Budget is another consideration, Both my wife and I are on social security and we have a limited budget to work with. I am not tech enough to figure out how to automate.
No, it’s mixed. It’s a 118 gallon custom made tank, with a 55 gal. sump. I have mostly zoa’s and softies, plus 4 fish that have been in the tank for over 5 years. A one spot foxface, copperband butterfly, melanurus wrasse, and an orange spot goby, plus a skunk cleaner shrimp, he’s been in there for over 3 years. I find I need to change water about every 2 weeks, to keep it healthy.
Thank you. Right now I am having second thoughts if I want to throw in the towel. I battle through the water changes. I will never let my inhabitants in my tank suffer, they are all precious to me. If I can figure out how to get my water from the RODI unit, to my refill buckets, that’s really all I need. I have a controller, but it’s obsolete. It’s a Digital Aquatics controller that I won several years back at the Bob Moore swap in Kent. DA is now defunct, so nothing is available anymore. I can’t afford one of those Neptune systems, they are way out of my league. Also I am limited on space. I really do appreciate your help and I hope I can find the strength to keep going.
Yeah, it’s a lot to think about. I have had an ATO from Autotopoff.com for quite some time now. It works well. When. I ran chaeto in my sump, it seemed to create a lot more algae. I took it out, after running it for years, now my tank operates much cleaner now. I change 24 gallons and I try for every two weeks, but sometimes it stretches into three. I used to change it once a month, but the tank started to get crappy. I also run filter socks, the light ones, and I change those out every two to three days, usually when I clean out my protein skimmer cup. I told my wife that I am having second thoughts and she said to do whatever I want to do. I’m thinking I may just stick with it a little while longer.There are a lot of options. I would start with doing nothing. See how you feel about it in a couple weeks. See what happens if you just quit doing the hard parts of maintenance for a while. Possibly try simplifying a little? Dr. Dean Jaubert kind of fell off the map back in the 90's but his systems actually worked really well. Check out his speech from the last MACNA. Or if you are at all like me, just try taking a long nap and some Advil.
I do think there are several ways to cheaply automate. I automated as well as I could. I am able to walk away from my tanks for two weeks at any time comfortably. I use an auto feeder, a calcium reactor and grow Chaetomorphia and or Mangroves in my sump (depending on the tank). I have done 30% water changes two times over the past three years. My ATO is a float valve with an inline stop that shuts off the line if water gets to it on the floor ($3 and $12 parts online). It is painful for me to bend over so the skimmer claning is a little more than I want to take on as a regular task. I have an auto neck cleaner on it and I added a larger catch reservoir. (Those were not as cheap) I hope to move the tank and set the sump up higher to solve all my sump issues.
There are some corals like chalice, that don't do well in my systems. I have several corals and fish that do really well. My eyesight is getting worse and it reminds me that the joy I get from my tanks later in life will not always be the same as the joy I have now. Sounds like your hobby might be hitting that equilibrium between joy and hassle. There is no shame in moving on when the scales have tipped. Just like sports, there comes a time when it is more pain than fun. There is still plenty of joy to be found in other places.
Maybe give your tank to an enthusiast that lives near by and get some joy as a mentor. It might be a nice transition out. You might find a great friend, possibly get to watch people grow along with your newly revived tank.
I wish you the best.
Thanks Marty, yeah, it sucks getting old. I used to be real active, but since I am having all of these troubles with my left leg and foot, it has been a chore just to handle everyday things, let alone a fish tank. I will probably stick it out a little longer,, but like you, it will all have to end. My aquarium means a lot to me.
The tank is in excellent shape. I wasn’t going to quit because of frustration, I was going to quit due to my health. I have a left foot that has charkots. In simple terms, the bones have become brittle and they are breaking and collapsing. I have to wear a cam boot all of the rime, except when I sleep. I’ve also got a dry socket on my left knee, so I am a bit hobbled. I am also getting up there in age, I am 69 years old and every year simple things are getting harder and harder. I’ve had this aquarium for 5 years now, it’s well established. I have been in the hobby for over 15 years. Yes, I have a skimmer, it’s a Bubble Magus NAC 6 and does a great job. The tank is a custom made 118 gallon tank with a 55 gallon sump. I don’t run reactors at all, never have. I have Phosgard and Primegen as filter ageants. I have decided to hold on a little longer.. Thank you for all of your suggestions and help,
Yeah, I do like the corals, but I like the fish more. They have much more personality than the corals do. I’ve a had my Foxface for at least 8 years and my Copperband for 4 years. I just can’t part with them.
The skimmer is on 24/7 and the lights run 11 hours a day. I do need more blue, but I will have to wait until after Christmas, money wise.
The cleaner shrimp has been in the tank for 3 years, this particular tank has been running for about 7 years. I, like most others, started with small tanks and slowly grew to larger tanks, over a period of over 15 years.
