Full Version: Why do people say this hobby is hard...
Theres a public Aquarium that has been running continuously for 140 years, or something like that. Where it is, I don't know.
QUOTE (Nano sapiens @ Mar 14 2010, 07:36 PM) 
2 years is just starting to get broken in 
.
9+ years on my last 50g before I went 'Nano'.
Some Euro tanks have been running continuously for over 25 years.
.9+ years on my last 50g before I went 'Nano'.
Some Euro tanks have been running continuously for over 25 years.
25 years... That's what, 1300 water changes?
QUOTE (Billdemart @ Mar 14 2010, 01:40 PM)
25 years... That's what, 1300 water changes?
Some people have that kind of time on their hands.
I've been doing this gig for over 20 years, and I still learn something any day.
Also, the term easy is relative to what you are doing. In some respects salt water is just as easy as fresh water with the only added variable being you have to mix salt. Wow...big whoop. Actually, I'd happily argue that damsels, triggers, etc., are likely hardier than many popular fresh water fish and can actually tolerate a wider range of certain parameters.
Take a salt water tank that only has softies and hardier fish in it. All you really need to do is basic maintenance such as weekly partial water changes, and nothing else. You don't need to dose the tank with additives or watch alk or magnesium levels. Mixing salt is the only extra work required - that's it. With basic light and high nitrates sooner or later mushrooms and coraline starts to take over, and the occasional hair algae and cyano outbreak comes and goes because there's too much competition. I've seen some really cool 'wild' tanks like this that are covered with purple mushrooms, giant aptasia, patches of macro, wall to wall rock anemones, and coraline a quarter of an inch thick on everything. Absurdly low maintenance, aside from periodic water changes which should be done on fresh water tanks anyways. Not everyone dreams about keeping chalices.
On the contrary, I've seen veteran reefers with a Masters in biology or chemsistry lose thousands of dollars worth of SPS over a period of days in established tanks due to RTN and absolutely no cause what so ever. I've seen just as many of these guys bail the hobby as newbs.
Also, the term easy is relative to what you are doing. In some respects salt water is just as easy as fresh water with the only added variable being you have to mix salt. Wow...big whoop. Actually, I'd happily argue that damsels, triggers, etc., are likely hardier than many popular fresh water fish and can actually tolerate a wider range of certain parameters.
Take a salt water tank that only has softies and hardier fish in it. All you really need to do is basic maintenance such as weekly partial water changes, and nothing else. You don't need to dose the tank with additives or watch alk or magnesium levels. Mixing salt is the only extra work required - that's it. With basic light and high nitrates sooner or later mushrooms and coraline starts to take over, and the occasional hair algae and cyano outbreak comes and goes because there's too much competition. I've seen some really cool 'wild' tanks like this that are covered with purple mushrooms, giant aptasia, patches of macro, wall to wall rock anemones, and coraline a quarter of an inch thick on everything. Absurdly low maintenance, aside from periodic water changes which should be done on fresh water tanks anyways. Not everyone dreams about keeping chalices.
On the contrary, I've seen veteran reefers with a Masters in biology or chemsistry lose thousands of dollars worth of SPS over a period of days in established tanks due to RTN and absolutely no cause what so ever. I've seen just as many of these guys bail the hobby as newbs.
QUOTE (blasterman @ Mar 14 2010, 07:57 PM)
I've been doing this gig for over 20 years, and I still learn something any day.
Also, the term easy is relative to what you are doing. In some respects salt water is just as easy as fresh water with the only added variable being you have to mix salt. Wow...big whoop. Actually, I'd happily argue that damsels, triggers, etc., are likely hardier than many popular fresh water fish and can actually tolerate a wider range of certain parameters.
Take a salt water tank that only has softies and hardier fish in it. All you really need to do is basic maintenance such as weekly partial water changes, and nothing else. You don't need to dose the tank with additives or watch alk or magnesium levels. Mixing salt is the only extra work required - that's it. With basic light and high nitrates sooner or later mushrooms and coraline starts to take over, and the occasional hair algae and cyano outbreak comes and goes because there's too much competition. I've seen some really cool 'wild' tanks like this that are covered with purple mushrooms, giant aptasia, patches of macro, wall to wall rock anemones, and coraline a quarter of an inch thick on everything. Absurdly low maintenance, aside from periodic water changes which should be done on fresh water tanks anyways. Not everyone dreams about keeping chalices.
