How can I stop thinking about the hobby ?

[Sailfinguy21]

There are nut jobs of all generations in all countries ;)

I agree.. but i just dont like my generation at all.. anyway i wont get more into it on a fish forum lol

 

[ReeferReefer]

No i insulted the millenial parents.. and yes i hate my generation.. but im also on the outer edge of a millenial i believe its 82 or something. The 20 somethings are the nut jobs in this country and their kids gen z are even worse

Seems like a gross over generalization.

 

[nuke 208]

I'm the same way with this hobby lately. Reading countless posts and watching countless YouTube videos. You are not alone. You just have a passion.

Yea we need a support group [emoji110]

 

[fish farmer]

I have a 1300 and 300 gallon multi tank system, but lately all I think about is 10 gallon Nano I setup a few months ago. Sometimes less is more, to me its even cooler on the small scale, and way easier, I'm not finding that bigger is more stable thing to be true, just bigger problems.

That sums it up for me. I went super focused on this hobby in 2000, upgrading my reef in 2 years, taking on maintenance of a 120 gal FOWLR, then buying a house and upgrading the reef again in 2006. I was still somewhat single and had the new house responsibilities. The reef took second stage. By 2010 I was building my current system which was a downsize, that has gone through ups and downs since I started dating my wife in 2011. It is back on track and becoming easier to maintain.

Of course the fishing boat sits in the yard killing a patch of grass....some day I'll put some time into it.

 

[Waynerock]

That sums it up for me. I went super focused on this hobby in 2000, upgrading my reef in 2 years, taking on maintenance of a 120 gal FOWLR, then buying a house and upgrading the reef again in 2006. I was still somewhat single and had the new house responsibilities. The reef took second stage. By 2010 I was building my current system which was a downsize, that has gone through ups and downs since I started dating my wife in 2011. It is back on track and becoming easier to maintain.

Of course the fishing boat sits in the yard killing a patch of grass....some day I'll put some time into it.

Bigger is not always better[emoji16] my 45 gal is perfect after having a 155 for years back in the day. I can get closer to perfection with a smaller canvas. It does suck to run out of room though[emoji24]

 

[Sarah24!]

Hi guys ! This sounds ridiculous :rolleyes: but as the title stated, how can I stop thinking about this crazy addictive hobby ? I've been out of the hobby for 4 months since the moment my son was born, due to lack of maintaining time and money, I have to dry out my tank :(.
But from that moment, I have become sth like a reef's addict, everyday, every single day, I just can't stop finding post, threads about fish, coral,..etc and reading them all day long. My wife is getting annoyed because I spent time on those reefing's forums, reefing's vlogs on Youtube to much instead of caring for my newborn. Sometimes, I even day dreaming about my future tank (calculate the cost, fishes, corals, ... ) but then wake up to find out that I don't have enough time or money to get back, LOL.
What should I do guys ? Should I see a doctor ? :(

Hello,

You don’t need a doctor, but you and your wife probably should see a counselor. Working as my first year residency, having a baby is hard, expensive and exhausting. Emotions fly high especially with females. (And before lol people say I’m a sexist I am a female). It’s quite normal for this behavior but your making a very grave mistake getting rid of your hobby. This is something you and your wife and a counselor need to work out. Just because a couple has a child, doesn’t mean either parent gives up something they love (well except like drinking drugs bad harmful things). But you may want to do some research with your wife, aka noise makers are babies best friends. It helps them sleep and gives the parents time to rest. Several systems including mine has wave and storm sounds through speakers etc. put the tank on storm (with out the lights scaring the fish) and let your little one fall asleep. Another thing is reefs have been proven to calm people and more and more clinics are installing them to calm children and parents and just people.

Congrats on the birth of your child, now enjoy it and it doesn’t mean your hobbies have to stop. There is always time, one just manage time better. I’m always here to help if you and your wife need something.

