Is Reef Keeping bitter Sweet?

I was wondering this question because of the neverending need for more and more in this hobby.
I feel like there is always excitment but never satisfaction.
I feel as if im always anxious to get that new additon to my tank or waiting for more growth from all of my corals. However once I reach my goal it short lived because I cant enjoy it because I am now looking towards the next edition.

I would compare this to winning a championship in sports. You spend the entire season hopeful of winning a Stanley Cup or World Series etc. Constantly putting in work to reach that goal but once that trophy is raised your joy is so short lived because all you can think about is defending your title.

Anyone else feel this way or is anyone 100% completly satisfied with where there reef is at? (meaning you no longer feel the need to make a change or addition)

 

I'm satisfied in terms of corals. I need some fish still, but I'm going with a 2 month QT on each set of additions.

 

Most definately! I will look at my tank and think "I need to fill that spot and it will be good", do it and find another spot or something more interesting the next day. It's really bad with the building issue for me. I get very hyped planning and working on the actual build but then suffer real depression when it's complete. I'm never satisfied with anything and am always looking for ways to tweek my system to make it better.

 

I mean...I feel that way in a small amount towards our tank. But to keep a reef healthy and for space reasons, you can only add so much coral and fish. Once you're full on fish and pretty much full on coral (where we're at after about a year and 3 months), the only choices you have are to sit back and watch the tank grow (along with easy regular maintenance), or upgrade/start a new system. And then of course our wallet keeps us from upgrading, meaning our choice is to simply sit back and watch. you can't rush coral growth if your system is already at it's best. It'll just screw stuff up like crazy.

Go slow, let it grow.

 

I believe this still counts. even if you have a complete tank and your ambition is to get bigger. even if you pockets are tight. it is still bitter sweet.

Actually thats worse than anything. Wanting somthing more but unable finacially. lol

 

I get moments of this, and have especially in the past had more of this type of feeling, especially with my previous tank which I wasn't happy with. However, I think a lot of it is dependant on your personality and what kind of perspective you can put on your tank. It is a hobby, so it just takes some self control to just sit back once in a while and just enjoy what you have.

Right now I'm fairly satisfied with my setup. I do get pangs of "Oh, I really want that Real Deal Echinata and True Blue Tenuis from Diver's Den!" or "Man, having some AquaIllumination LEDS over this tank would probably be great for my electricity usage and heat generation" but then I take a step back and look at how well most everything is doing and chill out for a little bit and realize that everything's actually doing fairly well and no amount of thinking or stressing or planning is going to really change anything.

If you find yourself often in a state of anxiousness try not looking at, or thinking about, the tank for at least 48 hours aside from feeding the fish and the BAREST minimum of maintenance necessary to keep the tank running. Find something else to do for a few days. That usually helps me get back to some perspective on things. It's not a competition, there is no winning, try and just enjoy what you have.

If even having a fully stocked, healthy, tank and an empty wallet isn't enough to convince you to not plan a bigger tank perhaps you should talk to a professional.

Seriously though, calling it bittersweet because you can't constantly be planning a new system or stocking a new tank is sort of extreme I think.

Don't you get tons of enjoyment from how well your livestock is doing, how they are growing, how the tank changes on a weekly/monthly basis? When you honestly balance out how much enjoyment you get (sweetness) with the amount of anxiety/stress/unsatisfaction (bitterness), if you feel like these are on equal levels maybe you should consider a new hobby. I really doubt that that's the case for most people that the bitterness really is on par with the sweetness, but almost everything in life has some slight bit of a downside. Nothing's perfect, try and focus on the good things you get out of it and let the other stuff slide for a bit.

Oh also, I love thinking about and learning about these tanks, maybe try getting a book or something on reefkeeping, or read a good book on coral or your favorite fish to take your mind off your tank and still be sort of involved with the whole experience.

My 2c anyway.

 

For me this hobby is just that...a hobby. I actually enjoy the fact that I am often making changes or correcting something to better the state of my tank (however its quite tedious and very frustrating when you're learning in the beginning). It keeps me active with the tank and allows me to get involved, rather than just having it "be" and me looking at it whenever I'm in the room. I also love shopping for and bringing home new corals/fish and I'll be bummed when I run out of room and have to stop. But that's where an upgrade will be born!

I guess my only disclaimer here is that I'm still quite new to this hobby, so maybe my attitude will change over the years to come Probably not though...

For me the real frustration comes from having to wait on purchases due to lack of finances!!!

 

It is bittersweet although I think I'm just about at the relaxation point. I have just about everything I want for my tank.

Only think I'd like is a couple more corals and to trade my tang for a watchman goby pair and MAYBE a pistol shrimp to go with them.

 

Woah woah. slow ur roll. Why would I pick a new hobby. I love it. thats why its bittersweet becuase I love it so much. but its like Grandmas homemade apple pie. I can never get enough. perhaps when I aquire that 300 gallon built into a wall in a new house. a mixed reef entirely filled and prestine water conditions and happy animals living in it. I will be completly satisfied. Kinda like Michael Jordan was. Winning NBA title wasnt enough...until he won about six or so. lol

 

I couldn't agree more. It's like an addiction.lol