The stages in the life of a reef tank

[Paul B]

Yes, I do that all the time, but just to avert boredom or install some new rocks I built and take out others. This is not a stagnant hobby like stamp collecting, it is an ongoing adventure and not meant to sit there like a painting. I enjoy removing rocks, stirring up the gravel, breaking out the diatom filter, looking at all the bristle worms I find and sometimes locating a fish that I thought bit the dust months ago even if it means breaking some corals.

I think in the 42 years I removed all of the rocks 3 times and it was fun. I can't wait to do it again as I have some Ideas that will require me to do that. But I will put everything back in as it has never crashed. The reverse UG filter almost guarantees that it won't crash but I like to keep that a secret. :dance:

I love this

 

[Misled]

Like Paul, my stuff has never been changed because of a crash. A couple times it was because of the WF, (wife factor). Others because I'm tired of what I see. I'm an engineer by trade. I live for the planning, designing, building. I like DIY and will go out of my way to do things most don't want to put time into. I spent two years planning and building what's here now. You can see that in my blog. Over the last 30 years I've probably had 6 or 7 different tanks and I built every stand and lighting set up. It's part of what makes it fun for me.

It's also time for a new design for the living roon. The set up matches what I have now. I did find the new tank. It scares me because GlassCages is the only place I've seen it. They call it a 95 3 wide rimless. It's 36x24x24. I also know how the new floating lights will look, and yes, I'll go LEDs.

 

[Palting]

I don't think "Tank Crash" is a stage in the life of a reef tank. It certainly is not something anyone expects or looks forward to, it is something everyone hopes to avoid, and as Paul and Jesse have proven, it something that is NOT inevitable. (Sorry for the double negative)

Maybe we should rename stage 7.
Stage 7. The stage of options.
1. The PaulB option. Rebuild, rearrange, renew, just because it's fun.
2. The Jesse (Misled) option. Plan, design and construct a new tank system, then take down the good old one. Also just because it's fun.
3. The Palting option. Heck, I ain't messing with a good thing! I can dream of the next one, though, secretly. Shhhhhhhh....

LOL!

 

[Misled]

Paul, I sold my diatom filter a while back, but I think the tank hangers are still hanging on the cage in my shop!!!

 

[Paul B]

I had 6 or 7 of them and the one I have now is made of parts from all of them.
It to is on it's last legs and I will have to build a new one from scratch soon as my tank depends on a diatom at least once a year.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

This was a really fun read. Thanks guys!

 

[tzylak]

Too funny!!
I am surprised that no one has suggested to turn this into a STICKY for the newcomers. All of the 9 stages of reefing (or otherwise) are true to life and most can relate to in one way or another.
It is a refreshing way of presenting the hobby as something more than collecting baseball cards and no less demanding than a relationship.
OK. I propose to make a STICKY out of this. . . . . As a counterpart to the "YOU WILL FAIL AT REEFKEEPING IF YOU DO THIS. . . . . " that was presented last week.

-Just my $.02

 

[Sosee]

Stage 9: divorce stage. Results from the realization by my wife that the term "my precious" is not a term of endearment for her but rather it is now for my aquarium. [emoji14]

 

[Mark426]

1. Anticipation
2. Satisfaction
3. Despair

 

[Nano sapiens]

I've run mid sized reef tanks for decades (though not quite as long as Paul ). Getting the setup and composition right is a challenge, but after seeing the more-or-less static scene of a mature tank for a few years it can get a bit 'old', perhaps.

A bit tongue-and-cheek, it has been suggested to set up a nano tank to freshen up the reef keeping experience. That's actually a great idea and provides a different type of challenge since the attempt to keep one running optimally for many years is fulfilling in and of itself. The close-up perspective one gets of the marine life is quite different than the large panoramic view of a mid to large tank, that's for sure.

 

[kkittredge]

Cash advance stage
Short term loan stage
Cash out refi stage
Bankruptcy stage