What Keeps You in the Hobby?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Photo by @bobbyM – Featured in Reef2Reef Spotlight​

We all hit bumps in the road—algae outbreaks, equipment fails, livestock losses—and sometimes the idea of tearing it all down feels very real. Lately, I’ve seen more than a few teardown threads, and I get it. After 13 years in the hobby, I’ve had seasons where my tank looked more like a green hair algae farm than a reef. Life gets crazy, maintenance gets missed, and burnout creeps in. But even when things aren’t picture-perfect, I still find joy in caring for what’s the fish and inverts that are thriving (some of which I definitely didn't plan for) and planning for the comeback. So what about you? What keeps you reefing—especially when it gets tough? Let’s encourage each other and celebrate the reasons we stick with it.

 

[Jasonak]

I love it all from the critters to the coral. I like getting small piece of coral getting it big then swapping it out for something new. I enjoy tinkering with and tweaking my tanks here and there. I mean there's days where I come home chuck some food in and barley watch them eat. But most days I hear are you still messing with your tank, from my wife :) She gets a little jealous of it, And when my tank is running top shelf and waters so clear the fish look like there floating in the air, makes you feel pretty good. Ive had fish since I won a gold fish at the fair by throwing a ping pong ball in a glass bowl. Later my uncle gave me a aquarium with chrome metal trim on all the edges it was a neat tank, I will always have a tank. Even when im old and grey Ill at least have a koi pond or something lol

 

[rtparty]

Insanity

 

[Jasonak]

Insanity

I do not know that this reply can be beat.

 

[landlubber]

a streak of stupidity lol
My dad bought me a tank for my 6th bday and over the past 41 years i've almost continuously kept a fish tank of some type.

 

[Freenow54]

Photo by @bobbyM – Featured in Reef2Reef Spotlight​

We all hit bumps in the road—algae outbreaks, equipment fails, livestock losses—and sometimes the idea of tearing it all down feels very real. Lately, I’ve seen more than a few teardown threads, and I get it. After 13 years in the hobby, I’ve had seasons where my tank looked more like a green hair algae farm than a reef. Life gets crazy, maintenance gets missed, and burnout creeps in. But even when things aren’t picture-perfect, I still find joy in caring for what’s the fish and inverts that are thriving (some of which I definitely didn't plan for) and planning for the comeback. So what about you? What keeps you reefing—especially when it gets tough? Let’s encourage each other and celebrate the reasons we stick with it.

Posted mine got no reaction

 

[Jasonak]

a streak of stupidity lol
My dad bought me a tank for my 6th bday and over the past 41 years i've almost continuously kept a fish tank of some type.

I stand corrected.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

My Dad put a 55g mixed freshwater community tank in his office when I was a lil lad, angels and cardinal fish. I’ve never looked back.

I stare at my tanks for hours everyday, don’t think I’m going anywhere.

 

[Freenow54]

Stubborn and adventure of the unknown both qualities to endure the madness

 

[Kooma]

My Son.

I had two clowns in a tank so green i couldnt see them through the glass for many years. He loves them, loves the coral, and im finally at a point in my life where I can afford it (Thats debatable).

So here we are.

I need to learn not to buy $100 coral frags though, i think that is something that gives me the most stress. if my $10 zoa dies, oh well. That $100 1" acro frag? bad call Kooma.

Ive had neon tetras, a pleco, some zibras and others when I was 7 or 8 with my dad. Been obsessed since.

 

[BryanM]

The amount of money I have spent in the first year..... Insanity? My wife??

The critters. The challenge.

 

[littlefoxx]

My eels

 

[Tahoe61]

I work in a higher stress job managing a restaurant/bar/kitchen and personal in food and beverage on a golf course.
If I didn't have the distraction of the hobby my stress level would be intolerable.

This hobby offers me some much needed relief from a fast pace work environment.

Lastly it's also a life long obsession.

:)

 

[Reefer Matt]

Lately, the community. Reefing always has its ups and downs, but sharing those with other Reefers really gains me new perspective. Hearing about other tanks and experiences helps me appreciate my own reefing journey more. Reefing also helped me through addiction, death, and other life stresses that would otherwise try to destroy me. It keeps me busy and focussed on something beautiful, even when it’s not always going good.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

just enough success and beauty to keep me going

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

this- and it’s only a year old. Seeing difficult to keep coral growing well. Also- it’s a hobby that is earned. Anyone that has kept reef tanks in the years and not quit should be proud and I do believe the results (though usually a bumpy road) speak for themselves. Many cannot tolerate sucking at something for a few months. We do it for years

 

[C_AWOL]

Its a basically insatiable addiction with a viscious cycle of keeping X or Y or X + Y and trying all of that with Z on repeat.

The rewarding outcomes greatly outweighing any bumps in the road don't help either.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Lately, the community. Reefing always has its ups and downs, but sharing those with other Reefers really gains me new perspective. Hearing about other tanks and experiences helps me appreciate my own reefing journey more. Reefing also helped me through addiction, death, and other life stresses that would otherwise try to destroy me. It keeps me busy and focussed on something beautiful, even when it’s not always going good.

wow that’s powerful. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[BlueBayouReefHTX]

The wonder. It's a crazy and irrational thing we try and do- keep a sensitive and almost alien biome in our homes. It's pretty amazing that its possible.

 

[EliMelly]

Lately I’m not sure as it’s been two disease outbreaks and tons of nuisance algae. I suppose it’s because my acros are living even though I haven’t done a water change or parameter check in 1 month.

Kind of been checked out a bit waiting for fallow to be over and for flux rx to kick in…,