Somebody PLEASE convince me to STAY in this hobby!

[jackie]

Every time I turn around it's SOMETHING, I just had to buy a new remora skimmer $$$, I need 3 new bulbs, I need a bucket of salt, I need a booster pump for the RO/DI and the list just goes on and on...... something always breaks, I'm always getting soaked, I'm STILL battling bryopsis, I have NO ROOM in my tank because it's not WIDE ENOUGH so I have to constantly move things around. Top off is a PIA. I have to buy a new SOMETHING (so it doesn't bow this time) to mix salt water in because the old one I can't get clean and it affects the TDS readings...I don't have as much time as I'd like to spend on it, one day I want to sell everything, and the next day I change my mind...

so either I'm out for good or I buy a new aquaspace light, I can't decide ahhhh!!!!!

 

[MarkO]

If you're not cut out for it and no longer enjoy it, then why be miserable?
Personally, I kinda enjoy tinkering around with it.

 

[jmkeary]

It can be frustrating and this hobby requires a lot of patience. I would try to think about what you want to achieve with this and then come up with a plan to get to it. Be careful about getting caught up in latest fads and concentrate on the basics with some patience you should get what you want.
Maybe the club should setup a mentoring program for frustrated reefers

 

[jango]

I vote for the aquaspace light...

 

[skyedolphan]

Jackie as I have been told MANY times this week alone ..
TAKE A BIG DEEEP BREATHE..........
NOW BREATHE AGAIN ................
I know where you are at I have been there myself this week a few times this may make you feel alittle better or at least know somebody else is going thru it also

brother left damn tubing in sump AGAIN syphoned all the ro water into sump those into tank dropped temp and salinity
get that straighted out goto do water change float valve wiring blew so now I get to play with electricit and water Bad combo to begin with but especially bad for me who is blonde and mind elsewhere lately Got a nice shock on that one
fix that
get water going for change to find that hole in the bottom of holding tub( dont ask how no clue ) KIDS !!!
now wet dry cellar that now stinks of salt water
finally do water change have son hold hose OUTSIDE of window yup lets it go and sends water flying across basement and electrical plugs for washer and dryer ...

feeling a little better yet LOL
get the spacelight LOL

 

[Armando]

Jackie at some point you'll see that the maintenance slows down and you can truly sit back and enjoy your reef. It just takes a good amount of work to get there but it's WELL WORTH IT!!

As an example last week I needed to replace a pump and redrill the sump so after i drained the sump and started drilling the drill battery went dead. Drove to Home Depot and bought a corded drill. Got home, corded drill died . Went back to Home Depot long line to return the darn dead drill. Bought new one. Drilled sump successfully. Because of 1" the pump didn't fit as I expected, had to cut a hole in the stand. All this with the fish starting to turn purple oxygen running out.

in sum, get the aquaspacelight, they are very nice fixtures!

 

[jackie]

LOL, Dawn how do you do it? That was pretty funny about the hose, though

Armando glad it all turned out well in spite of the frustration...

I LOVE this hobby but feel trapped sometimes because I can't get any help to do what I'd like to do with it. It took FOREVER to figure out the RO/DI, I don't know jack about plumbing, and dont' have the time to really put it all in place myself.

Thanks for the replies.....I know everyone goes through this at one time or another.

 

[etszoo]

Because we need you.

 

[SMS76]

I also went through the exact situation and i think instead of just getting rid of the hobby may be you can do like FO or FOWLR.
Don't need any expensive lights, i put few easy softie frags and i don't need to be on top off the things.

 

[Clam Man]

reef break down i think we all go through it at one point or another i even posted everything i had for sale one day then came to my sences and then i just had a tank crash that wiped out all my monti then i said thats it im out but here i am still going i think i have become numb at some point you have to in this hobby

 

[jackie]

Thanks Eric, I'm glad SOMEBODY needs me ( I can't believe you're still talking to me after that long trip in the rain last Fall to pick up snails )
I thought of downsizing.......but that aquaspace light would look REALLY nice over my tank....sigh.....

