Why do people quit this hobby?

Down here Mother Nature just caused a large number to get out. I see great numbers in the local forums. It was called Hurricane Ike. I was one of the lucky ones our tank survived (co-op tank with my son) in his house 10ft in the air on six inch I-beam.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14024653#post14024653 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Squidward5
Upset & jealous girlfriends pouring cleaning agents in your tank, I lost a 45g frag tank due to a bottle of 409 :(
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Thats just crazy I would be so :mad2:
 
I would say a temporary reason would be moving. I'm avoiding taking down my tank but I know in a few months if I make it to the city I want to live in I'll have to restart the hobby mostly from scratch. Hopefully my LFS will rent me some tank space for one or two keepers I have.

However, that makes me feel I have the bug even more because I want to have a bigger, grander tank done right, drilled, not ghetto with tubes and overflows and crazy things sticking out. Ahh *dreams* it shall be wonderful :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14028119#post14028119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dc
One thing I have noticed is that a lot come back to it after a few years away.
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:wave:
 
I have pondered getting out for the last 2 months then my wife said to go get the 180 I have been wanting so I did I am going to tear down my old system and cook all the rock try to save corals that I can.

I just about gave up because of a little pest called majonos I hate them with a passion I have a awesome tank I just cant get rid of them they are in my sump system and all 4 of my tanks I will probably not be adding anything from any of my tanks in my new one just for the fear of one little badword thing that spreads like wild fire.
 
This is the main reason I do not quit. I just discovered these eggs laid by these gobies. They have been spawning for a couple of years but I could never get a good look at the eggs. This is in the back of the tank next to a wall, so I had to crawl under the tank with a camera and magnifying glass because there was not enough room. Yes I know they are blurry. Make believe they are clear like a page from National Geographic. :D
Gobieggs026.jpg



http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/13094Gobi_025.JPG
13094Gobi_025.JPG
 
True reefers never quit the hobby, they just take a hiatus. Whether it's a move, kids, work,etc., every reefer worth their salt knows he or she will be back. Anyone who uses the economy as an excuse is just kidding themselves and probably shouldn't have been in this expensive hobby in the first place.
 
TOTM status is great but I just don't see anyone quitting because they receive the honor.

OTOH I see lots of people leave reefkeeping because they can't learn how to control nuisance algae.
 
True reefers never quit the hobby, they just take a hiatus. Whether it's a move, kids, work,etc., every reefer worth their salt knows he or she will be back. Anyone who uses the economy as an excuse is just kidding themselves and probably shouldn't have been in this expensive hobby in the first place.
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I have had a tank continousely since about 1950. Of course I was two years old then. I am sure I had a tank before that but I can't seem to remember.
I have never lived not even one day without a fish tank of some type.
I don't think you could get any more true reefed out than me. I hope I don't start to smell like a fish :D
Actually as a kid I probably did. My Dad owned a fish market and I would play with the dead fish after school.
No wonder kids stayed away from me :confused:
 
I think it really depends on why you got in to it in the first place. Some people are very competitive and I imagine a few of the TOTM winners had a crud load of money and figured 'I can win that' -- and then the 'chore' becomes all that is left

Others just have logistical problems (kids, weather, financial woes)

Some think way too big. A big tank has BIG responsibilities.

Some think too fast, or think that money/tech will solve everything.

The rest remain in the long run.

:)
 
Selling a system after years of being in the making is like when a race dog catches the rabbit. If the race dog catches that rabbit it will never race again because he realizes it's fake. Well when a reefer fills their tank and there is no room for expansion they have caught their rabbit. That is the way i'm looking at it now that I have recently put my tank up for sale. I need to take a break and later down the road get a new rabbit to work towards catching again. (new tank to work on metaphorically speaking).
 
I have had a SW tank up, one way or another, for 15 -16 years. I was very happy with my old 240 set up that was so mature and stable there wasn't much to do other than change bulbs and add water. Unfortunately, I had to move 2 years ago. It broke my heart to tear the tank down and give most of the inhabitants to a friend. However, he bought me a new 240 and stand to set up at my new location. It has been hard to restart because of several moves, but things are now going well (except for algae).

I tell my story, because my heart and sole rests with the ocean, be it reefing, snorkeling, or fishing. I can't get away from it and the passion, I hope, will always be there.

TOTMs are stunning, but I am not sure how long the TOTMs have been set up. Perhaps TOTMs should only be tanks that have been set up for 5 years or more be TOTMs. That way, we all can learn from long term success.

I have a friend who had a TOTM about 10 years ago. I have elarned a lot from him, but his tank had an accident many years ago. It is no longer up. The key to long term success, IMO, is keeping it simple with redundancies for temp and flow to prevent a crash. Avoid top off accidents and kalk accidents as well, and you have a system that will not fail suddenly.
 
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My problem was lack of patience. I used to have a 75g and 110g. I wanted to fill the 75 and buy new stuff every week without regard to what I was putting in and I spent so much time chasing, spending and working on the tank that it became a 'job'. The 110 was a predator tank and I couldn't keep up with the tank from algae to lighting to water to you name it.

Now three years removed I am starting S L O W L Y. Taking my time with a 47g, I know what I want and I have the patience of a snail.

It will be a different go this round.
 
Perhaps TOTMs should only be tanks that have been set up for 5 years or more be TOTMs. That way, we all can learn from long term success.
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I think it should be 30 years or more :lol:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14029350#post14029350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
I think it should be 30 years or more :lol:
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LOL!! But you get my vote to be the next tank of the month.:) Longevity and stability should be considered in the selection more than it has in the past.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14027840#post14027840 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
I don't think it costs me $200.00 a year, not counting electricity. It is expensive to start but after you have all your rock, lights and pumps, and corals, what else is there?
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There lies my problem.
Once I get my tank setup the way I want it. I want a new project. Either more equipment, another tank, or just want to replace it with a bigger one.

I think what will put me out is when I start getting lazy, and my tank goes down hill fast.
 
Plus one for: Time, Money, and Jealious Girl Friends.

They get upset when you spend more time on your tank than say... anything with them. :)
 
Money, time, a newborn kid, building a major addition on the house & redoing the whole house
My 125g tank is still running
But I haven't bought anything new for it in over 3 years
I only have 3 fish in it
In about 3 years a new tank will go in the addition
The tank will be viewable fron the addition & new sunroom I built last year



The tank will go in this opening
High up in the sunroom, but low in the new Great room

Before2.jpg
 
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