should I just pack it in???

Snappy · #1 06-29-2006, 06:08 PM

Samw--Yes I have a UV sterilizer. Had it disconnected for several months because the filter/pump it was hooked into was leaking, but it has been back up for a couple of weeks now.

Will - Yeah the spring run off is a big problem. I talked to Danny at Wai's a while back, who also uses tap water, and he said he looses countless acro's every spring.

Christy - the tank needs to be moved before construction can start and the new tank will be built in elsewhere.

I will start researching an RODI unit right away. Anyone have any suggestions on those?

TheReefGeek · #2 06-29-2006, 06:15 PM

I have no complaints with my AquaFX model, I have contacted the manufacturer in the US a few times, and service is excellent.

There are cheaper models though.

I went with 100gpd unit, overkill, but means I can fill my water change reservoire quicily when required.

Samw · #3 06-29-2006, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snappy

Samw--Yes I have a UV sterilizer. Had it disconnected for several months because the filter/pump it was hooked into was leaking, but it has been back up for a couple of weeks now.

In my tank, it took about a couple of weeks after I installed the UV before the Acros stopped STN'ing. You lost your Acros during a period of time when your UV was not installed or was just set up. So I think and I hope the UV will help you. Of course, getting RO is a good idea too. Though, RO didn't help for me during the first 5 years that I used it.

danny zubot · #4 06-29-2006, 07:10 PM

Hey Greg, sorry to hear about your bad luck, there seams to be a lot going around lately. Let me know if there is anything I can help with. When you get your RO/Di unit, plan on a very large water change ASAP.

Chad · #5 06-29-2006, 07:12 PM

I've been considering getting out of the hobby as well.. A lot of other priorities and with this algae I have been fighting.. well it gets to be a real downer.. I don't think I have bought a coral in a good couple of months. Except for maybe 1 or 2 that I lost and really wanted back. But otherwise.. I have stayed away from corals altogther until I get this tank back up to par.

reeferaddict · #6 06-29-2006, 07:35 PM

I fight through these bouts of "depression" every year as well, but I just can't give it up. My plans for this hobby extend YEARS into the future, and I use that as a goal to keep it up. I had a back injury earlier this year that forced me to do minimal maintenance for close to 6 weeks, and by then I just wanted to add a bucket of bleach because things were so bad. Almost all of my LPS were wasting away, a couple of my favourite acros RTN'd, and my most prized frag that was growing to beat the band fell into an anemone and by the time I found it was pure white...

After contemplating the future, I decided to keep it going. My LPS are recovering, and last week I stuck to the original plan and got rid of most of my softies, tore down my 72 and amalgamated the rock and leftover livestock all into my 135. Wow! Now I have a tank that looks similar to one of the show tanks I saw that originally got me hooked. It's not perfect by any means, but amazing how a little rearranging can rekindle one's interest. Now I too am planning for a bigger tank. This won't happen for a year or two, but the thought process and challenge of setting up a new system to correct the shortfalls of my current one keeps me excited.

Here's what really helped me refocus:
In mulling it over with my girlfriend, she simply looked at me and said, "What will you do if you DON'T have a tank to care for?" All along I had thought she'd be thrilled to get rid of all this stuff, but she's so awesome, she'll support anything that brings me satisfaction and happiness.

Now I just have to figure out a way to break the news to her about the bigger tank... hehe...

Keep your chin up and move forward my friend. I bet your friends come over and are in awe of your tank, I am... nice job. Do whatever it takes to get your mind wrapped around this hobby again and get back on it. Talent like yours should not go to waste.

midgetwaiter · #7 06-29-2006, 09:44 PM

When I started my current job last winter I decided that my life was going to be much too complicated to maintain the all the reptiles I had so I gave most of them away. I found that I more or less immediately filled this time with a renewed interest in my fish and corals. The dishes still stack up till Saturday.

My initial plan with the reef tank was to setup something small, nice and simple, keep maybe less difficult animals but keep them very well. Then I decided to I wanted a sump and all the powerheads in there were causing some heat issues etc. In the end I found myself with a rebuilt system with every "big tank" goody I could think of jammed into a 20. This was working well and so I figured, I can probably keep a clam and add some different fish and... The simple thing went out the window, whole progression took about 3 months. Then I had my series of screwups I've been complaining about all week. I'm going to try simple again, 3 fish and some soft corals, period.

Maybe that's the kind of thing you could consider. Your tank is very impressive but you are having trouble keeping it like you want to so why not get rid of some of the finicky livestock? It may not seem like it would be as satisfying to do easier stuff but I think you could make up for it with the knowledge that you do it very well. Hopefully this would be less demanding.

Just an idea.

danny zubot · #8 06-29-2006, 10:41 PM

That other thread which delt with the "reef gods" sure did a number on me. I remember reading it saying to myself... "self, I haven't had any issues with my tank for a while". Then BAM! my skimmer pump dies two days later. Its always something with this hobby! But you have to laugh it off because you only live once, and what better way to spend thousands and thousands of dollars.

BMW Rider · #9 06-29-2006, 11:11 PM

This can be a frustrating pastime. I too have wondered if it is worth continuing at times when things are not looking ideal. I had a real algae problem for a while, but with some phosphate remover and lots of manual removal, I've got it 95% beat. I also had my acros showing some tissue recession recently. The cause was a re-apperance of the red bugs despite having treated all my new acros fro them. I suspect that I must have had them on my original colony as well as it was the only one that was never treated prior to placement in the tank. I pulled them all and retreated, leaving them in qt for two weeks to ensure none remained in the main tank. Hopefully they are gone. So far the acros all look to be improving in colour and health.

I find it much harder during the summer months to look after the tank since I really want to be travelling on my bike more. I want my tanks to be able to be self sufficient for at least a week without care, but its hard to plan an extended trip and not wonder if I'll come home to a disaster. I am planning to get a controller and some back up power supplies eventually to add some peace of mind, but I need to get the budget for them first.

There is no shame in downsizing if that is what you need to do for the time being. If a total shut down is what it takes, while sad, it may be the better choice rather than just letting it degrade to the point where it is all lost. You can keep all your equipment and restart when things are more accomodating. It is a hard choice though once you have invested so much into it, both time and money. For noiw though, try to figure out the cause of the decline first, then choose a course of action to deal; with it. The RO/DI is a good first step.