Seriously thinking of braking down my tanks and taking a break from reefing

[zhenya]

Hi folks,

Just wanted to share this with you all as I have been posting some in this BB and feel very close to some of you
Like the title said, I'm seriously considering this becouse of the time constraints I have right now and just plain old tiredness I feel. My plans include breaking both tanks down and maybe selling everything and perhaps later, when I feel up to it again I'd start another tank...but only one this time

Here's some latest pics I took just so I'd have them to remember what it looked like Hope you like them and enjoy them as much as I did taking them.

[zhenya]

And some more...

[Ninong]

Gene,

I know how you feel. It can be extremely frustrating to have to deal with issues that you wouldn't have if you had more room, a larger tank, better equipment, no mysterious unidentified red algae from hell, etc. And there is always the urge to start over so that you can avoid the mistakes that you made with your present setup (I'm talking about me, not you).

I know in my own case I have no one to look after my tank, which means I haven't gone anywhere in the past 8 months for more than 12 hours. And it doesn't help if other members of the family are uninterested in the hobby and therefore unimpressed with "garbage cans" full of saltwater inside the house. :eek3:

I hate to see you break everything down but maybe that's the only way to regain control of your life until you are ready to start over fresh again. I know I am extremely frustrated that I have never solved the micro-bubble problem from my miserable Little Giant return pump and with the fact that I now realize that a five to six degrees Fahrenheit daily swing in water temperature is something I'm stuck with because of our high humidity in the summer months unless I get a chiller. And I can't stick a chiller in my room because it's too hot already from the metal halide lamps.

Maybe we should both quit and start over next year?

[zhenya]

Thanks,George

For understanding and for not critisizing
I had enjoyed this hobby tremendously for over 5 years,learn a lot,made some nice friends and thought that I helped some people as well.
However, family situation and resulting time constraints,plus deteriorating health made me think about quitting for some time now.

I know in my own case I have no one to look after my tank, which means I haven't gone anywhere in the past 8 months for more than 12 hours. And it doesn't help if other members of the family are uninterested in the hobby and therefore unimpressed with "garbage cans" full of saltwater inside the house.

That too

I hate to see you break everything down but maybe that's the only way to regain control of your life until you are ready to start over fresh again.

Regaining control of my life and mostly my free time are the key points in all of this,George. Perhaps in the future, when my granddaughter is older and my daughter is all grown up and fully in charge of her life,I can set up another reeftank and enjoy it even more then.
Anyway, it probably won't happen untill its warm again and I can send all the animals that I promised to people out and then deal with the tanks and equipment.Maybe I'll just keep some of it for future tank,not sure yet.

[Poseidon]

Boy Gene, hate to see this. Maybe just break down 1 of your tanks... Instead of getting out, get smaller. I can certainly understand though, right now my Brother-in-law and his Fiance are living with us, and I am recovering from a Knee surgery. So my life is way out of wack too. Whatever you decide I wish you the best.

[zhenya]

Mike,

I appreciate your thoughts
FWIW, I did not start this thread to gather sympathy or look for help to change my mind I don't think my life is out of wack at all either,it's just that my free time and joy from reefing is shrinking by the day and I would hate to see myself starting to hate this hobby becouse of it.
I'd like to take some time off and think of a plan that would allow me stay happy with the hobby and still spend enough time with family and that they don't think I'm total nuts

I felt that I should post this thread and explain instead of just disappearing from the board like I never was here.You know?

;)

[Minh Nguyen]

Gene,

I just can't see myself without a reef tank. I am that addicted. My tank crashed and I was very sad for about 5 months before I muster enough energy to restart my tank.

You are really knowledgeable about reef tank now. Really consider scale down and have the tank essentially automated. I can set up a tank right now with minimal maintenance on the daily basis. My tank as is really do not need much time to care for.
Ca automated Ca reactor (service every 3-5 months) and Kalk reactor (fill every four weeks or so)
Automatic water top off
Automatic light
Automatic chiller and waves
I do check the water every two weeks or so.
Water change every three months
Daily feed the fish AM and PM.

If you set up a small tank, 60-150 cubic tank, this is plenty of room if you start out with frags.

Without my tank, I will feel like I am missing a part of me. My tank is not anywhere as important to me as my two sons and my wife, it is very important to me never the less.

Good luck Gene at whatever you decide to do.

Minh

[reewik]

Gene,


You have some really nice corals, are any frags going to be for sale. i know me and the others in our Reef Club would love to have some of what you have. if they have all been promised that is fine too.

I too did what you are doing and I am just getting back into the hobby. I had a reef up in 1995/96/poss 97 (unsure). I sold all the contents for a much different reason. I put a downpayment on my house. I only have a 42 hex right now and I am loving it once again.

I kept some of my equipement over the years which caused alot less expense in the set up. I would recommend that to anyone. Little bites are better than big chunks from a budget of any size.

I have a 7 month old and look forward to showing her the ropes in the future. Of course that will probably mean she will get the 42 gallon or better and I will have to step up a little bit.

