Saying goodbye to my reef

[Phillybean]

I had a 33 gallon planted Convict tank. I spent less then 5 hours a month on it. I didn't have a proper set up, so only a few kinds of plants really grew for me. They really took off though.

Daily:
Top Off
Feeding

Weekly:
Trimming
Glass Cleaning
Cleaning Filter Intake

Monthly:
Water change
Clean Filter / Change media

 

[stevedola]

if it were me id rather just break down everything and hold on to the equip for future use and sell everything else. take the money you make and put it in a cookie jar for 2-3-4 yrs down the road for a reef tank when youre life is less complicated. maybe every week throw a buck or 2 in that jar and then when life allows you have everything you need to set up a beautiful reef. Ive always said that if my tank crashes or the unforseen occurs I wont downgrade. Just my thoughts...Id rather not be reminded of whatever problems everytime I look at a tank that isnt what I truely want.

 

[mcdonous]

I would just get rid of the three cats.

I love my freshwater tank as much as my reef but it tanks almost no maintence in comparison. I do like your suggested freshwater fish though some of my favorites.

Goodluck.

 

[tufacody]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13462504#post13462504 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ang_99
i hear you AC. Lets face it, reef tanks take a lot of work and time.

You'll probably feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

You know, this quote kinda hit home, but for the opposite reason the poster intended.

We recently lost our dog of 15 years. The last year has been especially tough. He lost use of his legs, we had to carry him everywhere, and he started making mistakes in the house.

Before we decided to put him to rest I wondered if a burden would be lifted. And yes, in some ways it was. But the hole he left was immense. I quickly realized that even in his later years he added more to the equation then he took from it.

That got me started thinking about a lot of my "burdens". My kids, my clients... and my tank. I realized that taking care of things in this world is what gives life a lot of meaning. Hard to take pride in things that you don't work for.

We can't do it all, and choices have to be made, especially with kids. I too quit the hobby for 7 years to have kids. But I also came to realize that everything we love has a certain burden, but the lack of this burden, surprisingly, does not always make life easier.

 

[spleen93]

Wow, this thread has taken a sudden turn for the existential.

But tufacody has a good point ... if you love it enough, any burden is bearable. I'd like to throttle my kids some times but it's a burden I can't imagine not bearing.