Why did you come back to reefing?

[Johnd651]

After a 14 year hiatus (reefcentral days) I have come back to reefing. I noticed there are others with similar absences. Why did you leave? Why did you come back? Just curiosity.

After the initial tank, I went into a monster African cichlid tank after which I downsized and ended up moving cross country. No tanks after that for about 8 years before kicking it back into fish with a 10 gallon betta set up.

Have plans for a big reef, and was working on the house to prep. Getting close! But for now, have a 15 aio to take care of the itch.

 

[voelter76]

I’d wanted to for a long time but life wouldn’t allow it. I would actually dream about cycling tanks and putting the first zoas in. As soon as I could I started back up. Much has changed but I’m having a blast!!!

 

[Nano_Tuners]

My repetitive problem was always doing something too big/elaborate... Then after some time I get busy with other aspects of life and start neglecting the tanks. I was also mortified when I moved cities a few years ago and calculated all the money I had spent on a large high tech tank I had.

That's why I stick to small & simple now.

 

[BryanM]

Wife wanted it!

 

[RockRash]

We had a lfs open up literally a half mile from our house. I successfully avoided it for over a year. I messed up and walked in back in February of last year and it was over for me. I got home and started pricing things out then I found this forum and here I am, back in after a 10 year hiatus.

 

[RockRash]

My repetitive problem was always doing something too big/elaborate... Then after some time I get busy with other aspects of life and start neglecting the tanks. I was also mortified when I moved cities a few years ago and calculated all the money I had spent on a large high tech tank I had.

That's why I stick to small & simple now.

Oh man, the first rule of expensive hobbies is never add up all the money you've spent. The 2nd rule is telling your wife you only spent a 1/4 of what you think you actually spent.

 

[rcpiv93]

Before grad school, I worked at a LFS and the discount heavily subsidized my tanks. When I moved for school, things got too crazy.

Now, I’ve graduated. Got a house. Got a job. And I finally have the time and money to get back into the hobby

 

[braaap]

Because I hate my life lol

But seriously. Why do we do this to ourselves? haha

 

[Rhetoric]

My 90 gallon (2009) was a ton of work and started it before kids. After kids it just wasn't happening so closed it down.

I always thought if I did it again I would need to automate water changes, tests, and have a room for all the gear. The only way a big tank and my life might work out.

2022 I went into a client's home and saw a 10 gallon clown nem tank. HOLYSHIP what do you mean it can be done that small???

I know big tanks are everyone's dream, but for me I'd rather have a tank I can easily manage.

My 20 gallon just hit 2 years still going strong. Absolutely no desire to upgrade ( I have less $$$ in my 20 then the lights on my 90.)

P.s. I wish this hobby would find a nano fish that eats algae like a tang. It's all that's all I'm missing.

 

[Jimbo327]

Why I got out of hobby? Kids.
Why I got back into the hobby? Kids.

 

[PharmrJohn]

When I got out of rhe hobby it was for two reasons. Frustration and Kids. Frustration because my tank crashed hard, taking pretty much everything. Kids because I wanted to spend less time on hobbies and more with family.

Now, my kids are grown and I've got some disposable income. Retirement is around the corner and I'll have some disposable time as well! So I've started planning and should be up and running my end of this summer or beginning of fall. I'm just taking my time collecting hardware for now.......

 

[ksliech]

I got out around 20 years ago right before I graduated college and moved out. I had worked for an LFS for years and was super into it (heavy user of the reefs.org forum, @monkeyboy, and on the Wet Web Media crew) , but after entering the workforce I basically dropped all hobbies!

A few years ago I got the itch again but wasn’t allowed to set up a tank in the apartment I was in. When I moved into my new place this year, schlepping over the 50lbs of reefkeeping books I’ve been moving from place to place for the past few decades, I was finally able to set one up and settled down enough to maintain it! So thrilled to be back in the game!!!

I love this hobby, and it’s been so fun to re-learn the basics and see how far the tech has come.

 

[Reefer Matt]

My first tank was a 110 gallon tall (4’ long) in 2005. I did side work developing and maintaining the lfs’s website, and learned a lot at the time. When the economy tanked in 2006, I had to sell off everything to support my family (I was 26 at the time). In 2018 I realized that after years of traveling for work, that I was finally home everyday, and remembered my lost passion for reefing.

