Do your own thing

[david p.]

I've had the pleasure of helping many people grow in this hobby. I typically advocate starting off small & easy, and then work up to something bigger & better as skills get sharpened and finances allow. The way I see it, the smaller tank can always be repurposed into a QT or frag tank down the road. It delights me to see how people get such a kick out of their mushrooms spreading from one rock to another, or watching their pair of juvenile clownfish mature and begin laying eggs. Some even take on the challenge of rearing the fry and that leads to a greater interest in breeding marine fish in general.

However, once you feel you've mastered the basics, and propagating soft corals & LPS comes easy you will then find yourself at a crossroads .....

Most reefers move onto SPS at this point, and "fish people" generally start looking for rarer fish/hybrids. A regular Copperband Butterfly just doesn't do it for ya anymore, so you start looking for a Muelleri. ;) And for many this is the natural progression of a greater challenge which keeps them interested in the hobby. But for some it actually causes the opposite effect...

You had no problem growing Euphyllia & Candy Canes, and yet all these new expensive Chalices & Acans are dying. Acros are bleaching and you're having trouble keeping up with supplement demand. Of course, many eventually get it figured out by getting their nitrates down and investing in reactors instead of manual dosing. But some keep throwing money down the toilet, or find they miss their $30 Lemonpeel Angel because the $150 Golden Angelfish hides all day. :p

I've seen many continue down this self destructive path until they finally get burned out and leave the hobby. They keep struggling with this bigger & better system, and it becomes a chore instead of something fun. Maybe job and family commitments no longer afford you the time you once had to play with your aquarium? ;) What can you do?

GO BACK TO WHAT MADE YOU HAPPY. You aren't in competition with anyone. I won't look down on you because you keep xenia and other easy corals. Or don't have the most expensive fish. ;) It's like people think once they've reached the zenith, they can never go back to just having a low maintenance aquarium. Maybe its peer pressure, you want your tank to look as nice or better than your buddy's. Listen, I've kept just about every kind of SW aquarium you can imagine. And the one I reminisce the most about was a tank full of xenia where I could put any "not reef safe" fish in and not have to worry about it. So if you find yourself lost right now with your current setup, remember you can always go back to just doing your own thing. :)

one thing i have learned over the years keeping aquarium (mostly FW.. but it's the same than SW).. their is many ways to succes and achieving our goals!
sadly their is also many ways to failure and learning!

 

[Humblefish]

this does not mean your leaving us dose it! I kinda like you:p

Oh I'm not leaving R2R or getting out of the hobby. Just hopefully moving to a different city soon.

 

[Duke4Life]

So does being eel crazy count? ;)
I never would have thought I'd have the fascination I do for them but my boy Alcatraz my chainlink changed all of that.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

Great thread! Inspiration for anyone that needs it at the moment!

 

[Ljaus]

Spoken like a true reefer @Humblefish, it's all about what the hobbyist is happy with not what the mainstream want. Any tank can be stunning wether it's fish only or a full blown high tech sps reef. I've being guilty of upsizing when I was on to a good thing and thought I needed a bigger tank, even after 8 years I still regret it.

 

[Hammerheadz]

I've had the pleasure of helping many people grow in this hobby. I typically advocate starting off small & easy, and then work up to something bigger & better as skills get sharpened and finances allow. The way I see it, the smaller tank can always be repurposed into a QT or frag tank down the road. It delights me to see how people get such a kick out of their mushrooms spreading from one rock to another, or watching their pair of juvenile clownfish mature and begin laying eggs. Some even take on the challenge of rearing the fry and that leads to a greater interest in breeding marine fish in general.

However, once you feel you've mastered the basics, and propagating soft corals & LPS comes easy you will then find yourself at a crossroads .....

Most reefers move onto SPS at this point, and "fish people" generally start looking for rarer fish/hybrids. A regular Copperband Butterfly just doesn't do it for ya anymore, so you start looking for a Muelleri. ;) And for many this is the natural progression of a greater challenge which keeps them interested in the hobby. But for some it actually causes the opposite effect...

You had no problem growing Euphyllia & Candy Canes, and yet all these new expensive Chalices & Acans are dying. Acros are bleaching and you're having trouble keeping up with supplement demand. Of course, many eventually get it figured out by getting their nitrates down and investing in reactors instead of manual dosing. But some keep throwing money down the toilet, or find they miss their $30 Lemonpeel Angel because the $150 Golden Angelfish hides all day. :p

I've seen many continue down this self destructive path until they finally get burned out and leave the hobby. They keep struggling with this bigger & better system, and it becomes a chore instead of something fun. Maybe job and family commitments no longer afford you the time you once had to play with your aquarium? ;) What can you do?

GO BACK TO WHAT MADE YOU HAPPY. You aren't in competition with anyone. I won't look down on you because you keep xenia and other easy corals. Or don't have the most expensive fish. ;) It's like people think once they've reached the zenith, they can never go back to just having a low maintenance aquarium. Maybe its peer pressure, you want your tank to look as nice or better than your buddy's. Listen, I've kept just about every kind of SW aquarium you can imagine. And the one I reminisce the most about was a tank full of xenia where I could put any "not reef safe" fish in and not have to worry about it. So if you find yourself lost right now with your current setup, remember you can always go back to just doing your own thing. :)

Great post. I agree 100%.

