime blues, but whats sad is that we are taking a family vacation around a fish conference. Something is really wrong with that and its something that I have been taking a closer look at. Yes, its great that Emma enjoys the hobby and loves her tank, but the importance of the hobby is moving further and further down the list. I guess that is what being a parent is partly about.

 

[Dejavu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15379964#post15379964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
but the importance of the hobby is moving further and further down the list. I guess that is what being a parent is partly about.

Amen! I'm glad that I'm not the only one how is thinking that way. There is still time for the tank but alot of the other hobby related thing I use to do are on the back burn until the kids get older.

Just sit back an enjoy the tank and kid(s). :thumbsup:

 

[mpoletti]

So true Brian. With everything that happened last fall, I had the chance to get out, but I decided to fight the good fight. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like not to worry about all the things we do Like so many other things in my life, I try to keep at it one day at a time, so for today, The tank is alive and kicking

 

[Dejavu]

It's not all that... I havn't had a tank in three or four months. While that breaks been nice and I truly didn't miss my tank. I thought I might not get in after losing all my fish and most of my corals. Now I have an empty hole in my life now.

I still go back and forth about it, but in at the end of the day I find myself here... read and posting. Most of all knowing that I still want to fight the fight. Maybe not as hard or all in but I still have it in me. I'm sure it so of summer and a little of the hobby.

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15380763#post15380763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dejavu
I thought I might not get in after losing all my fish and most of my corals.

Wait a second, did I miss something here

 

[Tony Romano]

Ditto...

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15379964#post15379964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
...the importance of the hobby is moving further and further down the list. I guess that is what being a parent is partly about.

I don't want to ever look back and say, "œI should have spent more time with the kids (family)." Although I love this hobby, family is the most important thing and if need be, I can live vicariously through fantastic tanks like yours. Right now I find that I can spend time doing both while getting the kids involved but if I had an incident (knock on wood) and had to rebuild that would be a tough road to cross as it's the initial start-up that I found most time consuming.

 

[mpoletti]

 

[Dejavu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15380814#post15380814 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
Wait a second, did I miss something here

I haven't talked about it much but the move was not friendly to me, the fish or the corals. I have one fish left and corals loss are high. I'll get into detail as I get closer to getting new fish.

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15383439#post15383439 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dejavu
I haven't talked about it much but the move was not friendly to me, the fish or the corals. I have one fish left and corals loss are high. I'll get into detail as I get closer to getting new fish.

Wow Brian. I'm sorry to hear about the losses I guess I will have to send a little bigger box than I originaly thought

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15383663#post15383663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
Wow Brian. I'm sorry to hear about the losses I guess I will have to send a little bigger box than I originaly thought

I always have extra "accidental" frags I could donate to the new tank.
I dont think Brian is that far from my home. It would at least give him an incentive to drive down and check out the system.

Hang in there buddy!

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15384041#post15384041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
I always have extra "accidental" frags I could donate to the new tank.
I dont think Brian is that far from my home. It would at least give him an incentive to drive down and check out the system.

Hang in there buddy!

I'm on my way

 

[mpoletti]

 

[SunnyX]

Mark, your tank is looking sweeeeeeeeeet!

The colors on your fish complement and contrast perfectly with you corals!

Great stuff! :thumbsup:

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15384178#post15384178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
Mark, your tank is looking sweeeeeeeeeet!

The colors on your fish complement and contrast perfectly with you corals!

Great stuff! :thumbsup:

Thanks Sonny. I am way more into colors than growth these days

 

[GlassReef]

Gorgeous pic, Mark. I am sooo jealous of your colors! You have definitely got a wet thumb ...

 

[mpoletti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15384411#post15384411 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
Gorgeous pic, Mark. I am sooo jealous of your colors! You have definitely got a wet thumb ...

Thanks Tom, I have always been more into colors than growth. Growth just leads to tougher decisions down the road