Palting
New member
I've been pondering this the last several weeks, so I thought I'd post my thoughts. This is in no way a treatise with expertise, these are just thoughts from a hobbyist.
Stage 1: The planning. This is when the idea first gets to you and then takes hold of you. This is the start of the obsession. This is your last chance to avoid the calamity known as reef keeping. You look at reef tanks, look up equipment, research multiple topics, then make a budget. I'm telling you all right now, the budget is nothing but an illusion, the evil siren that calls you in, then devours you
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Stage 2: The set-up. You've purchased the equipment, and now set things up. This involves mostly technical stuff, mechanics, carpentry, plumbing. All that planning finally being put to use. You want to rush, but know you shouldn't.
Stage 3: The start. This is a very, busy, often chaotic stage. It involves the cycling and maturation of the tank. You seem to be juggling a million and one things all at the same time. Is the cycle done? Do I add more fish? What fish? What Coral? Will these darn blooms ever get done? What the heck is this? The rockscape sucks. Should I do something about ______ (insert favorite pet peeve)?
Stage 4. The honeymoon. Finally, after several months, the tank settles down. You cannot seem to do anything wrong. All the fish are thriving, all the coral are growing, your parameters are all stable as a rock and unshakeable. The tank is invincible! If you are lucky, this stage can last a long while.
Stage 5. The stage of entropy. Your tank is now older, your equipment is now older, the demands of the tank are increasing and changing. If anything can go wrong, it will. Pumps break down, skimmers quit skimming, light bulbs bust, heaters get stuck on, parameters go awry...........This stage can sneak up on you, what with that heavenly honeymoon period that preceded it. You are running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, never seeming to catch up to the endless things that are going wrong.
Stage 6. The long haul. At this point, you have settled into a routine. You can predict what can happen, and have a regular maintenance schedule that will avert any disasters. You have settled on dosing regimens, water changes, etc. Not quite as bulletproof as the honeymoon stage, but almost there with significantly more work and equipment. All the fish are mature and healthy and cannot add more fish. The coral all grown with no more space for new ones, and the reef is now more like a bonsai garden, where you keep trimming things down to satisfy an certain aesthetic look you are going for.
Stage 7. ?? I'm not there yet, My tank is just reaching the 4 year old mark and in the long hail stage. Maybe some of the reefers here with older tanks can chime in.
Stage 1: The planning. This is when the idea first gets to you and then takes hold of you. This is the start of the obsession. This is your last chance to avoid the calamity known as reef keeping. You look at reef tanks, look up equipment, research multiple topics, then make a budget. I'm telling you all right now, the budget is nothing but an illusion, the evil siren that calls you in, then devours you
.Stage 2: The set-up. You've purchased the equipment, and now set things up. This involves mostly technical stuff, mechanics, carpentry, plumbing. All that planning finally being put to use. You want to rush, but know you shouldn't.
Stage 3: The start. This is a very, busy, often chaotic stage. It involves the cycling and maturation of the tank. You seem to be juggling a million and one things all at the same time. Is the cycle done? Do I add more fish? What fish? What Coral? Will these darn blooms ever get done? What the heck is this? The rockscape sucks. Should I do something about ______ (insert favorite pet peeve)?
Stage 4. The honeymoon. Finally, after several months, the tank settles down. You cannot seem to do anything wrong. All the fish are thriving, all the coral are growing, your parameters are all stable as a rock and unshakeable. The tank is invincible! If you are lucky, this stage can last a long while.
Stage 5. The stage of entropy. Your tank is now older, your equipment is now older, the demands of the tank are increasing and changing. If anything can go wrong, it will. Pumps break down, skimmers quit skimming, light bulbs bust, heaters get stuck on, parameters go awry...........This stage can sneak up on you, what with that heavenly honeymoon period that preceded it. You are running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, never seeming to catch up to the endless things that are going wrong.
Stage 6. The long haul. At this point, you have settled into a routine. You can predict what can happen, and have a regular maintenance schedule that will avert any disasters. You have settled on dosing regimens, water changes, etc. Not quite as bulletproof as the honeymoon stage, but almost there with significantly more work and equipment. All the fish are mature and healthy and cannot add more fish. The coral all grown with no more space for new ones, and the reef is now more like a bonsai garden, where you keep trimming things down to satisfy an certain aesthetic look you are going for.
Stage 7. ?? I'm not there yet, My tank is just reaching the 4 year old mark and in the long hail stage. Maybe some of the reefers here with older tanks can chime in.
