I'm beginning to have second thoughts about this reef/fish tank. Not only is it seeming super complicated but very very time consuming. I was reading the article on maintenance and husbandry by Alberta Thiel--OMG it looks like a person can't have one and work outside the home!! If a animal dies and its left in the tank for more then 72 hours, it can pollute your tank and kill everything in it???? Don't you guys ever go on holidays? How does a person ever get away. Even if you have someone come in everyday, if they don't spot and remove the dead thing then Yikes!! everything dies!!??? What about if the power goes off??? 12 hrs?? 24 hrs.?? how long before it all craters? What happens when a person tires of this and wants out?? Can you find homes for these critters? I just don't know, we're tied down now with horses, cats, dogs and parrots... but we can always get away for up to a month with no problems. (house/ pet sitters etc) but aquarium sitters???
I don't know about all this
- Thread starter Lynn
- Start date
Like I said before a reef setup is not a piece of furniture, eh. It is a commitment you make to ensure the survival of a bunch of critters.
Take your time to think about it. Read the books that were recommended (not Thiel) and if you a still interested maybe start small as some have suggested.
Take your time to think about it. Read the books that were recommended (not Thiel) and if you a still interested maybe start small as some have suggested.
all of the maintenence that is suggested is not generally required.
If you have adequate DSB and rock work then you don't need to really worry about 1 fish dieing and wipeing out your tank.
Lights etc can be put on a timer
when I go away I have someone feed my 90 gallon 2 times a week.
If you are really concerned about a power outage put in a back up system for circulation pumps.. kinda along the same ida as one of those emergency lights. If you consider the number of people on this list you rarely hear of a power outage claiming major tolls.
Don't get me wrong, there is a comitment and time and effort to be put into a tank. I figure I spend 1-2 hours a week doing maintainance on the tank 2 hours being on the high side. Aside from top off water and occasionally scrubing the glass I do little to the tank for maintainance. My general theory has been to let the tank look after itself.
If you do decide to get into a tank I would sugest getting something larger than smaller. A larger volume of water is less suceptible to swings in temp, ph, etc.
The only other piece of advice i can think of is to take your time. Think through what you want and make sure you plan ahead a bit. Add your fish slowly and your corals even slower.
Good luck
Scott
_________________
Rehab Forum
If you have adequate DSB and rock work then you don't need to really worry about 1 fish dieing and wipeing out your tank.
Lights etc can be put on a timer
when I go away I have someone feed my 90 gallon 2 times a week.
If you are really concerned about a power outage put in a back up system for circulation pumps.. kinda along the same ida as one of those emergency lights. If you consider the number of people on this list you rarely hear of a power outage claiming major tolls.
Don't get me wrong, there is a comitment and time and effort to be put into a tank. I figure I spend 1-2 hours a week doing maintainance on the tank 2 hours being on the high side. Aside from top off water and occasionally scrubing the glass I do little to the tank for maintainance. My general theory has been to let the tank look after itself.
If you do decide to get into a tank I would sugest getting something larger than smaller. A larger volume of water is less suceptible to swings in temp, ph, etc.
The only other piece of advice i can think of is to take your time. Think through what you want and make sure you plan ahead a bit. Add your fish slowly and your corals even slower.
Good luck
Scott
_________________
Rehab Forum
You're right Lynn. It isn't the same as sending your dog over to a friends and being able to take month-long holidays. Keeping a reef tank is definately a commitment and it does limit you to a certain degree. It's sort of a "lifestyle" hobby I guess. If you get into it and decide you don't like it or it's not worth it you can always sell or give away your stuff and walk away. How much money you have into your tanks will determine the pain involved. That's why it's better to ease in slowly with more limited setups. Not necessarily smaller tanks but not full-blow reef crest terra-watt sps tanks either. Of course, if you do fall in love with the hooby that will mean you will accumulate a garage full of ultimately inadequate equipment and then you can post on all of the "I wish I'd started with better (lighting, skimmer, etc.) threads.
IMO - the reef tank primarily takes time in the setup, i.e. curing the live rock, doing water changes to reduce your nitrates etc, however once established it does become its own ecosystem and mostly takes care of itself.
There is generalized maintance - just like feeding or grooming your other pets. As for vacations, I take them, I have someone fish sit for me to make sure they get fed, topped off, etc, but I don't ask my friends to do water changes while I'm gone or anything.
