Catapulting out of the hobby

2174 Views 22 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Fish Em, Nov 30, 2016

Fish Em

Discussion Starter · Nov 21, 2016

I have run myself down and lightening the load in my life.
My community tank has been so fun over the years and I am sad to tear it down.

My only free time is mainly spent on water changes, tank maintenance, sterilizing equipment. I just am too tired. I hope to try again at an easier
Time.

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

AbbeysDad

· #2 · Nov 22, 2016

That's too bad, but lack of time is more an excuse than a reason as if done correctly, tank maintenance should only take an hour or so a week. I feel a small price to pay for the enjoyment, not to mention the oohs and ahhs of friends and family that view the well planted living tank.
Store your equipment well just in case and I hope you'll be back!!!

redchigh

· #3 · Nov 22, 2016 (Edited)

I agree, have you looked into the walstad style planted tank?

Diane walstad pioneered the science of soil substrates, and I'm her book, Ecology of the Planted Aquarium, she describes soil substrates, a water change every six months or so, and no other maintenance other than feeding the fish. Her sustem relies on lots and lots of plants to filter the water.

If you insist on retiring your tanks for a while, please consider giving away or selling your plants and livestock on the forum here.
Who knows, they might be willing to send you some when you get the itch again.

Patriot

· #4 · Nov 23, 2016

Tell us more about your tank and maintenance schedules.

You're doing too much if you feel that way. Surely we can cut something or reduce it.

Bananableps

· #5 · Nov 23, 2016

I have to agree with the Walstad advice. I have some really lovely tanks that only require work every two or three months.

Dirt + low stock is a very nice and easy way to go. I'm in lawschool, and still I never feel like my tanks are a burden.

Reactions: 2

bbroush

· #6 · Nov 23, 2016

Bananableps said:
I have to agree with the Walstad advice. I have some really lovely tanks that only require work every two or three months.

Dirt + low stock is a very nice and easy way to go. I'm in lawschool, and still I never feel like my tanks are a burden.

This is why I do a riparium, but med school for me. Not law school.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Reactions: 1

Patriot

· #7 · Nov 23, 2016

This is why I like jungle tanks. Just let them grow and let them do their own thing. My tank is full of slow growing plants and they are filling in nicely.

I rarely have to clean the tank.

Reactions: 5

Fish Em

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 23, 2016

I haven't started yet. It's going to be more work to tear it down, so maybe step by step.
I am afraid of walstad tanks. I already have some columnaris pop up in my tank once in awhile. I thought if I get rid of the mollies, turn the temp to like 72 it might never show its ugly face again. I would just have 5 corys and bnp.

I do water changes by bucket. Cleaning glass, rinse filter media, snail and dead leaf cleaning. I used to do 50% water changes twice a week but I thinned out my mollies, so no need. Except the columnaris. I have had it in my tank since last year! I guess that's what is bringing me down.

Bananableps

· #9 · Nov 23, 2016

bbroush said:
This is why I do a riparium, but med school for me. Not law school.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

^this!

Emergently growing plants have access to atmospheric carbon and grow much faster than anything you can grow aquatically. If you want nutrient export, you really can't do better than riparian plants.

Reactions: 1

lksdrinker

· #10 · Nov 23, 2016

I'm surprised to see these responses here. If someone needs to be convinced to continue in any hobby; then maybe its not the right hobby for them!

Reactions: 3

bbroush

· #11 · Nov 23, 2016

lksdrinker said:
I'm surprised to see these responses here. If someone needs to be convinced to continue in any hobby; then maybe its not the right hobby for them!

I think sometimes when you get focused on the little details of the hobby or on a high maintenance tank you forget why you liked it in the first place and you think the only way to do it is to continue the way you have been doing it. This might not sway the OP, but maybe someone else who didn't recognize that a walstad/riparium approach can be low maintenance and less stressful. If OP is out, then best of luck in his endeavors. No hobby is worth it if it's more of a burden than a joy.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

houseofcards

· #12 · Nov 23, 2016 (Edited)

lksdrinker said:
I'm surprised to see these responses here. If someone needs to be convinced to continue in any hobby; then maybe its not the right hobby for them!

