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- Reef (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=8)

- - who has success? (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=34294)

I've had a salt water tank running now for about 2 and a half years.

It started with a 10 Gallon then to a 30 Gallon to my present 90 Gallon.

I've had my ups and downs too, the worst being a tank crash a year ago when I moved my then 30G from my condo to my new house. I lost all my coral, I had over $1,500 worth of SPS and LPS die on me within 2 weeks of the move :( and that just about did me in, but my fish survived so I just kept going, although I went into the mode of just doing the bare minimum husbandry to keep everything alive but really got passionate again about 6 months ago when I upgraded to the 90G.

In summary, I am one happy reefer.

Will[/quote]

This is what I need to hear! Thanks. You know, most threads deal with problems people are having, but it's nice to hear that people are also enjoying their tanks! I'm going to take it very slow, and yes, I am reading as much as I can. I want to be a success story.

Since Albert mentioned me I'll chime in here. I would consider this link my somewhat successful story how ever humble.
http://www.canreef.com/ftotm/may07/index.php

If you are serious about the hobby jump in with both feet, you'll love it.

Been reefing for a year and 1/2 and I love it! Even with the few dumb mistakes I've made along the way it's all been so worth it :biggrin:

Since 2002.

I really can't see how anything in the tank itself would drive me out of the hobby. There's ups and downs but anything negative can be overcome.

I could though see things not related to SW to cause me to quit.

I had mine going from 99 till last year. didn't realy get out of the hobby becayse of problems, more rather I was bored with it and was changing my life style to spend more time gone in the summers. the maintance on a salt water tank wouldn't allow me to do this so I am back to 3 fresh water tanks. well the kids have 2 and I have 1, but I am thinking of doing a monster planted fresh water, 250 to 300 gal. just not sure when, but if a tank comes up for the right price......

Steve

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delphinus (Post 262451)

Albert ... you've got to be kidding, you can't count that tank in the store as "a gorgeously maintained tank over the years". :lol:

Since you seemed to have completely forgotten about ME (which I'm sure was just a complete oversight, after all, I'm sure you don't really think of my tanks and accomplishments in the hobby over the last ten years as insignificant :p ), I'll have to toot my own horn, despite that it goes against everything I believe in .. I've been in the hobby for ten years now, and ...

Oh stow it, never mind. Those who have seen my tanks say they're nice. I think they're nice. That's enough for me. As for the original question ... anything worth doing is surely going to present a challenge sooner or later. You just have to learn when to roll with the ups and downs. Of course success is possible, most of us acheive it in some form or another (and possibly don't even realize it). Just recognize that nothing last forever, focuses and interests change, the time one can commit can change, and it causes us to change things around. Don't take the number of people "selling everything" as discouragement, we don't always know the circumstances. Maybe they just learned that they're about to give birth to triplets (this happened to a friend of mine, for real :lol:) and they've had to adjust their routine somewhat. The problem is that the reef hobby tends to be equipment-rich - and by that I mean - you tend to soak up a lot of savings for the equipment - so even if you're going to take a break, sometimes it makes more sense to "divest your investments back into liquidity" rather than sit on a bunch of equipment.

I love the hobby - even with the ups and downs - I would miss it. So, even though there are times I challenge my involvement in it - I'm still here. :) I hope that as you embark on your reef journey that you get as obsessed with it as the rest of us :)

I was gonna mention you Tony, but you're never quite as happy with your tank as the rest of us are :P

Just for the record, last time I was at Tony's, I and Cyril spent like half an hour oogling over the massive anemone and huge lump of Blue Ridge Coral. Very nice!

Actually, you should dig up pictures of your old SPS reef Tony! That was some sweet stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaster (Post 262449)

Its funny because i think of all the bad luck i have with equipment breakdowns,i should leave the hobby.I seem to get the fluke defective equipment.Now i'm stressed because i can't get the rock to look right.800 dollars in premo frags sitting on eggcrate stands.

I second that LR comment! real PITA.
The bestest way to arrange live rock is to make water cloudy, and then just blindly put all the rocks in.
Just make sure it stable that's all.
Always worked for me :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melina (Post 262419)

I've been reading some old threads about why people get out of the hobby & sell all their stuff. It seems a lot of people run into problems with their tanks and give up. As someone who is just about to start, I would like to hear something positive. Are there people out there who set up a tank and have enjoyed success? I know it's an expensive hobby. I know there will be a lot of challenges. But I need to hear that it's worth it, and what lies ahead of me is more than just frustration, desperation and hopeless surrender. Are there people out there who have stuck with the hobby for years and have maintained and enjoyed healthy tanks? I need to hear from you!

Chin Lee's are the best reef tanks i have ever seen localy!

I've been struggling with the definition of success for awhile now. I like to tell myself that it is in the eye of the beholder...to a point. I've been running a Reef and FOWLR for two? years now (seems like three for the reef). Tore both down and restarted once, due to a move. Both tanks have now been running again for 7 months. In terms of keeping fish and corals alive, I've been successful, with very few deaths. A couple of chromis; a clam; a cleaner shrimp. The clam death was entirely my stupid fault as I was Joe's Juicing Aiptasia that was on its shell. Lost a male Blue Chin Trigger once, too, but I'm certain it died due to shipping stress. It never did well from the start. So, in terms of keeping fish and corals alive...I consider myself successful.
Where I'm not so certain is the overall tanks themselves. The FOWLR is doing great. Nasty cyanobacteria has run it's course and pretty much gone, except for some in the sump.
The reef is another story. Had cyano here as well, but it too has all but dissappeared. Where I struggle with the term "success" is my ongoing battle with Aiptasia. I just can't seem to get it under control. I also now have a nasty hair algae problem as well. I have a mind to try a Racoon Butterfly for the Aiptasia problem, and a Sea Hare for the algae problem. In the meantime, however, I try to accept it by telling myself the tank has a more natural look. But I still find it hard to consider my reefkeeping a success.
In short, if success to you is keeping livestock alive then I echo Alberts comments re: information, patience, discipline and planning with emphasis on the information (ie: research) and patience. Especially patience. GO SLOW.
If success to you is keeping an award worthy, pristine reef tank...well....I hope you like a challenge.

Good luck and cheers,