Thinking about downsizing…

[danenelsen]

Hello Reef2Reef,

Currently I have a 55 gallon aquarium. I got into the hobby and bought it about a year ago. I have two clowns and a Royal gramma, and I enjoy watching them, but those are the only three fish that I’ve had success with. My Gramma recently killed a new fish, and I’ve suspected it for other kills also. I’m getting kind of discouraged, as nothing is really working, but I love the colors of saltwater, so I’m thinking about making a change. My options are:

1. Get rid of the Gramma and go from there.
2. Downsize my aquarium and start all over.
3. Take a break from the hobby for a while.
4. Something else.

What would you do? Please help me decide what to do.

 

[MnFish1]

Hello Reef2Reef,

Currently I have a 55 gallon aquarium. I got into the hobby and bought it about a year ago. I have two clowns and a Royal gramma, and I enjoy watching them, but those are the only three fish that I’ve had success with. My Gramma recently killed a new fish, and I’ve suspected it for other kills also. I’m getting kind of discouraged, as nothing is really working, but I love the colors of saltwater, so I’m thinking about making a change. My options are:

1. Get rid of the Gramma and go from there.
2. Downsize my aquarium and start all over.
3. Take a break from the hobby for a while.
4. Something else.

What would you do? Please help me decide what to do.

Downsize your aquarium - and keep th fish - if there is a problem - get rid of it.

Now - if you're saying 'I don't like the gramma' in a big or a little tank. trade it in to your local fish store. I wouldn't take a break - you're going to go through all of the bad parts again. Hopefully - this will re-encourage you - many people need to take a problem fish out and re-home it?

 

[Idech]

I would ride the wave and let it pass. Downsizing means starting over (at least a bit) but also might make things harder, as the less water, the less stability.

Get rid of the royal gramma. Once you do, your passion will come back with the addition of new fish and why not, corals !

 

[Pod_01]

My Gramma recently killed a new fish

Wow, just checking but are you sure it is Royal Gramma and not Bicolor Dottyback/Royal Dottyback?

Gramma in 55gal should hide all the time, Dottyback on the other hand is territorial.

 

[Bpones]

I can relate.
I lost all passion for a 10+ year old tank because of a pair of maroon clowns. It’s a 75 gallon and they’d (well, she) would bully everyone and everything across the whole space. She bit me constantly if I tried to do anything with the tank. I was about ready to just get out of the hobby because I feared catching them would mean nearly breaking down the tank and I simply couldn’t add anything new with them in there. But with a little perseverance I netted both fish and traded them to my LFS for a fox face. It feels like I’m starting fresh after a decade of reefing. It’s good to be free of those clowns.

You’ll hit ruts and bumps along the way, but I think it’s always worth continuing forward. The hobby is so rewarding and always worth trying to make a change if you’re feeling stuck.

 

[danenelsen]

Wow, just checking but are you sure it is Royal Gramma and not Bicolor Dottyback/Royal Dottyback?

Gramma in 55gal should hide all the time, Dottyback on the other hand is territorial.

Yes, I’m sure it’s a Gramma, although they do look similar. I must just have got a really aggressive one.

 

[danenelsen]

I can relate.
I lost all passion for a 10+ year old tank because of a pair of maroon clowns. It’s a 75 gallon and they’d (well, she) would bully everyone and everything across the whole space. She bit me constantly if I tried to do anything with the tank. I was about ready to just get out of the hobby because I feared catching them would mean nearly breaking down the tank and I simply couldn’t add anything new with them in there. But with a little perseverance I netted both fish and traded them to my LFS for a fox face. It feels like I’m starting fresh after a decade of reefing. It’s good to be free of those clowns.

You’ll hit ruts and bumps along the way, but I think it’s always worth continuing forward. The hobby is so rewarding and always worth trying to make a change if you’re feeling stuck.

Thanks, that offers me a lot of encouragement. I want to continue, and this reminds me that others have gone through similar problems and have made it to the other end of the tunnel.

 

[Pod_01]

Yes, I’m sure it’s a Gramma, although they do look similar. I must just have got a really aggressive one.

WOW, if I lived close I would take it off your hands.
I tried few and they perished, the ones I had hid all the time and poof gone.

 

[cilyjr]

Wow, just checking but are you sure it is Royal Gramma and not Bicolor Dottyback/Royal Dottyback?

Gramma in 55gal should hide all the time, Dottyback on the other hand is territorial.

 

[00W]

Hate to see you leave the hobby over a gramma,or anything for that matter.
Get rid of the fish and keep going with what you have, stay positive and keep posting on R2R!

 

[danenelsen]

Hate to see you leave the hobby over a gramma,or anything for that matter.
Get rid of the fish and keep going with what you have, stay positive and keep posting on R2R!

Thanks, that kind of sounds like the consensus among everyone.