Downsizing...... For good

[Aparker2005]

Hey everyone. Never thought we'd be here, but after 6 years of having our 125 reef, I feel like the time has come that we are gonna be downsizing to a 20 gallon nano, and that's gonna be it for us.

I've had fish tanks for 33 years now. Started when I was 6 years old. They've always been a passion, but life has just gotten so busy and I have less time and less money to keep this very expensive hobby up.

My wife and I have a 6 year old, with more and more activities and things we want to do with and for her, and for us.

Losing some of these fish and coral, and spending hundreds at a time sometimes only to lose them has caused me to just sometimes hate this hobby. We'll look at people's reefs online and wish we could do it, but we've come to the realization that we just don't have the time and money to dedicate.

Both of us loving clowns, we're thinking about keeping our clown pair in our 20 gallon, and keep the corals we have thriving in the 20 gallon, what will fit anyway. Mostly all softies and super easy corals. That way we will still have fish, and a much easier to maintain and not spending SO much on a huge tank.

We have prepared for this winter storm coming, but we've decided should we somehow lose anything, we aren't gonna be looking to replace. I feel weird, and like I'm losing something that's been such a part of our lives, but I think the 20 will be great.

Anyone else had this happen?

 

[bushdoc]

Congratulations on your family and no worries, family and especially children are more important than fish tank!
Perhaps in several years you may come back to a larger tank.
I had 200 gal, downsized now to 100 gal, but there was period in my life too when I was without fish tank for few years, similarly I had to give up or put on a back burner some other beloved activities.
All the best for you guys!

 

[Aparker2005]

Congratulations on your family and no worries, family and especially children are more important than fish tank!
Perhaps in several years you may come back to a larger tank.
I had 200 gal, downsized now to 100 gal, but there was period in my life too when I was without fish tank for few years, similarly I had to give up or put on a back burner some other beloved activities.
All the best for you guys!

Thanks!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I personally have never downsized before, but I have heard stories of people doing it, and they honestly enjoy downsizing. The people who downsize usually say it's easier to manage, and they are happy with doing it.

 

[AlyciaMarie]

Hey everyone. Never thought we'd be here, but after 6 years of having our 125 reef, I feel like the time has come that we are gonna be downsizing to a 20 gallon nano, and that's gonna be it for us.

I've had fish tanks for 33 years now. Started when I was 6 years old. They've always been a passion, but life has just gotten so busy and I have less time and less money to keep this very expensive hobby up.

My wife and I have a 6 year old, with more and more activities and things we want to do with and for her, and for us.

Losing some of these fish and coral, and spending hundreds at a time sometimes only to lose them has caused me to just sometimes hate this hobby. We'll look at people's reefs online and wish we could do it, but we've come to the realization that we just don't have the time and money to dedicate.

Both of us loving clowns, we're thinking about keeping our clown pair in our 20 gallon, and keep the corals we have thriving in the 20 gallon, what will fit anyway. Mostly all softies and super easy corals. That way we will still have fish, and a much easier to maintain and not spending SO much on a huge tank.

We have prepared for this winter storm coming, but we've decided should we somehow lose anything, we aren't gonna be looking to replace. I feel weird, and like I'm losing something that's been such a part of our lives, but I think the 20 will be great.

Anyone else had this happen?

Family is SO important, but I'm glad you've found a happy middle ground where you can enjoy your family and your reef! Nanos are underrated for sure. They can still be full of life and fun to work on. And good luck with this storm! Looks like a lot of people will be impacted.

 

[Aparker2005]

Sold the fish and rocks Friday for $600. Not bad when I didn't want to deal with all the flakes and multiple people wanting only one fish, haggling, etc.

Just gotta sell the tank and equipment now.

For the 20 gallon, we're keeping our pair of Orange storm clowns, yellow watchman goby/pistol shrimp, and starcki damsel. We have 3 shrimp and a Halloween urchin, plus a few snails and hermits we'll also keep for now.

For lights, we have 2 of the newer Nicrew Hyper Reef 200 watt lights. I'm gonna keep those and see if turned down, one will work for the 20. If they don't melt everything, we will have enough light to grow anything we want.

Pretty happy with how everything turned out.