I'm close

Delphinus · #1 02-23-2007, 03:02 AM

Hang in there. We all have our moments of clarity, thankfully the insanity comes back soon!

Having fish for 8 years is truly a good measure of something.

cheers

BMW Rider · #2 02-23-2007, 04:11 AM

I have noticed that my tanks seem to be cyclical. For a while they are looking great, things are growing, its well stocked, no problems. Then next thing you know, something turns sour and things start to die, recede, or a pest get out of control. Then you fight back; get it turned around until the next cycle starts.

Its quite discouraging to see things go bad, I know recently I had a mass of RTN on most of my sps. Seemed to be no real reason for it, but it has turned around now. Lost a few, the rest are regrowing, some quite well. Now I have a bit of nuisance algae coming back, so I need to stay vigilant on that. I don't think this hobby is ever easy, you can't really ever just relax and enjoy. That can lead to burn out, particularily with larger and or multiple tanks.

Just don't do anything rash, give the feelings time to settle, then make a plan of attack. Whatever you choose to do will be right for you.

Kronk · #3 02-23-2007, 04:39 AM

My advice, downgrade, keep the best of everything you have and put it in a nano. A 20g with sump or similar you can deck out the nano with TONS of equipment that will make it less maintenance intensive system with less cost and give yourself a break. Chances are you will get the bug again for a bigger tank in a couple years. But there are a lot of things to enjoy about a nano some people never upgrade. http://www.nano-reef.com

Cheers.
Ken

Snappy · #4 02-23-2007, 05:21 AM

Hey Deb I can relate with your frustration, I was about ready to throw in the towel myself early last fall. I did a complete tear down and set-up over the Labour day weekend and now you'd never know. Then even after that I still continued to battle cyano & MEGA, & I mean MEGA hair algae for months. Just keep in mind that there has to be opposition in all things that are worthwhile. That is what makes them rewarding but on the other hand frustrating. If it was too easy and without challenges there wouldn't be any feelings of reward. Tackle the issues one by one and given a little time your tank will once again be a show piece that you can take pride in. If there is anything I can do to help out just let me know.

BCOrchidGuy · #5 02-23-2007, 06:01 AM

No advice from me, just a heartfelt suggestion and hoping you learn from my mistake(s). I can't tell you how hard it is to take down a tank and get rid of everything when it just gets to be to much, then at least for me I find I miss it so much I start all over again and I make some of the same mistakes and some new ones.

Don't make my mistakes, If it were me I'd take it all down again and then I'd wish I didn't in a few months. I'd spend more money than I should and I'd kick myself for not keeping things. Christy had some good advice, really good and I'm going to write that down for the next time something goes wrong... One battle at a time, not one whole battle but smaller ones I can win, one at a time.

Make the right decision for you and I sure hope it works out.

Doug

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #6 02-23-2007, 06:16 AM

Deb,

Glad to read that you're going to continue for now. Hope everything works out. If not, then I know you'll make the decision based on what's best for you & for your fishies. Hang in there.

Anthony

Doug · #7 02-23-2007, 02:06 PM

Hey Deb,
I think most of us long timers have been there, although I know thats no help for your tanks. Sometimes it just makes one want to bang their head on a wall. But we keep going, I guess because its such an enjoyable hobby when alls well, esp. for those of us that love pets/friends, which I know you do.

Passing on the flatworm fight may be fine for now, as they can be siphoned during water changes, increased current and getting them to that honkin skimmer you run. I would not, IMO, pass on getting after the aiptasia. Once they become plague like, its almost impossible to rid them.

Many use the peppermint shrimps and kalk the larger ones that you can reach. I had great success with my copperband but as most fish they can be 50/50 on their desire to eat them. We had good luck adding a small copperband to an established 180 with some larger fish, that would not allow the introduction of a medium sized copperband.