Discouraged...

[damselindistress]

I am feeling discouraged with my tank tonight, I’ve spent 2 hours picking bubble algae that seems to have come up overnight. While picking the bubble algae I noticed 2 spots of hair algae just starting. I can’t seem to stay on top of nutrient control and I know it’s because I’m a chronic over-feeder. When I feed a small amount, probably the right amount, I think to myself “there’s no way that’s enough for them to stay fat and healthy” so I feed more :oops:.

My tank will go a few weeks and look really good then I'll have a setback and sometimes it just seems like I'm never going to get all my equipment right, all my settings right, all my processes right. I get one thing in sync and something else goes out of sync. It seems like more days than not I'm striving against the forces of nature...in a small glass box ;Sorry. Right now it just seems I spend more time fighting one issue or another than I do sitting and enjoying my reef.

Okay, that's my pity party for tonight. Hopefully tomorrow I'll wake up with my seal for the hobby restored...thanks for reading.

 

[scattered]

At least you know your problem. Try feed less, but more often.

 

[ccombs]

@Rick.45cal taught me the following-

You will begin to appreciate the moments of peace in this hobby as you get them. Sometimes things will be great for a day, sometimes they will be great for months. Enjoy perfection when you have it, don't be discouraged when things go wrong, eventually you will have peace again.

He said it in a much more elegant way, but that is the idea.

 

[RIreefGuy]

Well I for one have absolutely everything figured out and feed the perfect amount. NOT! Haha. Hang in there. We all go through bouts of self doubt and questioning. This site is the ace in the hole tho. Collectively there isn't much we cant sort out =)

 

[Coastie Reefer]

Sounds like par for the course in this hobby. It’s always something. If it is any consolation we all get a little discouraged from time to time.

 

[DeWittTheReefer]

It wont make you feel any better, but I was in the same boat. So I went and got a starry blenny. At first he smashed the algae, then he got a taste for the fish food. Forced me to feed less, but now I have GHA spots and he wont eat them. ;Facepalm

 

[Peace River]

@damselindistress, what I am hearing you say is that you are learning and that is awesome! I am always amazed at the life lessons that I have learned from the fishes that share my home - I seriously have considered writing a book!!! ;Writing

 

[Rick.45cal]

I am feeling discouraged with my tank tonight, I’ve spent 2 hours picking bubble algae that seems to have come up overnight. While picking the bubble algae I noticed 2 spots of hair algae just starting. I can’t seem to stay on top of nutrient control and I know it’s because I’m a chronic over-feeder. When I feed a small amount, probably the right amount, I think to myself “there’s no way that’s enough for them to stay fat and healthy” so I feed more :oops:.

My tank will go a few weeks and look really good then I'll have a setback and sometimes it just seems like I'm never going to get all my equipment right, all my settings right, all my processes right. I get one thing in sync and something else goes out of sync. It seems like more days than not I'm striving against the forces of nature...in a small glass box ;Sorry. Right now it just seems I spend more time fighting one issue or another than I do sitting and enjoying my reef.

Okay, that's my pity party for tonight. Hopefully tomorrow I'll wake up with my seal for the hobby restored...thanks for reading.

You’re not alone, we all go through this with every tank in some way. It’s a learning process of building and operating a fairly complex life support system for alien creatures most of us actually know little about. (It’s hard, and hard work). You have to forgive yourself for mistakes you make, and realize that if something can break, or go wrong, it probably will, given a long enough time span. :) Stick with it, the rewards down the road far outweigh the struggle and low points along the way.

Aquariums will definitely teach you to love the little moments of quiet contemplation when everything is going right. Hopefully they outweigh the sheer stress and heartache that an aquarium can inflict upon it’s keeper! ;)

 

[ccombs]

You’re not alone, we all go through this with every tank in some way. It’s a learning process of building and operating a fairly complex life support system for alien creatures most of us actually know little about. (It’s hard, and hard work). You have to forgive yourself for mistakes you make, and realize that if something can break, or go wrong, it probably will, given a long enough time span. :) Stick with it, the rewards down the road far outweigh the struggle and low points along the way.

Aquariums will definitely teach you to love the little moments of quiet contemplation when everything is going right. Hopefully they outweigh the sheer stress and heartache that an aquarium can inflict upon it’s keeper! ;)

There it is. lol. Well said.

 

[Crustaceon]

An easy way to approach feeding is by considering the size of a fish’s stomach as being the size of their eyeball. Back when I had 18 fish (average 1-2 inches) in my 60 gallon system (I have 8 in my 100g now, lol), I fed two frozen mysis cubes per day and everything was happy, healthy and I never had algae issues. This was due to regular maintenance. If you’re running a sump, you could do what I did and get into the habit of gravel vacuuming your sand bed once a week directly into a filter sock and swapping it for a fresh one afterwards. It’s a lot faster than prepping a water change and will accomplish the goal of getting loads of nitrate & phosphate creating crud out of your tank with only 10-15 minutes of weekly work.

 

[scattered]

The fact is that despite 40 years of keeping fish, 30 years marine, and 20 years reef I learn something new everyday.

It takes a while for a reef tank to harden. This is a complex biome and never will it emulate a real reef in regards to filtration/bio load balance.

I have personally learned enough that my first build in almost a decade has gone so well it has me scared.

Hang in @damselindistress

 

[TRIGGER SHARKFIST]

If it wasn't challenging most people wouldn't bother doing it.

If you're a prolific over feeder don't add livestock to combat the problem!!
Normally I would recommend a Fox Face as these eat anything green but it's easy to add a fish and start feeding more because you have another mouth to feed !!

Every time I walk by the tank I have to resist sticking food in .. :D

Either have self control or glue your hands together. ;)