I totally agree. Most who really enjoy the hobby don't even look at things like water changes, some trimming, etc as a chore, they usually enjoy doing it, find it relaxing.

With that being said OP states semi weekly 50% water changes by bucket, sterlizing equipment, so something is off and two get a python.

Reactions: 1

IntotheWRX

· #13 · Nov 23, 2016

Fish Em said:
I have run myself down and lightening the load in my life.
My community tank has been so fun over the years and I am sad to tear it down.

My only free time is mainly spent on water changes, tank maintenance, sterilizing equipment. I just am too tired. I hope to try again at an easier
Time.

try to balance out your tank more. if the natural system of the tank is balanced you will only need to maintain it once in a while. you will only need to change the water every 6 months.

Reactions: 1

Fish Em

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 23, 2016

lksdrinker said:
I'm surprised to see these responses here. If someone needs to be convinced to continue in any hobby; then maybe its not the right hobby for them!

Yes, true.

Brahma04

· #15 · Nov 23, 2016

Awh dont go! I actually stopped taking care of my 5 gallon (heavily planted) when I moved about 7-8 weeks ago. I was dosing almost every day, had co2 running and trimming and WC weekly like clockwork. I stopped doing water changes, turned off the co2 and dose everything all at once weekly with no problem (other than the DHgrass is a little long. i was going to break the tank down but who's got time for that ^_^. maybe let it run its course and see how it goes? I hope whatever you choose to do is painless =)

Reactions: 1

AbbeysDad

· #16 · Nov 23, 2016

lksdrinker said:
I'm surprised to see these responses here. If someone needs to be convinced to continue in any hobby; then maybe its not the right hobby for them!

I dunno, it seems to me we're all part of a club and when another member says he's gonna quit, we rally support....especially when the 'don't have time' issue pops up because just maybe there's a better way where time is not an issue.

Reactions: 1

IntotheWRX

· #17 · Nov 23, 2016

lksdrinker said:
I'm surprised to see these responses here. If someone needs to be convinced to continue in any hobby; then maybe its not the right hobby for them!

its ok to feel surprised. the OP is looking for help and support from the community. we are all as a team joined by the same interest of aquariums. well try to be a team player and help those who are in need.

Bump:

Fish Em said:
Yes, true.

dont believe him. believe in yourself.

JustJen

· #18 · Nov 23, 2016

Agreed with the idea that there are easier ways if you otherwise enjoy your tank and would like to keep going. I bought an adapter at petco that allows me to hook a garden hose to my bathroom sink faucet, and I got rubber tubing that stretches out into my front yard at lowes to replace the shorter hose on my vacuum so I can drain the tanks straight into the flowerbed. I have 10 tanks but 3 are nano tanks that I still use buckets/jugs of water on, the remaining 7 take me less than 2 hours total for water changes. Even then, a good chunk of that time is spent with me doing other things and just keeping an eye on the refilling tank to make sure I don't overflow it. I change roughly 70% of the water when I do those 7 tanks, and I do water changes about once a month. HOB filters get a quick rinse every other water change or so. Canister filters get cleaned twice a year. My tanks are heavily planted but low tech - I dose excel when I remember and basic ferts almost never. The open top nano tanks need top offs every couple of days (I buy distilled water and use it for top offs) but the covered larger tanks probably don't take a gallon a week.

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Fish Em

Discussion Starter · #19 · Nov 24, 2016

Thanks for all the tips, I will definitely save them.

I am still running my shrimp tank for now.

It's no walstad, but it's little work.

Fish Em

Discussion Starter · #20 · Nov 24, 2016

Is anyone actually serious about the walstad approach? I can't see how it's very good for fish unless it's heavily monitored with a backup plan involved. I am not buying it unless someone does a fool proof discus grow out walstad tank for 10 years.

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