Getting tired... Considering shut down

[paddyob]

I'm almost done my private. Just perfecting circuit. Sitting at about 40 hrs.

Should have my ppl by may//June.

Then onto commercial. It's my childhood dream.

I fly twice a week. And at $1000-1300 a month. Sheez. Reef tanks are my CHEAP hobbies. Lol.

Edmonton flying club is great.

I appreciate the insight. Flying is a top priority. And when weather cancels, it sucks.

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Learning how to fly is a major commitment, and requires focus and patience (similar to keeping CB's). Sounds like you may have too many things on your plate right now.

I am a pilot (as should be obvious with my forum ID), and have an instructor's rating, too. Unfortunately, I know more people that start flying lessons than finish. It's not like learning how to drive a car. And the flying schools will happily take your money, and they don't want you to learn too quickly either (bad for business).

When people tell me they want to learn how to fly, I first ask why, then what they expect it will take to complete your PPL. I actually try to discourage them at first, because in most cases, they have totally unrealistic expectations.

Having said that, flying can also be a very rewarding (not financially) obsession (similar to reef keeping). And if you do indeed get hooked, well, then it was meant to be...

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by paddyob

Flying is a top priority.

OK, if that's indeed the case, then carry on, and best of luck.

And hate to say this, but maybe you should put reef keeping aside for a while. You can always come back to it later, and am sure you will. You can only have so many "top priorities".

I was into fish and aquariums (FW initially with lots of tanks) ever since I was a kid, and then had to give it up also because I had too much on my plate. In my case, it was my job that consumed me (had to travel a lot, too). But I came back, and enjoying it more than ever now, especially with the SW.

[Delphinus]

First kid? It's normal to have a few nervous jitters looking forward. Congratulations, BTW.

Truth is though, it's not bad. With kids in the picture, everyone finds their own groove. Yeah, juggling a family with interests and income earning/gotta-feed-the-family and etc. etc. can be challenging at times, but truthfully if something is important enough to you, then you'll find a way. And besides, there's plenty of time to sleep later.

It is funny though, because in a way, sometimes when your plate gets too full, you can come to realizing ways to shift priorities. And taking a break need be nothing more than .. actually just taking a break and coming back to things when the timing is better.

[kien]

What do you do to your tank on a:

Daily basis: ?
Weekly basis: ?
Monthlybasis: ?

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by kien

What do you do to your tank on a:

Daily basis: ?
Weekly basis: ?
Monthlybasis: ?

I keep it simple.

Top ups with dosing 2-3 times week.

Daily glass.

Weekly skimmer.

W/C 4-6 weeks.

Just noticing 3 Aiptasia in my tank. And no desire to do what I have in the past... Kill them.

Just feeling over whelmed and exhausted these days. Kinda depressing thinking about all this.

A shut down would kill my spirit. Just tired.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

You can only have so many "top priorities"

I totally agree. And that is the problem.

[The Grizz]

My turn to chime in Pat,

I have 450 gals in 3 tanks ( soon to be 600 gals in 3 tanks ), 13 huskies ATM, 5 acres to maintain, some renos happening, 2 grand kids on the way & trying to rebuild my company from the ground up since my partner screwed me over. As well as helping others build there own systems.

I think a few of the best things I have done in regards to my tanks is to simplify things. I refil my ATO once a week, drain my skimmer every other week ( so to be a long period with the addition of a skim locker ) controllers on all 3 tanks and getting a doser set up.

In total I think I spend maybe 2hrs a week doing something to all the tanks combined. They are not as spotless and spectacular as as so many others but it works for me. So maybe you just need to simplify down to a single decent size tank with your favorite suff in it. Don't let the new baby stress you out and enjoy life, family & your hobbies.