“Take the weekend off, you’ve earned it” Good or Bad Advice?

[revhtree]

“Take the weekend off, you’ve earned it”

“Keep your hands out of the tank!” “Stop chasing numbers!” Some pretty harsh statements but is there an element of truth to them?

We are all guilty of it! It’s not as if we’re given a choice, when we come face to face with a problem, we are inherently hard wired to seek out a solution. Only to realize that our actions had adverse consequences. Were we too quick with our diagnoses? Did we start down a path that by our own intervention made things worse?

There is no shortage of testimonials from people taking a week long vacation to come back and see their tank looking better than ever. And reports that once someone decided to stop tinkering and let things happen, their tank turned around.

Take the weekend off! Is that sound advice or is it a recipe for disaster?


@d2mini relax and enjoy the view...

Thank you to @Sisterlimonpot for today's QOTD!!

 

[DeniseAndy]

I think it is good to just sit back and relax sometimes. If there is an emergency, yes, take control. If not, usually slow changes and observation is a good call.

I must admit. I do not think I have tested anything except pH and temp with Apex and salinity for ages. Maybe 3-4 years ago I tested Ca, Mg, Nitrate. I find observation can do wonders.

Plus, these are amazing systems. It is good to stop and observe. Of course, right now I am in waiting mode for my main system. Everything is in qt for a couple more weeks.

 

[Bronc]

I think it's great advice. Not EVERY weekend mind you, but like you said, keeping your hands out of the tank is always good.

 

[dbowman5]

i voted other. contrarian reporting for duty! lol
in my life it became apparent that i over-steer. in driving they say keep your car in your lane as defined by the stripes. if you look just past your hood to the stripe and try to hold position, your wheel is constantly making adjustments. my corrections would be too much requiring me to swing the other way, then the other. I can do that in all areas of my life. The pro tip is to look ahead and drive the road. Then I find I am making small gradual adjustments. So, Speed up. Slow down. Two pieces of advice, each "good advice" in some situations. I try to 'do my part', in partnerships each participant has a role. I do my part and the other life forms are allowed to do theirs.
Very good question, it actually reminded me to relax a little and be part of my aquarium experience, not god of it.

 

[sp1187]

Other....
I'm not advising anyone on what to do with their tanks. (aside from requested aquascape thoughts)
weekends are usually when I play in the tank. since I work from home now, I don't pass the LFS on my way home from work. so weekends are shopping trips food, salt and new acquisitions which then need to be placed in the water box.

 

[jeffrey750750]

for me its bad advice, I'm still trying to dial in my skimmer after replacing the pump assy and electronics. For the most part other than dosing and wc's the tank runs itself

 

[NashobaTek]

In order to enjoy life or anything else in general, you have to stop and smell the roses. I try to get everything done during the week and nothing on the weekends.

 

[Bronc]

In order to enjoy life or anything else in general, you have to stop and smell the roses. I try to get everything done during the week and nothing on the weekends.

Me too. I work from home and my tanks are in my office, so I do everything during the week.

 

[ThePickeledReef]

Potentially putting of small task and problems only become larger and more work later on in all aspects. Find ways to make everything you got to do into enjoyable things.

 

[RYcube2951]

Sometimes we have to juggle tasks that need our attention. Occassionaly missing a weekly water change is OK. However, it should not become a habit.

 

[Ray Emhardt]

In order to enjoy life or anything else in general, you have to stop and smell the roses. I try to get everything done during the week and nothing on the weekends.

I unfortunately/fortunately consider my reef tank, my rose garden honestly. I voted bad advice due to they are living creatures or pets when they get ignored for a weekend Murphys Law usually kicks in.....

 

[NashobaTek]

I unfortunately/fortunately consider my reef tank, my rose garden honestly. I voted bad advice due to they are living creatures or pets when they get ignored for a weekend Murphys Law usually kicks in.....

I didn't say ignore them, just do the maintenance during the week and just enjoy them and feed them during the weekend. My tank is my rose garden as well.

 

[tee2greenaz]

I think if there is an emergency or issue, certainly resolve it. But like most things in the hobby, if you have some patience, it will work itself out in the end. Keeping your hands out of the tank, and keeping from fiddling with things is tough, but if you sit back and enjoy it, things will often work themselves out. Other than feeding, and filling my auto top off, I try to keep out of it as much as possible. I do have a large emerald crab who likes to flip over frags of corals though, so I’ll pick them back up when I see it. I have one frag on a disc that I haven’t decided where I want in the tank yet, so it’s not glued down, and he flips it over prob twice a week.

 

[Ann Enomy]

My 120 mixed reef is at my office. I take every weekend off (unless I get a text from APEX.) It has been up and running since 2006 and other than small frequent water changes and cleaning/emptying filters I keep hands off. I would admit it would be different without APEX but with PH,Temp, ORP, Salinity, Leak detection, Float switches and Flow meters all with alarm conditions it gives a piece of mind knowing the tank will survive my weekend off.

 

[Randomwhiteguy89]

I believe it is good advice so much so that I don’t take the weekend off I actually do the opposite, all week long the only interactions I have with my tank are feedings and enjoying the view and once the weekend comes around it’s time for water changes filter changes glass cleaning etc I do believe you shouldn’t have your hands in you tank all the time it’s meant to be enjoyed so go ahead and enjoy it and set aside a day or 2 specifically for tank maintenance In my case I find the tank appreciate’s it as well

 

[N1Husker]

I have to clean my glass and test my parameters. I am also redoing my sump closet, plumbing in my RODI unit, replacing shelves for aquarium junk storage, installing mixing barrel, fiberglassing floor, etc. So, in response to your Question of the day, my response would be, “I don’t think so.”

 

[Popkorn0407]

Apex give me peace of mind

 

[Jman76]

Easier said than done! I try every weekend but still end up touching the tanks haha

 

[JR Bodyman]

I think once you have your tank established, you good to take a weekend break. We can all get consumed by little things. Making mountains out of molehills. A break sometimes gives you new perspective.

 

[Thunderrap]

I chose other, for me the weekends are the only time I have to really do my testing and maintenance so I try and enjoy my tank during the week. I test throughout and top off and such but the weekends are when I can do my WC and everything else.