I think there is a big scare in this hobby.. the OMG my parameters aren't exact everyday - syndrome. From what I read and have expierenced, established tanks are flexible enough to roll with fluctuations. Key advice you read in every posting - Stay Calm, Don't Panic, Take your Time, and most importantly enjoy your hobby. Most things that put us in a panic are usually self imposed from tweaking with the tank too much
Enjoy!
There is generalized maintance - just like feeding or grooming your other pets. As for vacations, I take them, I have someone fish sit for me to make sure they get fed, topped off, etc, but I don't ask my friends to do water changes while I'm gone or anything.
I think there is a big scare in this hobby.. the OMG my parameters aren't exact everyday - syndrome. From what I read and have expierenced, established tanks are flexible enough to roll with fluctuations. Key advice you read in every posting - Stay Calm, Don't Panic, Take your Time, and most importantly enjoy your hobby. Most things that put us in a panic are usually self imposed from tweaking with the tank too much
Enjoy!
I can't imagine going on a holiday for a month.
I wouldn't even trust my husband to look after the tanks for longer than a week....
And all I would do would be worry anyway
I don't think I have ever left my dogs longer than 10 days and that was tough on all of us.
You would certainly have to have expert care in your absence. Tank equipment loves to fail when you are away for some reason.
Anyway, Beverly Wladyka is in Edmonton, this is her website, she has a literal zoo, she may also be able to give you some thoughts.
http://plaza.powersurfr.com/bw/reef/
And all I would do would be worry anyway
You would certainly have to have expert care in your absence. Tank equipment loves to fail when you are away for some reason.
Anyway, Beverly Wladyka is in Edmonton, this is her website, she has a literal zoo, she may also be able to give you some thoughts.
http://plaza.powersurfr.com/bw/reef/
Scott, if it only takes 2 hours a week, then no problem. It seemed to me more like 2 hours per day. My birds take 4 hours a day, so actually even 4 hours a week is not a problem. The LFS says he would come whenever we want when we go away. It might cost us 40. per hour, but I'm sure its well worth it.
Thanks Lynn
Thanks Lynn
Lynn,
2 hours a week is about right for an already established tank. I only put about 2 hours a week of "maintenance" into mine now, but when I was first getting things situated, water testing and stocking it, it was much more than 2 hours a week. Also, there are times when you have to spend more than 2 hours a week but not much more. It turns into more work if you let it go for a few weeks, that's why I try to keep on it weekly.
2 hours a week is about right for an already established tank. I only put about 2 hours a week of "maintenance" into mine now, but when I was first getting things situated, water testing and stocking it, it was much more than 2 hours a week. Also, there are times when you have to spend more than 2 hours a week but not much more. It turns into more work if you let it go for a few weeks, that's why I try to keep on it weekly.
I went to Hawaii for ten days with no problems upon returning. No one looked after the tank for me either. It takes money, but you can set up your tank to be virtually self sufficient.....IE timers/auto feeders/water evap replacement systems/dosing pumps which will add your chemicals for you. The only thing I have to do with my tank is change some water once in a while/add the necessary chemicals to the every once in a while and scrape the glass off. I could easily go away for two weeks and as long as theres not a lenghty power outage, everything would be fine.
randy holmes-farley
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Arlington, MA
I agree with the others that it doesn't have to be a big time committment most of the time. Then again there are times when you'll need to plug that leak regardless of how late it is....
As to the dead fish issue, I've lost a few fish in the past 6+ years, but I've never seen a sick or dead one. Presumably, any that died were eaten rapidly.
As to the dead fish issue, I've lost a few fish in the past 6+ years, but I've never seen a sick or dead one. Presumably, any that died were eaten rapidly.
What Lynn expressed has also been my concern. I currently have a fish only tank but I am looking at moving slowly into corals. I am still in the research phase but I am really wondering about the time I need to spend testing, adding and tinkering. Does the time relate to the type and quantity of corals? If I just had 1 or 2 mushrooms and 1 bubble tip, would this require considerable time everyday?
nope, after the anemone finds a home you won't have to look after him and chase him around to keep him off of things you don't want him on. Just feed him. Mushrooms are easy too, maybe in the long run you'll have to cut some back if they are getting too overgrown, but that's about it. Might take about 10-15 min every few days or so to test your water for adding supplements, but once you get the hang of it it will be second nature.
I'm between reefs at the moment, but I have had one for the last 3 years, and I would say that I probably spent an hour a week on maintenance, plus I fed the fish twice a day. Tanks can be set up to be pretty automated. I never let anybody do anything with it- and had vacations up to 8 days. Theils a nut, IMO.
