How do you keep reef keeping from keeping you stressed out?

[RockRash]

I don't get stressed about any of my hobbies. Don't get me wrong, I get concerned about things but most my hobbies are things I'll probably never "master" In my lifetime. So good or bad I'm in it to enjoy and learn. Sometimes it's difficult and you will have to just take a step back and do more research and keep at it, eventually you will overcome the struggles. I think hobbies should remove your from the stress of every day life whether its going good or bad it should still be enjoyable give you something to strive for. My life is stressful enough with work ( won't go into that lol) so good or bad working on this hobby is always better than a day at "the office" lol.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

I don't get stressed about any of my hobbies. Don't get me wrong, I get concerned about things but most my hobbies are things I'll probably never "master" In my lifetime. So good or bad I'm in it to enjoy and learn. Sometimes it's difficult and you will have to just take a step back and do more research and keep at it, eventually you will overcome the struggles. I think hobbies should remove your from the stress of every day life whether its going good or bad it should still be enjoyable give you something to strive for. My life is stressful enough with work ( won't go into that lol) so good or bad working on this hobby is always better than a day at "the office" lol.

Amen Brother!

 

[Paul B]

I really can't get stressed out over my reef. I learned decades ago how to mitigate any concerns with the tank and also how to keep everything immune so nothing ever gets sick and they only die of old age. I also learned not to chase numbers or even care about them. I don't have to quarantine or medicate, and I know that causes a lot of stress to hobbyists. It's a hobby and if it stresses me, there is a dumpster 50 yards from my front door. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

I have had quite a few stressful moments in my life but they all revolved around the health of my wife, Daughter or Grand Kids.

My fish are just there and have been with me for over 70 years. I realize there are plenty of creatures in the sea and no one is stressing out over them.

Vietnam kind of cured me of stressing out over anything that isn't life, or quality of life related. and death. Nothing else is that important to me at my stage of life.

Reefing to me is 100% enjoyable. :D

 

[Bruttall]

I have worked construction my entire life (56 years old) and it has mostly been dirt work in the Midwest so I have always been subject to the whims of the weather, Mother Nature is Inevitable. So rolling with the punches on a Tank that is attempting to mimic some small part of Nature seems the only option to me, after all Mother Nature is Inevitable.

No matter what my best efforts have been, Nature has found a way. Asterina Stars, Aptisia, bryopsis. **** just happened. I have always been really careful about coral dip, never added anything I did not medically dip first but like i said, Life finds a way. Rather than get stressed I look at it like another step on my Journey/Adventure. I like how a lot of the Solutions are adding another species of creature to the system :)

I had no idea at all when I decided to turn my 300g into a reef that in 18 months I would have over 10,000 critters inside, probably a lot more than that with all the pods, sponges, worms etc.

Some times it is almost like I discover something new every time I really look close at my reef, constant source of amazement . Maybe it is all in how you look at your Tank. Many of you know mine is therapy for recovering addict. So aside from that one outbreak of Ick/Velvet that was 100% my negligence I have not stressed about it. I just enjoy it.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Well. I look at it this way. My tank is full of algae (bubble and others) , but my younger brother's wife's sister thinks the algae is beautiful. So I made someone happy.

It’s funny cause I’ll think my tank is rough with algae, yet other people who see it think it’s neat.

 

[dinosaur_1552]

This hobby, way of life, can swallow us up and cause us stress when one of its greatest appeals is that of tranquility and peace.

That being said I want to ask you a question.

What are some HEALTHY habits or thoughts you have formed when it comes to keeping the proper perspective that reef keeping is a hobby and is meant to be enjoyed?

How do you keep reef keeping from keeping you stressed out?

Keeping only pico/nano tanks with the least possible tech, hence reducing money/time/space invested in the hobby (you can still get very expensive small fish/corals if wanted).

Everything is automated even feeding, so I can leave it alone without notice. Also everything can be somehow controlled remotely when on holiday.

Keeping the tanks well separated from the main house, 5gallon water on the floor of an annex in my home office is not an issue, 500g on the living room floor would be bad.

I am also getting more out of the hobby this way as I can put my pico/nano tanks 50cm from me on a shelf next to my desk, so I spend many-many hours watching the tanks.