Reef Conversations: Do you talk to your friends and family about your reef?

[Tamberav]

Nope. It’s just a… oh hey that a pretty tank, is that alive? *points to coral* and they move on. It’s not their interest.

 

[kingoftheHiLLpeople]

Half my/our friends havent cared about keeping fish since they were kids. Other half is a group of reefers and we talk weekly - nothing formal. Its surprisingly our more senior neighbors who are the most interested. And they are interested lol. When cardinals had babies it was the talk of the complex lol

 

[OldRed1]

I often talk to my partner about my reef and the plans I have in mind for future corals and fish. Oh, wait, excuse me…I’m told I talk AT my partner about my reef. Does that count?

 

[Dburr1014]

The first thing I get asked all the time is "isn't that a lot of work"?
I know they are really not interested and probably think it's a lot of wasted money.
I learned to say "it's a hobby like any other hobby, any hobby with doing is work".

If they have questions, okay, if not, change the subject.

 

[StatelineReefer]

I guess I got lucky in this arena, I don't talk to other people about my hobby unless they're on Reef2Reef, or obviously in the hobby.

My wife has taken a keen interest in the 60 gallon tank and it's inhabitants though, probably because it's in the living room. She even does the feeding and water changes.

My kids all know the basics of keeping a reef tank, and my son in law is an active reef 'enthusiast' who has had better success than I have.

And my oldest grandbaby absolutely loves the tank, and has a mind full of turning gears, so eventually I know I'll be explaining the biological and mechanical processes of my tank to her, then let her set up her own little tank in my basement.

 

[TheDuude]

Anyone who visits just wants to know how much work it is to maintain. I usually tell them not much but my wife quickly corrects me. Apparently my standard 10 minutes a day answer is way off

 

[Nheko]

My 10 years old is excited about my tanks. He wakes up and feed the fishes, and can stare to the tank for a while in relaxation. I also can count with my Mini Schnauzer who sits in my lap and hears me talking for minutes about the tank. Oh please Lord don’t let them change!!!

 

[OldRed1]

Anyone who visits just wants to know how much work it is to maintain. I usually tell them not much but my wife quickly corrects me. Apparently my standard 10 minutes a day answer is way off

“Just a few minutes here and there.”

 

[OhioReefKeeper]

I mainly just show them pictures it’s easier. But my sister and her husband just started a tank so I’m excited to have someone else that is close to me to talk about the hobby with.

 

[death-by-reef]

my sister gets so mad at me for talking about aquariums

 

[RocketEngineer]

My father actively discourages me from having an aquarium. I need to spend more time doing things I don’t enjoy instead I guess. Like the 40 hours in the office and 8 hours in traffic aren’t enough suffering for one week.

 

[death-by-reef]

ima teenage reefer, and my mom thinks ima go nowhere in life because I'm spending all my money on fish and coral

 

[cajunbill56]

I talk about my tank every chance. Its a fascinating hobby

 

[Reefer Matt]

With five tanks in my house, it's hard to hide it. Thousands of pictures on my phone, and a dozen or so reefing shirts. My family isn't into it, but they tolerate my obsession. I find it is easier to start/join reefing groups to have people to talk to that actually understand.

 

[Kraig]

My wife and I are in this together so we talk about the tank together a lot. My adult daughter likes it, she sits and watches it at times, but I think at times she has heard enough about it from us .

My mother loves to come over and check out anything new or search the tank for some of the hidden critters. I had a brother who had a fish on tank quite a few years back and I think he likes to hear what's going. The rest of the family and friends puts up with me when I bring something up but I try to keep it moderate.

 

[alain Bouchard]

speak about it sometime, but they mostly dont want to hear about it, they just want to stare at the tank.

 

[ReefGeezer]

I only talk to my reefer friends about reefing. No one else understands... or cares beyond if I have a Nemo or not. I've learned that "Wow, what a cool tank" is not an invitation to talk about it.

 

[shwareefer]

When they go up to your tank full of fish and corals and point at the bubble algae and say "that's cool what's that?" It's over before it starts.

 

[Daniel92481]

I usually talk to people about it until I see their eyes glaze over. Then I take it back a notch, but only one.

 

[design.maddie]

Do you have pets? yes, I have saltwater tank.

Do you have a garden? No, I grow corals.

Do you have a hobby? *smiles* take a seat and listen.