Hey Lynn,
I would like to have your job...going away for a month? I'm lucky if I can get away for 2 days...
Once you get the tank established there is very little that needs to be done other than replacing water lost to evaporation and cleaning the front glass. Unless you live in an area that is proned to power failures, the risk is small for this type of disaster. You can purchase relatively inexpensive air pumps that come on when the power goes off. These are adequate for short term circulation. The only real risk I see with an extended power outage is the tank temperature. When the power goes off so does the heater, as well as the heat in your house, which could be a problem if the outage lasts more than several hours. Then again, the larger the tank the longer it will take for the temp to drop.
If you keep your set-up as simple as possible, the less lkely you are to have a problem.
Be prepared however to spend BIG $$$ however, but IMO it is worth it!
All the best,
Greg
I would like to have your job...going away for a month? I'm lucky if I can get away for 2 days...
Once you get the tank established there is very little that needs to be done other than replacing water lost to evaporation and cleaning the front glass. Unless you live in an area that is proned to power failures, the risk is small for this type of disaster. You can purchase relatively inexpensive air pumps that come on when the power goes off. These are adequate for short term circulation. The only real risk I see with an extended power outage is the tank temperature. When the power goes off so does the heater, as well as the heat in your house, which could be a problem if the outage lasts more than several hours. Then again, the larger the tank the longer it will take for the temp to drop.
If you keep your set-up as simple as possible, the less lkely you are to have a problem.
Be prepared however to spend BIG $$$ however, but IMO it is worth it!
All the best,
Greg
This news is very comforting!!I wouldn't call the feeding a chore, that to me would be the best part! I can see spending many hours just sitting and watching the tank.(my birds will like that!!LOL) We have a generator that could be used during a power failure. Do they make battery operated heaters?? and before you guys get all ripped up about my month long vacations..it hasn't happened yet. 2 weeks is the longest. But I would like to go to Afica in the year 2005 for a bit, Just planning ahead..like I'm suppose too!
(although I my husbands not going, so he can look after the tank...right? LOL) Hey tell me how I can get these dynamite little icons onto my page?
(although I my husbands not going, so he can look after the tank...right? LOL) Hey tell me how I can get these dynamite little icons onto my page?
I'll toss my two cents in. IMO if you are spending more than an hour to 2 hours a week total you are doing something wrong. It's not just mature tanks, the reason some of you spent longer time on your new setups was because they were new
especially if it is your first setup. There really is no reason to spend more time on a new tank than an older one, the key is maturity of the reefer not the reef.
Yes you can test and test and test a new tank but what do you end up doing? Usually nothing. Patience and the ability to resist messing with the tank is key. There is no subsitute for time in this hobby. That statement goes both ways, waiting for the tank to mature and getting that leak stopped
Yes you can test and test and test a new tank but what do you end up doing? Usually nothing. Patience and the ability to resist messing with the tank is key. There is no subsitute for time in this hobby. That statement goes both ways, waiting for the tank to mature and getting that leak stopped
If you set your tank up correctly you dont have to worry about vacations. I dont add chemicals. I have a 70 gallon refugium so I dont have to feed my fish, but I do anyway. I usually do weekly water changes but the tank is fine without them becouse of the DSB.
I go scuba diving in the florida keys every year for a 30 days, and I dont have anyone look after the tank. I love looking at the changes that you dont notice when you look at the tank everyday. The entire front glass was covered in coralline when I returned. I did not recognize some of the corals they had becouse they had grown a lot. And most of the fishes were bloated with pods. When I left the rocks only had coraline, but when I came back there was a piece of sargassum on a rock that went all of the way to the surface.
I go scuba diving in the florida keys every year for a 30 days, and I dont have anyone look after the tank. I love looking at the changes that you dont notice when you look at the tank everyday. The entire front glass was covered in coralline when I returned. I did not recognize some of the corals they had becouse they had grown a lot. And most of the fishes were bloated with pods. When I left the rocks only had coraline, but when I came back there was a piece of sargassum on a rock that went all of the way to the surface.
My cat is higher maintainance than my tank. IMO if you do em right from the start they are way easy to maintain. Foresite will prevent tragedies while you are away and a well stocked tank with a functional sand bed will devour a fish in a day with only minimal consequences.
One of the most interesting things I ever saw was my missing bangaii cardinal. I found it a day later under a rock. It was 'camouflauged' with timy brittle stars-completely covered.
One of the most interesting things I ever saw was my missing bangaii cardinal. I found it a day later under a rock. It was 'camouflauged' with timy brittle stars-completely covered.
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