Family Support

[alrha]

After a lighting issue (fixture died) I lost a great majority of my corals. Too upset to continue, I was on the verge of selling whatever remained and tear everything down or perhaps just leave my system as a FOWLR.

It is very difficult to witness 9yrs of time and effort go out the door and i didn't have the head to pick up the pieces and move forward either. Naturally, delaying the decision to buy a new light fixture didn't help matters either.

Unbeknownst to me, my wife and kids (and even guests) loved the reef even more than I did. While I was ready to give it all up, my wife pleaded with me to buy a new fixture and continue, no matter the cost. Every time my boys saw the tank in the dark they begged me not to give away the fish or corals. Ultimately they "forced" me to stick it out, get a new fixture and save what can be saved and move forward.

I am so lucky to have a family who is there to support and encourage me to go on even after I lost the will to continue. The looks on my kids faces as they watch the reef and enjoy it's beauty makes it all worth it.

To all of you who maintain your tanks and spend so much time and effort on your system, please never underestimate how much those around you appreciate it and how valuable their support of the reef is.

 

[Josh]

Absolutely.

However I disagree with the 9 years of effort going out the door. The aquarium is a learning tool and you didn't lose any of that.

I have a bunch of free frags for when you are ready to restart. PM me.

 

[Og Drogon]

+++++1 I just went thru almost the same, but I sold my tank. That's when I noticed that my family was just as in love with my reef hobby, boy has that become a BIG regret selling it :-(
Kids asking me where did nemo and his friends go :-/
But after some weeks in the sofa and lotsssss of gravaling(miss spell lol)
I and restarting a smaller one and not making that mistake again
GL.

 

[alrha]

Glad they saved me before it was too late.

Thanks for the offer Josh, you are too kind.

 

[Imbarrie]

My family and friends spend a lot of time looking at my reef.
They have no idea the amount of careful thought and time goes into every step of this hobby, even for the seemingly small results we covet.
They also dont understand the planning that goes into some of these reefs to achieve the results we get.

If I were to give up, they would be affected probably more than me simply because of the wonder and amazement they feel is more profound than it is for us.

 

[prattreef]

Albert,
Josh's offer goes for me as well. Need that M.confusa back? Randy

 

[alrha]

Thanks Randy, lost half of it but looks like the other half is recovering (still a huge colony).
Hows it doing in your system? This one holding up better?

 

[prattreef]

Cool. Yes it is doing well for me.