!*!*!*!*! AFTERMATH !*!*!*!*!

[Fitzreefer]

Ha, Sprung / Delbeek books. Memories. Still have mine. I've been in and out of this addiction/hobby for many years. The longest sabbatical was shortly after I started having kids, about 2003 -2004, my tank was taken over by valonia and asterina stars. Was using RO water, no DI. Water changes ended. Things were in bad shape, and the tank was not a priority. I guess diapers took priority. I decided to dismantle and moth ball my tank. New house, better situation and kids older, I decided to un-mothball the tank/equipment 2 years ago. I'm now taking advantage of the new technology...LEDs, RODI, much, much larger sump, fuge, calc Rx, much bigger skimmer, Vortechs, better coral selection, INFO on the WEB! etc, etc, . A lot of things have changed for the better.

 

[Diesel]

I sold everything from my reef 2 months ago. I recently ventured into something I always wanted to since I was a little boy in grade school. I have set up a vivarium and am keeping Poison dart frogs. Once the tank is set up, most then once a day and feed every other. That's it! Sit back and enjoy. Prune some plants when they get out of control.

I used to have and breed darts frogs, but every time my fruit fly colony got infected with mites and had to start all over again.
Did it for 5 years, with planted tanks and a reef, running two companies, running about 120 miles a week and having a family wasn't easy.

 

[ThunderGoose]

I sold everything from my reef 2 months ago. I recently ventured into something I always wanted to since I was a little boy in grade school. I have set up a vivarium and am keeping Poison dart frogs. Once the tank is set up, most then once a day and feed every other. That's it! Sit back and enjoy. Prune some plants when they get out of control.

Good to know I'll have a use for my tank if I totally fail at my first reef set up. ;) I've always wanted dart frogs...

 

[Diesel]

I'm thinking just to get a chameleon, one of the colorful types, just to look at or talk too :oops:
Anyone has some info and links on that for me?

 

[Rick.45cal]

I'm thinking just to get a chameleon, one of the colorful types, just to look at or talk too :oops:
Anyone has some info and links on that for me?

Get a male panther chameleon, they are the most colorful. You can't have any other's though as they are very territorial. Since you live in Texas there will be ample bugs to catch to feed him, they need a wide variety of insects to stay healthy for long periods of time. Feeder crickets and mealworms will only get you a chameleon who will slowly become malnourished. I've only had limited experience with them, I would do a TON of research before jumping in, they are pretty much like SPS, they have their own tiny niche and idiosyncrasies.

When I got out of this hobby it was due to neccesity, changes in life... going off to college... going to culinary school... travelling the world cooking at world famous places. In the meantime I taught myself, carpentry, wood turning, guitar building, bunch of other "hobbys". Having moved into a house that I consider "home" has allowed me to rejoin the Reefing community. (I never really left, I was just on vacation :D)

 

[Diesel]

Get a male panther chameleon, they are the most colorful. You can't have any other's though as they are very territorial. Since you live in Texas there will be ample bugs to catch to feed him, they need a wide variety of insects to stay healthy for long periods of time. Feeder crickets and mealworms will only get you a chameleon who will slowly become malnourished. I've only had limited experience with them, I would do a TON of research before jumping in, they are pretty much like SPS, they have their own tiny niche and idiosyncrasies.

When I got out of this hobby it was due to neccesity, changes in life... going off to college... going to culinary school... travelling the world cooking at world famous places. In the meantime I taught myself, carpentry, wood turning, guitar building, bunch of other "hobbys". Having moved into a house that I consider "home" has allowed me to rejoin the Reefing community. (I never really left, I was just on vacation :D)

Thanks a bunch.

 

[Rick.45cal]

Here you go @Diesel

 

[alex.mccann99]

I got out for a short while, twice now. This last time it was actually quite liberating. I felt so free. I went on vacation and never pulled up my Apex and Video camera once. I just really missed being able to sit in my office and stare off at my tank. It helped me think and was something I really enjoyed talking about. So now here I am, racked up about 600 bucks on my credit card on new stuff, about to do it all over again! Only $600 because I kept my Radion, Vortechs and Apex from my last tank. Wife is ticked, but she'll get over it. Promised this one is going to be less maintence and easier to take of....

 

[aaron23]

i left the hobby after a huge snow storm killed the power to my 200 gal setup all when i wasnt home to take care of the tank. i got out for 7-8 years and didnt look back until i settled down with a gf and now the tank is my outlet. keeps me occupied while shes at work/school. love the hobby dont think i'd ever leave it again. the reef addiction comes in waves and besides you only live once who cares do what you want and like.

 

[ReefQueen]

Wait, people leave? I find that hard to believe! How could you leave a hobby that takes all your money, takes time away from family/friends, and gives you heaps of stress? I just can't wrap my head around that:p seriously though, I think everyone who makes it past the 1 year mark will always come back at some point, how could you not?! Even right after my son was born and I was "out", I still had a 29 gallon. Sure it looked like crap, was running the bare necessities, and was hardly ever looked at, but it kept me in the game;) honestly though if my best friend wasn't also a reefer I may have never come back as strong as I have. which means I may never have joined this awesome forum, or joined my local reef club, or met my buddy who's awesome 90 gallon is now my almost awesome 90 gallon:)

 

[Diesel]

@dsrtfox1942 Luco's and Azur's nice.
I love how the luco's sing........ they don't even sound like a frog.

 

[Frop]

In my case free liverock (a guy who was slowly leaving the hobby gave away some stuff).