 

[RobW]

Hi guys ! This sounds ridiculous :rolleyes: but as the title stated, how can I stop thinking about this crazy addictive hobby ? I've been out of the hobby for 4 months since the moment my son was born, due to lack of maintaining time and money, I have to dry out my tank :(.
But from that moment, I have become sth like a reef's addict, everyday, every single day, I just can't stop finding post, threads about fish, coral,..etc and reading them all day long. My wife is getting annoyed because I spent time on those reefing's forums, reefing's vlogs on Youtube to much instead of caring for my newborn. Sometimes, I even day dreaming about my future tank (calculate the cost, fishes, corals, ... ) but then wake up to find out that I don't have enough time or money to get back, LOL.
What should I do guys ? Should I see a doctor ? :(

Move out, get your own place, and get another tank! Lol! No that would be bad. I know what you mean. I actually went through a divorce and had to take my 150 gallon down. It killed me. Paying for a place, being by myself, child support, starting my own business, life etc. Did not allow me to have a tank for over 10 years! I now have just recently got back into the hobby. I have been remarried for six and half years. We purchased a home three years ago. Business is finally flowing in at a very nice pace and we decided to build a 280 gallon tank. Problem is... I find myself so busy with work and remodeling the house that I dont get to spend enough time with my build. If any lately! We have a little nano tank to keep my son occupied but he wants the big one finished! I really do too. I feel like something is missing in my life without a big tank in the home.

 

[GeTanked]

That sums it up for me. I went super focused on this hobby in 2000, upgrading my reef in 2 years, taking on maintenance of a 120 gal FOWLR, then buying a house and upgrading the reef again in 2006. I was still somewhat single and had the new house responsibilities. The reef took second stage. By 2010 I was building my current system which was a downsize, that has gone through ups and downs since I started dating my wife in 2011. It is back on track and becoming easier to maintain.

Of course the fishing boat sits in the yard killing a patch of grass....some day I'll put some time into it.

This is hilarious to me as I can totally relate. Fishing is one of my favorite hobbies and three years ago we moved our family to a house on the canals adjacent to our coastal waterway so we could park the boat in the back yard and fish more, we just needed to build a swing for the boat. Two years ago a customer gave me a 75g tank I setup for African Cichlids, now we have 7 including a 125g softy and 250g mixed reef.......and the boat is still parked at the office. lol.

In regards to the OP, reefing doesn't have to be too expensive to keep up with, you just have to adapt your hobby to your budget. If you're patient you can always find equipment for dirt cheap if not free, and get livestock the same way. I started the build on my 250 when I found out my wife was pregnant with our 4th child, he will lay in his swing in front of the tank and laugh and talk to the fish. It's hilarious. Keep it simple and make the tank an enhancement to your parenting instead of a burden.

 

[fish farmer]

This is hilarious to me as I can totally relate. Fishing is one of my favorite hobbies and three years ago we moved our family to a house on the canals adjacent to our coastal waterway so we could park the boat in the back yard and fish more, we just needed to build a swing for the boat. Two years ago a customer gave me a 75g tank I setup for African Cichlids, now we have 7 including a 125g softy and 250g mixed reef.......and the boat is still parked at the office. lol.

In regards to the OP, reefing doesn't have to be too expensive to keep up with, you just have to adapt your hobby to your budget. If you're patient you can always find equipment for dirt cheap if not free, and get livestock the same way. I started the build on my 250 when I found out my wife was pregnant with our 4th child, he will lay in his swing in front of the tank and laugh and talk to the fish. It's hilarious. Keep it simple and make the tank an enhancement to your parenting instead of a burden.

I bought property bordering 250 feet of trout stream that has brown trout as long as my arm..........I usually only fish it in October, that's when the lawn doesn't need to be mowed and the garden is dead.

 

[radiata]

Hi guys ! This sounds ridiculous :rolleyes: but as the title stated, how can I stop thinking about this crazy addictive hobby ? I've been out of the hobby for 4 months since the moment my son was born, due to lack of maintaining time and money, I have to dry out my tank :(.
But from that moment, I have become sth like a reef's addict, everyday, every single day, I just can't stop finding post, threads about fish, coral,..etc and reading them all day long. My wife is getting annoyed because I spent time on those reefing's forums, reefing's vlogs on Youtube to much instead of caring for my newborn. Sometimes, I even day dreaming about my future tank (calculate the cost, fishes, corals, ... ) but then wake up to find out that I don't have enough time or money to get back, LOL.
What should I do guys ? Should I see a doctor ? :(

A heroin addiction? It would probably less expensive than the reef hobby!