[Tattooedlife]

Sorry your leaving. I'll miss you. You've helped me more than a few times. If you have some frags to give away or sell let me know. Just fragged my colt for the first time last week and its doing great. I still haven't removed the rubberbands yet though, figure I'll wait about another week. If you wanta sell like a few bags of frags or something let me know. Tattooedlife@Yahoo.com

[SueT]

Gene, we go way back and I would only wish for you is happiness. If that means for now or for however long no reef tank then so be it. I don't mean this like you said in a sympathatic manner at all, just from the heart. Feeling better if it's pain or lack of time or whatever doesn't help if you're thinking about a water change or lighting or whatever. Peace of mind is what counts.

You will always be in my prayers and thoughts.

[zhenya]

Gene,
I just can't see myself without a reef tank. I am that addicted. My tank crashed and I was very sad for about 5 months before I muster enough energy to restart my tank.

Minh,

I remember all too well about your crash and I'm really glad that you are back at it. it will be hard for me without my tanks,for sure..,but I will restart one day like you as well.I just know it!
Thanks for your kind words and advice,if I ever set up my tank again I'll make sure to have all those things you mentioned in place.

As far as frags go, yes, most of the stuff had been promised to people already.Plus I would post a thread in the trade or sell forum if that what this was all about. I will when time comes ;)
Like I had said before, this is just to explain why I would be absent from the forum(if someone cares ).

Sorry your leaving. I'll miss you. You've helped me more than a few times.

Thank you for very kind words, it means alot to me to know that I was able to help someone other then myself.

Sue,

Thank you for understanding and your thoughtfulness,I appreciate it a lot.
We'll talk again soon,I promise.

[Reefland]

Gene,

I know where you are at. Time (or a lack of) can be a real strain on a person and their hobbys. One thing I will not go for is not talking to you via the forums, PM or e-mail. If you do tear down your tanks then that will free up a few minutes for you to drop in a say howdy.

Kind Regards,
Scott Z.

[zhenya]

Gene,

I know where you are at. Time (or a lack of) can be a real strain on a person and their hobbys. One thing I will not go for is not talking to you via the forums, PM or e-mail. If you do tear down your tanks then that will free up a few minutes for you to drop in a say howdy.

Kind Regards,
Scott Z.

Scott,

I plan to stay in touch with you and the forums, just not as often
I made far too many friends to give that up,tanks or no tanks

[Wind]

Sorry if I'm just a bystander, but you were an active part in RL... Your tank is nice, and I guess my opinions is that, the hobby, this passion will never leave. It will remain, but life is just one life.....You need to live it to its fullest, and enjoy it. Reefing is just an aspect, and it seems you have already made up your mind.. It is good though that you know what is important to you and take a hold of it. On the bright side, when u do eventually get wet again, a lot of people are gonna have 'frags' for you hehe.. .

Anyhow good luck.. nice purple rim (sigh) hehe.. take cares !!

[Poseidon]

I know Wind hit a good point, when you do come back there will be no shortage of frags to get you going again!!!

[lovesalt]

Gene


Best of luck to you! Family is the most important thing. I have really enjoyed your support and encouragement to me and all of the reefers out there.

Enjoy your family and your time. I hope to see you starting up a new tank soon and I will look forward to seeing your threads on the start of it.


Best wishes to you and yours.

[baconbits]

It's kind of ironic that I logged on this morning after staying away for a week and saw this post. I too have decided to take a break from reefing. While I don't have as much time and $$ invested, it was a very emotional day on Monday as I broke down the tank and sold everything. I wanted to thank everyone on the BB for thier advice and Zhenya for letting me use this Thread

[FishPharmD]

Gene....

Thanks for all your help with everything!!! I just started this hobby a couple months ago but you and others on this forum have made it a whole lot easier. I hope those of us on RL can step up and fill your shoes with all the advice you've given. Thank you so, so much.

[Papa Doug]

Maybe we should both quit and start over next year?

Make that the three of us. Perhaps its age related.

I know exactly of what you guys speak. I thought down sizing would make it better, but its not. I really dont like the smaller tank. Also, like you guys, I have nobody to look after the tank. My love for keeping aquariums is no less after 30 yrs. but its just getting frustrating at times.

I was thinking of setting up a 280, but may be moving soon.

Anyways Gene, FWIW, I know & understand where your coming from Gene. We will miss your pics.

[zhenya]

Thank you ALL for very kind words!

I didn't know so many people took my mumbling seriously j/k
Thank you, this makes it worth while for me.

Make that the three of us. Perhaps its age related.

Could be, who knows It sure sounds like we are getting tired,eh?

Doug, I agree with you on the downsizing the tanks. As much as I like nano's I can't see myself setting one up. I'm not happy with the size of tank I have now and having smaller one just not going to make me happier reefer.I rather wait and set up one but in the size and with options that I would like to have and that would make it keeping tank easier.
It is a bit sad to break down the tank, especially when everything is going well and growth had hit another stride for me...everything seems to be growing out of the water but...that is a problem in its own right I'm sure you know it all too well,Doug.
I had accumulated so much junk over the years...it's not even funny anymore,I got about 12MH bulbs and some that were never used or fired once and discarded becouse I didn't like them Oh the joys of reefkeeping!

Oh, don't worry about missing my pictures,I have some that I never posted yet so I'll make sure to post some once in a while. Just to keep you on your toes,guys