What is the most challenging aspect of the hobby to you?

[Blindzy]

Convincing the wife that I need to spend yet another $$$$ on the tank.....

 

[randomfishdude]

The getting good photos with a phone is true even with a filter is so true.

Cough cough. This is my mom's 75 gal. My tank isn't that hard to take pictures of but hurs is super hard. She hast to have me come take pics.

 

[KrisReef]

Trying to convince people that its a life style that i was born with and it is not an option for me. I must have a reef.

Once I can get general approval of my situation, I intend to lobby congress for subsidies and monthly disability payments, or what ever help the government will supply to keep me safe in the hobby without shame or judgement.

"I have a dream," and the room was filled with blue light.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Cough cough. This is my mom's 75 gal. My tank isn't that hard to take pictures of but hurs is super hard. She hast to have me come take pics.

There’s so many factors! The hardest thing I struggle with is glare and the imperfections/algae in the glass. I also know many people edit their photos too.

 

[randomfishdude]

There’s so many factors! The hardest thing I struggle with is glare and the imperfections/algae in the glass. I also know many people edit their photos too.

Yea I had a go at that for another thread here yesterday where we were talking about the same thing.

It also just matters the camra settings. I figures out how to do that.
Only the top one is edited.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Convincing the wife that I need to spend yet another $$$$ on the tank.....

Hey you can convince her it is for a good cause and to house new livestock haha

 

[AydenLincoln]

Yea I had a go at that for another thread here yesterday where we were talking about the same thing.

It also just matters the camra settings. I figures out how to do that.
Only the top one is edited.

And the difference between a phone with a filter and a DSLR camera with filters.

 

[randomfishdude]

And the difference between a phone with a filter and a DSLR camera with filters.

Exactly. I had a orange filter on that one super vibrant pic of that 75 gal with coraline but all the others were just me adjusting the camera settings.

 

[dadnjesse]

Sps are easy, you just need a plan.

That is not true, maybe for you. Most people struggle, all you have to do is read all the threads of people having a difficut time with keeping them.

 

[Troylee]

That is not true, maybe for you. Most people struggle, all you have to do is read all the threads of people having a difficut time with keeping them.

Bacteria dose and it’s easy! I can say since the day I set up a tank up I’ve never had a problem keeping sps! I’ve always dosed mb7/vodka thou.. today I run the zeo method with zero issues.

 

[X-37B]

That is not true, maybe for you. Most people struggle, all you have to do is read all the threads of people having a difficut time with keeping them.

I have read all the threads and it can be, and imo, is easy. However I have been at it since the late 80's. Most make it harder than it needs to be. No plan no future.
I have helped a few but most wont listen and then try to piece together what several people are doing.
I honestly believe I can take a newbe from day one to a real nice system in a year.
Anyway enjoy your reef.
Anyone wanting help can pm me as im retired. Peace

 

[Cthulukelele]

Consistency is the hardest part for me. I'm a naturally flighty "next shiny thing" person, and reefkeeping takes time and dedication. From choosing the right fish and coral to staying on top of water parameters to checking for equipment malfunctions. Every part has a failure point based around inconsistency, lack of patience, or neglect.

 

[X-37B]

Consistency is the hardest part for me. I'm a naturally flighty "next shiny thing" person, and reefkeeping takes time and dedication. From choosing the right fish and coral to staying on top of water parameters to checking for equipment malfunctions. Every part has a failure point based around inconsistency, lack of patience, or neglect.

Well said. Get a plan and it will lead to consistency.

 

[TL1]

There are a lot of challenging aspects in this hobby, but for me personally, the most difficult has been not impulsively spending on livestock... maybe that condenses to maintaining a consistent budget/allowance for the tank.

 

[riche]

For me it’s making up my mind lol

I have a bad case of adult ADD and am always changing my mind. I’m hoping with this new build I am planning I can learn to focus and use it as a way to help with the squirrel disease as my wife likes to call it.

 

[X-37B]

For me it’s making up my mind lol

I have a bad case of adult ADD and am always changing my mind. I’m hoping with this new build I am planning I can learn to focus and use it as a way to help with the squirrel disease as my wife likes to call it.

Get a paper log book. Put everything down on paper. Make your plan and stick to it. Put something in your log a few times a week.
Start now you will thank me long term.
Good luck!

 

[tzabor10]

Biggest challenge is getting cords organized. They are finally all out from under the stand sitting in two cabinets on each side of the stand. Each weekend I pick a new line to detangle and label. Given up on trying to finish but see this as ongoing maintenance.

 

[Charles Zinn]

There are some parts to the reef keeping hobby that can provide a good challenge for some people. Maybe it is maintaining stable water parameters, or maybe it is learning how to get coral to flourish in your tank. I am wondering what is the most challenging aspect in the hobby to you?

Used to be the big 4 til I put in a Calcium Reactor. Then it was trace elements. Now that I have got (k) potaccium in range there are occasion trace elements that are not in the salt mix I get that are missing. Is it the Chaetp in my sump , the TBTA anenomes which reproduce every full moon, or the fact that I now have sps frags with multiple growth tips that are affecting my trace elements

 

[Reefer Matt]

Complacency. I have gotten to a point where I forget basic things because a given problem hasn’t shown up in years.

 

[TWYOUNG]

Convincing people that the average ocean alk is 6.5, lol.
Some reputable growers, I wont name them, insist that the ocean alk is 8-9. They will never return any emails.

Are you suggesting a little extra buffering ability isn't a good thing in the tiny, unstable ecosystems we put in our living rooms?