To sell or not to sell???

[kdblove_99]

Been pondering hard today about selling all my corals, which isnt that much and just doing a couple fish with several rose Anemones and a mantis shrimp tank.

With baby and working nights it is pretty darn hard keeping up on maintanance/ water changes.

 

[jtarmitage]

I've thought the same thing not all that long ago, but, a SW tank is still a SW tank, and while you can get away with a bit more neglect on a fish tank, you still need to take care of it. And with the anemones and mantis, you won't really save anything. It just seems that the minor reduction in effort wouldn't justify it, unless you have lost interest in corals, and have gotten more interested in the fish.
To me, the question would be more along the lines of 'tank or nothing'. Unfortunately, I can't answer that question for you. The key to my enjoyment in this hobby is sharing it with other people. The more I can do that, the more I enjoy it. Before I found MARS and even RC, I nearly quit because of the young kids, crazy work schedule, and the hobby had become a chore rather than a hobby.
I obviously hope you stay, but can certainly understand your 'pondering'.

 

[kdblove_99]

I wouldnt have to worry about being so diligent on dosing and to me SPS needs alot of attention

 

[jtarmitage]

True, but the anemone's needs aren't far removed from the sps, with the exception of the CA. If the dosing is the main issue, just save up and get a dosing pump. To me, it's the WC's and cleaning the glass that are the biggest pains, which you will still have to deal with.

 

[kdblove_99]

yeah cleaning the glass, dont remind me! has to be the worst. yeah i definetly dont do as many WC as i should and i know in the long run it will be hard to keep up.

I understand your point and it is very valid. maybe i'm kinda burnt out right now on corals? Not sure if thats true though. I just like to change alot, it seems.

I guess at this point a Mantis/RBTA and couple fish seem to be what is striking me!

 

[bored4long]

If you are burnt on corals, then there is nothing more to discuss. If you don't have a bunch invested in your corals, I see no problem with trading or selling them and trying something new. You really wouldn't be out any $$ and could easily get back into them at a later date. But as Jeremy pointed out, this probably won't ease your maintenance schedule.

If you are burnt on the maintenance schedule, then maybe you could explore ways to simplify the maintenance? What about adding a Ca Reactor and AC Jr? Would that make life easier and your tank more enjoyable? If so, it seems like a worthwhile expense. I've heard nothing but praise from people switching to Ca Reactors. If its the water changes you hate so much maybe ask yourself why you perform W/C so often and address that problem (ie if you are doing W/C for high PO4 then add a phosban reactor, or if W/C are because of high NO3 then add a Denitrator or RDSB). Or if its just that you hate W/C then maybe look into setting up some kind of W/C system with plumbing and ball valves to simplify the chore. Unfortunately all of these options require $$ and that part sucks. But IMO, at this point any added equipment is just a drop in the bucket, so no real big deal.

Just trying to point out there are other options than just quitting corals.

 

[BodiBuilt]

kdblove_99
Are you planing to keep the RBTA's and the O.s. (peacock mantis) in the same tank? The BTA would prefere bright lighting which in turn could actually lead to the early demise of the mantis... Just wondering?

 

[Unarce]

Davey,

I do think about just going FO a lot. The thought of a bunch of small Clarions in my tank is so enticing.

Eventually, I chicken out as I know I'll regret it later.

Just get into LPS and zoos. It would be so much easier.

Karl

 

[funman1]

Why is glass cleaning so bad for you guys?
I have a magfloat and it takes me less than 30 seconds to clean my tank glass?

 

[jtarmitage]

Provided you do it frequently enough, then it's all good. But, the coralline on an acrylic tank is a pain, and with my 60g, you do have to deal with the rounded corners which the magnet can't reach, as well as that area near the sand, which you don't dare do with a magnet and an acrylic tank.

 

[funman1]

Yeah that's very true.
I don't have acrylic so I really have no idea what that's like.

 

[JJ4417]

That is why I don't have an acrylic...

 

[matttaylor]

i hate cleaning my glass, but with a 6 foot tank and both sides visible and coated with coraline it's no wonder. Why not go with a softie tank? You can get away with a little bit more neglect, and the view is different than stiff sps. Softies are always moving in the current, i find it relaxing. I never reqret getting rid of my sps and just going with the softies.

 

[jtarmitage]

Good points Matt, and the mantis won't hurt the softies either.

OT: BTW, 2 of the sps I got from you were some of the few that survived my recent ordeal.

 

[kdblove_99]

Yeah cleaning acrylic sucks especially with rounded corners.

I did Softies when i had my 180 set up. I think i'm just going to set up another tank for the Mantis and add some softies in there. I really like SPS the best. SO looks like i will just suck it up and do what i have too

 

[Unarce]

Originally posted by kdblove_99
I really like SPS the best

 

[chem-e]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11792991#post11792991 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kdblove_99
I think i'm just going to set up another tank for the Mantis and add some softies in there. I really like SPS the best. SO looks like i will just suck it up and do what i have too

Did you just double the amount of work you have to do now? I thought the idea was to make things easier. Haha, gotta love this addiction.

 

[kdblove_99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11793124#post11793124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chem-e
Did you just double the amount of work you have to do now? I thought the idea was to make things easier. Haha, gotta love this addiction.

What just happened did i just commit myself to do extra work. :bum:

 

[bored4long]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11792178#post11792178 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jtarmitage
BTW, 2 of the sps I got from you were some of the few that survived my recent ordeal.

That is because if they can survive Matt's tank, they can survive anything!

 

[matttaylor]

Hey, not fair! Although one of them (the nicest one imo) almost died twice in my tank. Both times it fell over into leathers and always managed to recover in short order. The other one (a blue tipped stag) was a fast grower, but never colored up quite as well as it did for Jeremy.