 

[Boa1277]

I will never forget when my son was born I was experimenting in a saltwater reef aquarium it was a 80 gallon tall with 4 big tube lights 2 actinic and 2 white, as I am sure you have guessed after sinking 3 or 4. Thousand dollars I eventually burned out and sold everything, however I never lost the desire to own a reef aquarium, now fast forward 16yrs and many many nights reading forums I decide to buy a cadlights 39 gallon reef tank with Sump and LED fixture. I had reasonable success with this tank and the bug bit and lots and lots of study I moved into a custom 160 gallon 60X24X30 recessed euro braced starphire SPS running 3 400 watt metal halides 20k radium bulbs, with Royal Exclusive Double Cone 200 and a Royal Exclusive 80 watt D.C. Return Pump, custom Sump, Vortec mp60 and mp40 also a Gyre XF150 for water movement, Korralin 1502 Calcium reactor fed by a Masterflex continuous duty pump, and some of the prettiest SPS colonies you can imagine. I run a controller to manage most of the scheduling and I do a 30 gallon water change every other week, mix my own salt, vodka dose, and check alk about once every other week, I haven't checked my nitrates in over a year because I can tell by just looking at my corals if something is going on. As you immerse yourself in the hobby, it does get easier, but not cheaper. Good luck and happy reefing, it has given me years of enjoyment and hopefully many more!

 

[Leslie Tabor]

This here sir is why you are one of my favs! I always look forward to seeing posts from you. Thank you for being here for the hobby!!!:D

 

[Danny1496]

On point

 

[Tahoe61]

Yup do your own thing. :) No one hobbyist has all the answers, no one tank sets the standard.

There was a time when we had to figure it out ourselves (no forums). It's rewarding to be able to show off a nice tank but it means far more to me to be able to just enjoy my tank then to try to keep up with the lasted fades.

 

[Dflo's reef]

This is such a great write up. I did the very same thing that you are talking about. I started with a 30gal then went to an 80 gal cube, then built a 100 gal custom. After the 100 gal was up and running for 6 months I got over the maintenance and didn't have time for it. Therefore everything went down hill from there. I had invested $5000 into and was trying to be the coolest guy with the nice setup, when in reality I was way over my head. So recently I tore down the 100 gal and downsized to a smaller tank which is the Innovative Marine SR 60 gal. I couldn't be any happier to get this weight off my shoulders. I went back to the basics of reefing and went with an AIO setup with easy to keep coral.

 

[Salty1962]

Great writeup. At the end of the day, it's about what makes you feel good about this hobby. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder!

 

[FishLover01]

Right now, I have a 55 gallon freshwater goldfish and Koi tank, a 30 gallon tetra tank, a 30 gallon live bearer tank containing mollies, platys, and guppies, and last but not least a 36 gallon FOWLR tank. Sure, I want corals. Love them, but I'm a grocery store manager and time doesn't exist enough for me to care for corals. I love all my tanks. Would love to go bigger, but I really don't have the time for that to happen.

 

[Bob Escher]

I also almost gave up after 9 months. I lost five fish and although we think we know why but not positive but I'm ready to keep on trucking thanks for the support

 

[Brew12]

Oh I'm not leaving R2R or getting out of the hobby. Just hopefully moving to a different city soon.

And opening Humblefish Aquatics so I can order pre-quarantined fish! :D

 

[4FordFamily]

Yeah if you create too much work for yourself you'll start to hate/resent the hobby and nearly leave as I did. Cheap coral, fake coral, and fowlr until I can afford maintenance. You can make more money but you cannot make more time. No time anymore but I love my fish so I have to cater to them and forget the rest to enjoy the hobby.

 

[tj w]

And opening Humblefish Aquatics so I can order pre-quarantined fish! :D

I'm ready for that as well! Great write up indeed Humble!

 

[FishLover01]

I also almost gave up after 9 months. I lost five fish and although we think we know why but not positive but I'm ready to keep on trucking thanks for the support

Losing fish is not fun. After being in the hobby for a number of years, I still occasionally lose fish for one reason or another. I always have my opinion on why it happened but sometimes there isn't any clues as to why a fish dies. I do my best to care for them, but the rest is up to the fish. Losing fish doesn't make me want to quit. It makes me want to know more about why they may have died.

 

[Wiz]

Great thread. Thanks @Humblefish. I tend to over do it and make more work for myself. But I love it all. Such an obsession. The only way I get out is when I run out of money or the boss (wife) shuts me down. Luckily , as long as I keep her elegans alive I'm safe. Lmbo. R2r and all of you keep my agrivation at bay. Friends and great advise. :-D you would never find this thread on more judgemental forums.
I love you guys!:p

 

[FishLover01]

Yeah if you create too much work for yourself you'll start to hate/resent the hobby and nearly leave as I did. Cheap coral, fake coral, and fowlr until I can afford maintenance. You can make more money but you cannot make more time. No time anymore but I love my fish so I have to cater to them and forget the rest to enjoy the hobby.

You're so right. You can always make more money but not more time. I have four tanks and spend about 4 hours each week for water changes and maintenance. Working 50+ hours a week as a grocery store manager doesn't help me want to expand upon my hobby. Fishkeeping makes me happy, everything about it but I know my limitations. I want to have fun with the hobby. I don't want it to be a chore. I want to expand upon my tanks, but I can't because of the time factor.