On the contrary, I've seen veteran reefers with a Masters in biology or chemsistry lose thousands of dollars worth of SPS over a period of days in established tanks due to RTN and absolutely no cause what so ever. I've seen just as many of these guys bail the hobby as newbs.
Also, the term easy is relative to what you are doing. In some respects salt water is just as easy as fresh water with the only added variable being you have to mix salt. Wow...big whoop. Actually, I'd happily argue that damsels, triggers, etc., are likely hardier than many popular fresh water fish and can actually tolerate a wider range of certain parameters.
Take a salt water tank that only has softies and hardier fish in it. All you really need to do is basic maintenance such as weekly partial water changes, and nothing else. You don't need to dose the tank with additives or watch alk or magnesium levels. Mixing salt is the only extra work required - that's it. With basic light and high nitrates sooner or later mushrooms and coraline starts to take over, and the occasional hair algae and cyano outbreak comes and goes because there's too much competition. I've seen some really cool 'wild' tanks like this that are covered with purple mushrooms, giant aptasia, patches of macro, wall to wall rock anemones, and coraline a quarter of an inch thick on everything. Absurdly low maintenance, aside from periodic water changes which should be done on fresh water tanks anyways. Not everyone dreams about keeping chalices.
On the contrary, I've seen veteran reefers with a Masters in biology or chemsistry lose thousands of dollars worth of SPS over a period of days in established tanks due to RTN and absolutely no cause what so ever. I've seen just as many of these guys bail the hobby as newbs.
What is RTN?
I'm not sure this is the best forum to discuss how easy or hard this hobby is. As others have said, information is extremely important to the success of any tank. Some of the worst mistakes I've seen come from applying freshwater ideas to a SW tank. Probably the most dangerous problem is the huge fraction of misinformed LFSs, who also often have limited selections of nano livestock. This limited selection also ties in with impulse purchases.
Another issue is that the initial costs of any tank, whether it's a pico or a larger tank, are significant and not dependent on the tank size. This can lead to shortcuts that are more expensive in the long run. On the other hand, this high cost may help a beginner do research so they don't lose so much money.
Another issue is that the initial costs of any tank, whether it's a pico or a larger tank, are significant and not dependent on the tank size. This can lead to shortcuts that are more expensive in the long run. On the other hand, this high cost may help a beginner do research so they don't lose so much money.
QUOTE (Billdemart @ Mar 14 2010, 03:06 PM)
What is RTN?
Rapid Tissue Necrosis
Coral melt into death
QUOTE (Darksoul @ Mar 13 2010, 01:32 PM)
Well said 
+1
it is as easy or as difficult as you make it. if you get compatible critters and do your research first, it is easy to care for your tank. if you just go about making impulse buys, the hobby gets very hard. there are also degrees of skill involved in keeping certain critters vs others etc....
Allot of good information in here.
All I have to say is that if you want to go SPS and have colors that really pop you can make it as difficult as you want. If you are happy with LPS and softies then water changes and feeding is all you need. It takes someone with patience but not necessarily brains. This is my 3rd tank and so far it has been much easier then the other 2 but that is because of lots and lots of research and trial and error in the past.
I will tell you that when I quit for 8 months I had a whole lot more time. But I missed tinkering with something all of the time. I think when people say it is difficult or are worried about trying it, it is because the have talked to someone who A) either spending lots of time and money on the hobby. or
had a bad experience most likely due to inadequate research and patience. Not sure I adding anything to the thread but that is a bit of my thoughts.
All I have to say is that if you want to go SPS and have colors that really pop you can make it as difficult as you want. If you are happy with LPS and softies then water changes and feeding is all you need. It takes someone with patience but not necessarily brains. This is my 3rd tank and so far it has been much easier then the other 2 but that is because of lots and lots of research and trial and error in the past.
I will tell you that when I quit for 8 months I had a whole lot more time. But I missed tinkering with something all of the time. I think when people say it is difficult or are worried about trying it, it is because the have talked to someone who A) either spending lots of time and money on the hobby. or
had a bad experience most likely due to inadequate research and patience. Not sure I adding anything to the thread but that is a bit of my thoughts.
QUOTE (StevieT @ Mar 13 2010, 01:50 PM)
So your experience is picking out a tank, putting rock in, gathering water, and cycling? You're right that isn't hard. Anyone can keep rock alive for two months.
That's a great quote - going straight in my auto sig!
With that aside, to the OP - I sincerely hope you have the same great success with your tank as you have had for the first two months. Not saying that as a dig - this hobby is awesome and anyone willing to give it the appropriate attention will make it through all of the challenges.
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