Reef Keeping, A Cry For Help

[Grey Guy]

Sometimes, or maybe a lot of times reef keeping reminds me of when I used to play golf. It was supposed to be for fun and relaxation, but rather was stressful, agrivating, and demoralizing. It seemed like everyone was doing better than I was. It seemed like working harder at it just made it worse. Well, my reef keeping experience is a lot like that. I quit golfing, but I don't have any plans to quit reeling. But similarly, it seems like everyone is better at it then I am. Probably, my worse problem is that I can't leave it alone. I always believe that some change or improvement will make things better. Then there is water all over the floor, the corals don't seem as happy as before, and I'm totally stressed out. Then there's the money wasted. Buy this, try that, maybe this will work better, etc. etc. etc. There's more money spent on a pile of stuff in the garage then is currently sunk into the operating reef system. Then there is the guilt, for not being able to keep animals in my charge alive. I feel like I've killed them all over the years. What am I doing? Why do I want to keep doing this? Yet there is always hope, and a reason to keep going. Though I'm not sure why.

 

[AshwinRavi]

hang in there my friend, sometimes the simplest setup will be the recipe for success.. please be patient and get back to basics if need be.. hope it works out for you and you don't quit reefing..

 

[Grey Guy]

Thanks. I'm not giving up yet.

 

[DeniseAndy]

It can be exhausting and so frustrating. The best thing you can do is stop looking at the "newest great thing", stop trying to compare yourself to others!, and sit back and let it happen a little. If needed as said above, go back to some basic corals and animals and get color, movement and fun again. We all have hard times and we all envy other tanks. Just relax and find what you like and what works for you. Then you can enjoy it again.

 

[Grey Guy]

Great advice. Thanks.

 

[moseley75]

I needed to read this.

 

[leahfiish]

I feel you. For me it helps to have a clear goal in mind and take it one step at a time. Like for right now I'm trying to plan out some coral placements so I can have an awesome torch garden that I envy in others tanks, as I work to maintain parameters as stable as possible. Sometimes the goal is just maintenance.

 

[K. Steven]

You can practice to get better at golf, but you can't really practice reefkeeping without jeopardizing the health of the organisms in our tanks. Focusing on the basics is a similarity you can draw between the two. When I finally stopped putting my hands in the tank everyday, did regular water changes, and maintained a consistent feeding regimen (quantity and frequency), I started seeing more success. I try not to tinker with the tank every day, let it do its thing, and observe trends over weeks, instead of hours or days.

 

[Grey Guy]

Good advice. Hard to do. I think just this one more thing and l'll be done.

 

[enveetie]

hang in there my friend, sometimes the simplest setup will be the recipe for success..

i can't agree with the kiss method enough. i've always found the less tinkering i do with the tank the better off it is given i built upon a good foundation. i can't comment on your set up not knowing anything about it, but i think we all feel your frustration. i'm fine with it not being tank-of-the-month-picture-perfect condition every single day. after all the maintenance, i'm happy the tank looks great for just one evening and that's enough for me.

also, i think we compare our tanks with others on the forums a lot and we'll always dream of nicer tanks as we look at our own. be happy with your own creative vision and dont complicate things too much just because someone else is doing it.

 

[RussiReef]

KISS method always works for me