 

[DSOUZA]

Just sit and watch your tank. It calms me down. Some of the fish sit and watch me back.

 

[jackie]

Numb's a good word, ya have to be in this hobby!


BTW....I'm still planning the tank tour...maybe it'll help, in fact I'm sure it will

Yeah, I like watching my little buddies.....ok now I"m getting wierd it's Friday and I"ve been working on show budgets all week so don'd mind me...

 

[jmkeary]

last fall went through the same thing. Wife was pregnant, tank crashed had no time for anything and my wife told me to stick with it for another 6 months. Now my reef is the best baby toy we have so far. Whenever my son gets fussy you put him in front of the tank and in a few minutes he is happily watching the fish and chatting to them in baby talk. the tank is doing great only takes me 3-4 hours a weeks to keep in in good shape. So like i said before be patient go get a good light and in a few months you will be wondering why you wanted to get rid of it in the first place.

 

[One Eye]

Jackie, how's this....you quit....you have a fire sale.....you get 1/10th of what you put into it....you check the web site....you get the itch....you spend full price all over again.

Kinda sounds like the old don't use drugs commercial.
I use cocaine, so I can work more, so I can make more money, so I can buy more cocaine...so I can work more .......Remember that one?

 

[ReeferMedic]

I vote for the aquaspace light...

I second that!

 

[scavdog]

Jackie,
Hang in there. I can tell you that there are some times that I wonder if I am better off without the hobby. Everyone goes through it. You will make it through !

Aquaspace lights are nice. I have had one for 3 years now

Maybe the club should setup a mentoring program for frustrated reefers

We are trying to put a more organized plan in place in regards to this.


Joe

 

[Rays]

Hmmm, Aquaspace light seems to be the underlying factor here. I'm no psychologist,
but could we be looking for a "little" encouragement from our fellow hobbyists so that after we feel guilty about pouring more money into this "damned" hobby, we can say,
"well they all thought I should get it".
However, remember what Darren said, Jackie, how's this....you quit....you have a fire sale.....you get 1/10th of what you put into it....you check the web site....you get the itch....you spend full price all over again.

Wish I lived closer to give you a hand, but I need a passport everytime I go over the Tobin bridge. I'm a tourist anywhere north of Beantown.
Hang in there Jackie, take two aspirins and order that Aquaspace.

 

[jackie]

Jackie, how's this....you quit....you have a fire sale.....you get 1/10th of what you put into it....you check the web site....you get the itch....you spend full price all over again.

Kinda sounds like the old don't use drugs commercial.
I use cocaine, so I can work more, so I can make more money, so I can buy more cocaine...so I can work more .......Remember that one?

Jeeeesus, how true! and I am hooked, no doubt about that. the commercial does bring back memories...

Thanks Joe, haven't seen you on the board for awhile....mentoring sounds like a good idea.

jmkeary, thanks i'll take a deep breath....oh hell, I'll give it another day anyway

 

[jackie]

Hmmm, Aquaspace light seems to be the underlying factor here. I'm no psychologist,
but could we be looking for a "little" encouragement from our fellow hobbyists so that after we feel guilty about pouring more money into this "damned" hobby, we can say,
"well they all thought I should get it".
However, remember what Darren said, Jackie, how's this....you quit....you have a fire sale.....you get 1/10th of what you put into it....you check the web site....you get the itch....you spend full price all over again.

Wish I lived closer to give you a hand, but I need a passport everytime I go over the Tobin bridge. I'm a tourist anywhere north of Beantown.
Hang in there Jackie, take two aspirins and order that Aquaspace.

Here's the deal on the aquaspace light (which I have to wait until the 3rd week of May anyway and counting ), by that time I figure I'll either be too excited about the light to get out of the hobby, OR, I will have come to my senses by then. So you're right, I'll chill for now. thank you!