Thinking of getting out?!?!?

elmareefer

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So, after all this I’m thinking of selling my reed setup. It’s been fun, ups and very few downs, however for some reason I’m not sitting back watching it much.
Not near as much as the spring. Didn’t really go into the baseball in the summer which is where the tank is at.

Just dressing all the work I put in just to break it all down. Wife thinks I’m. It’s btw

Any thoughts on this? Have you had times where you were like, cutting my future spending and get what I can?
 
Sure, after 4 decades, I’ve made changes.
Once 10 years ago I stopped, tore down, but kept my stuff as it’s never worth a ton to others.

Then 5 years later, I restarted again. Then I doubled the size, added a refuge, and two frag tanks for about 10 years. But it was costing a ton and it’s really hard to “make” any money from frags.

Recently, downgraded to a smaller (from 160g with frag tanks to a simple 80g AIO) which reduced time and cost, and this 8m enjoying more, as maintaining is so so much easier and less time consuming.

But can’t see never having a tank forever.

But of course, at the end of the day, it’s always a personal choice, none two alike.

Good luck on whatever you decide.
 
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Don't break down just do the lowest maintenance on your reef and just go do something else for a few months you will get interest back. I think all reefers go through this just keep plodding along. Keep reefing my friend
 
Honestly, I see people take breaks from the hobby, but most people never truly quit.

I agree with nano man that maybe turning your tank into a low maintenace tank can make it more enjoyable while you recover from burnout!
 
So, after all this I’m thinking of selling my reed setup. It’s been fun, ups and very few downs, however for some reason I’m not sitting back watching it much.
Not near as much as the spring. Didn’t really go into the baseball in the summer which is where the tank is at.

Just dressing all the work I put in just to break it all down. Wife thinks I’m. It’s btw

Any thoughts on this? Have you had times where you were like, cutting my future spending and get what I can?
I have had Tanks for over 60 years. Lots of set backs , but too stubborn to quit. However , since I have a third ready to assemble , I am rethinking it all. The fear of a flood , and being unfair to my wife when the inevitable time comes
 
I would encourage you to get out if that is what is on your mind. Nothing wrong with it.
 
Don't break down just do the lowest maintenance on your reef and just go do something else for a few months you will get interest back. I think all reefers go through this just keep plodding along. Keep reefing my friend

This can be done. I know a few folks who have let tanks sit, unmanaged, for a year or more. They just fed the fish and topped off the water. The tanks did surprisingly well

I've left this hobby before though. I was travelling internationally way too frequently to keep up with my systems. Now I'm semi-retired, going into full retirement, and I don't think I will ever be without a tank unless there is a tragedy.

I have times where I'm not as interested in the tank and then boom back into it never think of getting rid of it though

Honestly, I see people take breaks from the hobby, but most people never truly quit.

I often joke that no one really ever leaves this hobby once they are in it. They may say they are done, then a few years later they get that itch again. LOL

Having said all the above, leaving and getting back in can enable you to redo things you didn't like in your earlier build out. Correct mistakes, upgrade equipment, and try new processes.
 
I have had Tanks for over 60 years. Lots of set backs , but too stubborn to quit. However , since I have a third ready to assemble , I am rethinking it all. The fear of a flood , and being unfair to my wife when the inevitable time comes

My wife wants NOTHING to do with the tank. Like zero interest. So much so, that I actually included a line in my will giving all of my aquatic gear to a friend. Just so she can sleep easy in case something happens. I did this because she asked, "What am I going to do with all this if something happens to you?" Problem solved.
 
instead of getting out, I would take a long think and figure out what you really like about the hobby. A lot of us go "mixed reef" which at the end of the day means everything, which means your effort is also "all of it". I encourage you to honestly assess what thing or few things specifically make you happiest. is it a specific type of coral? A fish? some specific inverts?

From there, make a plan to change what you have now into only what interests you most. For example, this may mean turning your mixed reef into a clownfish and nem only system, which may further mean you can get away with a smaller tank, less maintenance, expense, etc. while maximizing your enjoyment

Hope that helps, my brain has gone there a few times, and i know i should follow my own advice, but then I converted a room in my house into a fish room, so I'm in too deep 😅
 
I am in my late 60s and decided to simplify my tank system. I have a 75g with a canister. The canister has a pre-filter so dont need to open the canister but 1 or 2Xs year. I keep easier fish and coral that are not as finicky. I enjoy this tank very much.
 

WHAT KIND OF SUBSTRATE ARE YOU RUNNING ON YOUR TANK?

  • Bare bottom

    Votes: 5 20.8%
  • A shallow bed of fine sand

    Votes: 6 25.0%
  • A shallow bed of coarser sand

    Votes: 5 20.8%
  • A deep sand bed

    Votes: 3 12.5%
  • Mixed substrate or varying sand depth

    Votes: 5 20.8%
  • Some other substrate (posted in the comments)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I don’t have a reef tank yet

    Votes: 0 0.0%
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