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

[shakacuz]

keeping up with manually dosing the big 5 (alk, cal, mag, no3, po4) in a small system with corals beginning to finally take off after some turbulence. clams are taking off too so it adds to the issue.

going to start a gofundme to get a controller/monitor….

 

[X-37B]

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

Not at all. I run mine at 7. If it was stated that way no problem. In the 90's some were running 15-18.
Its misleading to tell the public something thats not true. It has nothing to do wirh what anyone runs their reef at.

 

[TinnysReef]

Patience. I just setup a new tank with old live rock and I want all the fish and corals lol. But also equipment. Sometimes I need to take a step back and realize if I really need it or not.

I agree. I just set up a tank and by "just set up a tank" I mean 6 weeks ago now. I want to add everything NOW but I tried adding my frogspawns and they were not happy. *sigh* ... I am going to TRY and be patient and wait for coralline to appear before I risk more corals.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Not tinkering is incredibly difficult for me. Also, trying to catch that second gorilla crab that scavenged into my tank on live rock. I caught the first one and saw the second one today. Ugh.

 

[ThaBeast]

Currently this long time stick head is having trouble with the concept of low-medium flow for an lps tank! I’ll get there eventually

 

[rtparty]

Filtering through the “noise” of the forums and groups

Good cell phone pics

Not wanting to play with every piece of technology

 

[Roatan Reef]

Thanks! Mr Bags is a funny guy.
Also you need a plan for when things go wrong.
A plan from day one will keep you on track, imo.
Its worked for 30+ for me.

trying not to quit when something goes very wrong. one of the hardest things to do. or hauling water through the house.

also nice cat the guy above me

Yep
...yep
.


I almost quit 8 months in....but I knew my wife would be super mad...after all
..I told her it would only be $1500...that soon turned into $3500. But here we are with 2 tanks now and all is good.

And cot darn
..I'm 45 now and must be a weakling.

Transportation of 5 gallon jugs of Saltwater from outside to inside and I'm spent....

 

[Roatan Reef]

I have another one keeping the glass clean! All those perfect Instagram photos and Reef of the Month photos aren’t the reality lol.

Yep....
Yep..

When you see reef of the month on here or in reef magazine...read the fine print...dudes literally get up every morning and clean glass and sandbed...like religion....shoooot...ain't nobody got time for that!!

 

[ScubaSkeets]

Getting the reagent powder into the Hanna test vials!!

 

[Tahiti]

SPS corals so I don’t try anymore!

I was the same way until I started dosing All for Reef. Have you tried a green slimer, stylophora or birdsnest? Those are the ones I have and so far they are growing extremely fast.

 

[AydenLincoln]

I was the same way until I started dosing All for Reef. Have you tried a green slimer, stylophora or birdsnest? Those are the ones I have and so far they are growing extremely fast.

Yes and I killed then lol.

 

[Tahiti]

My challenge has been changing from an all in one tank to a tank with an actual sump. I have finally got the water level right by having the trickle down the emergency drain pipe. Since then the tank has been doing great. Before that I wanted to sell it and go back to an Aio

 

[Tahiti]

Yes and I killed then lol.

Oh no way! Do they bleach out or go brown?

 

[jstabile316]

dealing with bryopsis, I’ve used fluconozole in the past and it always worked for me but now I’m 3 weeks into my 2nd treatment and I’m still seeing a few strands here and there and now cyano is starting to take over. SMH ‍

 

[AydenLincoln]

Oh no way! Do they bleach out or go brown?

Bleached! Also I do dip them I know that may not have helped. But they didn’t die immediately they slowly melted away. Only one went brown and that was a monti and it turned white eventually. Also tried to adjust the water/when I was chasing numbers it didn’t end well so I don’t do that anymore. I ended up overdosing NOPOX and now I don’t trust myself to dose anything so I don’t. My other corals are thriving they are all LPS and softies though.

 

[Rjukan]

Testing the water. Beyond checking salinity for water changes water, everything else makes me miserable.

 

[X-37B]

Yep
...yep
.


I almost quit 8 months in....but I knew my wife would be super mad...after all
..I told her it would only be $1500...that soon turned into $3500. But here we are with 2 tanks now and all is good.

And cot darn
..I'm 45 now and must be a weakling.

Transportation of 5 gallon jugs of Saltwater from outside to inside and I'm spent....

Wait until your at retirement age, lol. They just get heavier.

 

[Rocky Mountain Reef]

Sps are easy, you just need a plan.

Until a bunch of dead coral punch you in the mouth....

 

[ukgeoff]

Biggest challenge is stopping myself from buying a larger tank. I don't really have the room, but keep telling myself surely I can squeeze something bigger in lol

 

[GARRIGA]

Challenging old mantras with new ideas and getting a conversation started to possibly advance knowledge vs waiting for some YouTuber to show off their success and now everyone talking about it.