What keeps you in this hobby?

dreaminmel

dreaminmel

New member
So that's the question. What is it that keeps you in it? With all of the challenges and heartaches, what makes it all worth it to you?

I'm sure that there will be many similar answers and yet some a bit different as well. Just looking for some different perspectives. :)
 
It's one of the only hobbies that combines several "technical" fields I'm interested in (plumbing, electronics, chemistry) with an almost indescribable sense of biological wonder. On the one hand, you can obsess over calcium levels, or photoperiod, or whatever. On the other hand, you can sit back and stare in awe. It's a mix of left-brained and right-brained engagement.

Also, it's a great way to have "pets" that aren't domesticated (i.e. they still act somewhat like they do in the wild) and don't require one on one interaction like a dog or cat does.
 
I like the pretty colors and the science. Plus, the look on my son's (20 months old) face when the fish swim by, or when the snails move on the glass. The wonder in his eyes is awesome.
 
Mel for me its the satisfaction of seeing all my hard work starting to payoff. Its a major stress reliever believe it or not and everyone that comes to my house just loves the tank. Especially all the kids. Its great just to see them all look at the tank with that look. And to think my tank isn't even close to some of the really mature tanks I see on here from fellow members. But someday it will be.... Patience young Jedi... :lol:
 
For me a lot of it has to do with a refusal to fail at it. I've had a lot of rough times, mostly due to my own mistakes or poor habits. I WANT to have a beautiful healthy stable reef system in my home and I can't give up on it...Its an unhealthy obsession sometimes. I would call it a 50/50 split between the beauty and the refusal to fail.
 
the fact that I can sit in a chair in front of my tank and just stare forever... it still continues to amaze me
 
I love to watch the corals grow. I have formed some pretty good relationships with other people I have met on here(you being one of them:) ) This hobby can definetly be stressful at times and more than once I wanted to throw in the towel but I would have missed it immensly. This is definetly more than a hobby it's a labour of love......
 
this is a hobby that is as much about the process as the end result
Click to expand...
This has been very true for me. My mom was over one day when I had my hands in the tank and I think she was there for about a half hour before I was done. She mentioned that it seemed like an awful lot of work, but both me and my husband said that I really liked doing the work as well as staring at the tank. There are days when I have no desire to do a thing with it, but they don't happen often and I don't mind when they do.

Like others, I enjoy some of the DIY - simple stuff for me. I also like the familiar and not-so-familiar aspect of it. I'd done freshwater for 12 years before I ventured into salt. It was still a fish tank, but there was soooo much to learn and I really like that - the research. I'm already doing research on a 300ish gallon FOWLR that won't happen for many, many years. :lol:

I like the pretty colors of the fish and corals, the variability in setting up a system - they're are a million ways to make a fish/reef tank succeed, and I've especially appreciated what a fantastic group of people I've joined - friendly, helpful, intelligent - I feel privileged to be a part of it. Sappy, I know, but true.

Wow. That was long! :rollface:
 
1) The reaction my kids have over the tank, it justs makes me smile.
2) I would rather watch my tank than TV sometimes, its just more relaxing.
3) I love when people come over and are amazed and ask a million questions, give me the sense of appreciation.
4) I love seeing what is growing and what is not, then trying to figure out why.

All of these make it worth it. By the way I find my fish only tank not only easier but just as rewarding.
 
As Dave said, its great to see all your hard work payoff. I love looking into the tank and checking things out everyday. Making sure everything is in its place, feeding the fish, cleaning the glass, looking at the coral and believing it looks bigger today than yesterday. :D Checking out my battle wounded watermelon chalice to make sure everything is going ok.

But there is always that little bit of disappointment that goes along with the happiness. I found that my tuxedo urchin had finally died today. Had that little guy for 4 years.
 
so many times...regardless of what else is going on in my life...working on or simply staring at the tanks brings me peace. this could be why i have 4. I've been fascinated with the ocean since the old Jacques Cousteau TV series....it was my dream to have a piece of that in my home one day...i had no idea what i was doing when i initiated myself into this hobby...fortunately, I have been guided by some of the best people in this hobby...and besides my theater family, I believe my reefer family is actually starting to grow a few decent roots...in that, I mean, people who I trust with my tanks and my time, who have become friends...when I think about what would be missing in my life without the tanks, the knowledge, the friends and the time I enjoy doing this...and realize what a gaping hole would be there....THAT'S what keeps me going.

When you can appreciate the significance of the ABSENCE of something, is when you can truly understand why it would be ridiculous to remove it. You can apply that across the board in life, IMHO.
 
i like the design element. placing corals in spots and trying to make art with living creatures. the fish are just an added bonus. i think of what i want my tank to look like and strive to create that. thanks to the URS i have meet some great people and learned so much!
 
Great Topic!

Great Topic!

Like Ryan, I feel that the challenges associated with this hobby really keep me interested. Sometimes it would be easy to throw in the towel and take a break, but knowing that I have living marine creatures thriving under my care is an accomplishment I am pretty proud of and it pushes me to continue.

Additionally, as others mentioned, I feel grateful to have a group of hobbyists WNY that are always willing to help out.
 
The look of the tank is so relaxing, after a long day theres nothing better then a stare at the ocean in my living room for an hour!
 
Solace.

Like right now I just got home from work 13 hr day,its almost 2am.But its quiet and relaxing no saws and hammer drills going. Just sat down like..whew.Not to mention ,I have (and I think its from something in the water around here)3 daughters.LOL.My house on a typical sat night about 13 girl sleepover partys , topics are about BLUE EYE SHADOW and stuff . Not easy being the only guy in the house.But then again I got my tank.
 
Excellent perspectives so far! :thumbsup: Feel free to keep them coming. There is no right or wrong answer to this question.

Solace hit the nail right on the head for me. The other things definately come into play, no doubt. It's just beyond words when the world is being ugly and trying to wrench away every last bit of energy how much of a peaceful and serene feeling settles on me when I just sit down in front of the tank and let everything else fade away. I was aware of the internal affect but never realized how visible it was until someone pointed it out to me last year. It's so much better than Calgon. lol The stubborn streak in me definately makes the challenge of it all the very close 2nd reason though. :rolleyes:

Also, the varying degrees of comraderie among the group can be rewarding. Not everyone can be close friends with everyone, it just doesn't work that way. But the fact that 99.9% of us can all completely understand and relate to the love of reefing and fighting the common battles of hair algae, high phosphates, tank crashes, etc definately opens the door for some excellent friendships. I've certainly found some honest and dependable people I'm happy to have in my life (back at you Henry :) ) and while I don't feel a need to be "best of friends" with everyone, I appreciate that we at least share this particular wavelength in life. :beer:
 
I think most people that stay in the hobby for many years would agree its a life style. Kinda like being a sports fan to a team that doesn't always win.

My personal reasons may be quite a bit different from others here. I literally have never lived without aquariums, ever, since the day my parents brought me home from the hospital. So there is a bit of attachment there :)
 
The ridiculous amount of life! I only started a couple months ago but one of my favorite things is how MUCH is alive in 1 small tank. I was amazed at all the things that I was able to find on only my live rock! Crabs, shrimp, clams, worm, starfish, limpet, plants, PoS Aiptasia, barnacle, urchin (they grow so fast), spiders...not to mention all of the little things I can't put a name on (like a little orange ball with 40 tentacles) and things I probably haven't seen yet.
 
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