Using techniques I remembered from the past, coupled with new (2018) BRS videos, I bought a modest 36 gallon bowfront aquarium. The addiction grew, and I added four more tanks over the years for frags, fish, and displaying coral. Now that I am solidly into my career, I can afford to feed my (healthy) addiction for reefing. Instead of a hobby, it has become a lifestyle for me.

 

[ColorMeGone]

I think I stopped reefing in 1998 after a divorce. Moved...... a bunch over the years and back at it for less than a year now. Have lots of time on my hands now and my 8.3 nano reef tank keeps me busy along with my Koi, shrimp, fresh water planted, and beta's. lol

 

[CannibalisticTurtle]

After a 14 year hiatus (reefcentral days) I have come back to reefing. I noticed there are others with similar absences. Why did you leave? Why did you come back? Just curiosity.

After the initial tank, I went into a monster African cichlid tank after which I downsized and ended up moving cross country. No tanks after that for about 8 years before kicking it back into fish with a 10 gallon betta set up.

Have plans for a big reef, and was working on the house to prep. Getting close! But for now, have a 15 aio to take care of the itch.

I got out about 4 years ago after my son was born and just had less free time and expendable income. Now that he is older one of his favorite things to do is go to the aquariums when we are near them and asks to go to all the LFS to see everything. He keeps asking if we can get a fish tank so back in I go.

 

[Johnd651]

I got out about 4 years ago after my son was born and just had less free time and expendable income. Now that he is older one of his favorite things to do is go to the aquariums when we are near them and asks to go to all the LFS to see everything. He keeps asking if we can get a fish tank so back in I go.

5 yo daughter that's loving it. She started out with the 10 gallon betta a year ago. Knows more about the sw tank then my wife some days.

 

[FernBluffReef]

Returned 4Q 2023, after ~22 year hiatus. Got out due to relocation to another state and new home and kid on way.

Earlier in the year, out of the blue wife mentioned if I wanted a new reef. I had not had one since moved. Took me 6 months of contemplating, detailed planning etc. before pulling the trigger.

Biggest hold back over the years was the floors in our house - all lightweight radiant heat concrete over a crawlspace that I didn’t think could carry the load (plus the expense). House was reconstructed in 2019 including the floor reinforced so when she offered the excuse was gone just had to figure out where and how much. Went with a 5’ 112 gallon as I was still overly cautious. Space could have held a 6’ and should have just gotten the 6’ :-(

 

[SerialHobbiest]

Got out in 2019 because of some health issues. Spent most of that year on crutches / a knee scooter which made taking care of a tank impossible. Plus there were so many little nuisances in the setup that made maintenance a challenge (stand too short meant an undersized skimmer, water changes meant hauling buckets across the house, RODI in laundry room was just constantly in my wife’s way, etc.) just felt overwhelmed by the 120g system but wasn’t in a good place to go back to my tried and true 40BR.

Fast forward a bit and I keep thinking I would get back in after our oldest dog passed away. (Loved that goofball but if I was being honest with myself, I’d take a reef tank over a dog any day of the week.). Well, she passed in September 2023, and for other reasons, my wife wanted to buy a new house in October 2023. So I decided I would get my dream tank out of the move. Ordered my 180 on the day we closed on the new house and plan to finally start stocking next week.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I got out in 2020, long story. I was away from R2R for a while. Would pop in every once and a while but nowhere near as active as I was. Came back in full swing because I missed all the friends I had made here @revhtree @Daniel@R2R @4FordFamily @HotRocks @fishguy242 @vetteguy53081 ect... and missed helping people.
Now i'm more active than ever and am looking forward to continuing my journey here, and possibly getting another tank in the near future :)

 

[Johnd651]

Got out in 2019 because of some health issues. Spent most of that year on crutches / a knee scooter which made taking care of a tank impossible. Plus there were so many little nuisances in the setup that made maintenance a challenge (stand too short meant an undersized skimmer, water changes meant hauling buckets across the house, RODI in laundry room was just constantly in my wife’s way, etc.) just felt overwhelmed by the 120g system but wasn’t in a good place to go back to my tried and true 40BR.

Fast forward a bit and I keep thinking I would get back in after our oldest dog passed away. (Loved that goofball but if I was being honest with myself, I’d take a reef tank over a dog any day of the week.). Well, she passed in September 2023, and for other reasons, my wife wanted to buy a new house in October 2023. So I decided I would get my dream tank out of the move. Ordered my 180 on the day we closed on the new house and plan to finally start stocking next week.

I do understand the pup thing. I had to put down 2 this January 6 days apart, and am now really back into setting up a much bigger tank.