Getting So Annoyed And Fed Up...

[Azaezl]

Well I'm just about ready to jack it all in and it has barely been a year. It's just one problem after another with my tanks and I'm sick of it. Every tank I've ever had has had no end of problems with the equipment, lights, design and leakage. Most of them are second hand but even the brand new tanks have been a right pain and have had lots of problems. The thing that's really pushed me into questioning whether to carry on is the fact that I'm getting so stressed over it all, I've cried over my tanks more then I have enjoyed them the past couple of weeks.

It's really heartbreaking because I love this hobby and I love my fish but 99% of the time I'm upset and stressed over my tanks because so many things are wrong with them. I'm really thinking of getting rid of every last tank & fish, waiting, saving up and starting all over again and getting all the things I want / need as well as some decent tanks that aren't going to let me down.

This is the list of problems I currently have;

5g fish r fun hex tank - awkward shape/ design makes it hard to do anything with. It's also nicknamed the death tank as anything that has gone into that has died despite the water stats being fine(fine as in ammonia / nitrite 0 and nitrate never got past 10).

5g tank - light on it is rubbish so can't plant it like I would like, another awkward design as the lid doesn't come off completely.

15g tank - the lid is too big, the light goes off if you accidentally knock the lid, the filter in this tank is temperamental and will not come back on again when turned off unless I take it out of the water first(very weird)

30g tank - This is the best tank, only problems I have are the same filter problem(fluval 2) being temperamental.

35g tank - no lid, no light, it looks horrible as it's a very old tank as well as being another awkward design, the double stand it's on is an awkward size, 39" x 12" so getting a tank for the bottom is going to be a little harder. The external filter has been playing up on it as well. Seems like everything is breaking at once

I know it may seem trivial to other people but it's just annoying, I just wish I had one tank that didn't have problems and that everytime I did something to my tank it didn't go wrong. Even the simplest of tasks gets me in tears, I was crying my eyes out because I couldn't get some java fern to sit right on some wood, it took me an hour and lots of screaming.I know that sounds lame but all the other things that happened before it had stressed me so much it just pushed me over. I managed to pour half a bucket of water on myself, the dodgy filter played up as usual, I dropped some bogwood on my foot, I hurt my hand trying to get the lid off my nutrafin cannister & my kid was getting under my feet. I really wanted my planted tanks to take off but I haven't got the necassary equipment / ferts for them to really get going & won't have the cash for a few months so I'm making do with some jbl ferropol & nutrafin co2 so that's another thing getting me down, it's just the 'making do' rather then doing it how I'd like to that upsets me.

I'm really not sure what to do, whether to carry on with these tanks or just close them all down and start again afresh next year. I really don't want to get rid of my fish but as my husband keeps reminding me at the most awkward of moments(you know when I'm nearly crying because I can't get the filter started again) 'what's the point in doing it if you don't enjoy it, it's not a hobby it's a chore if it upsets you this much' I guess in a way he is right but it's so difficult to know what to do, I don't want to get rid of them but I'm so sick of all this dodgy equipment & being conned when buying second hand tanks.

Sorry about the long rant, I just had to let it all out before I pop, and to people who can understand and sympathise as my husband really doesn't care whether I have them or not.

 

[kribensis12]

Sorry to hear that!!!!!!! Keep the tank's going. You will never know if you got a planted set-up the way you wnated it if you quit noe. Just put like 50 dollars( E 25) in the bank every time you get a check, and after a month or 2 you will have enough to get the plants and everything!

 

[part-timer]

I'll no longer moan about the kids tapping the front of the glass, sounds like I've got it easy!

Don't give up - buying second hand is always a lottery. Clear it all out, and get a matched tank/hood/filter setup brand new - the fluval setups are great entry level kits.....

 

[majik]

oh dear im sorry ure feeling like that it does seam to happen tho ive been very dispondent with my tanks in the past and theyve made me a bit depressed when theyve had problems one after another another or one causing another please dont giv up because the fact that ure so stressed about them means they really mean alot to you greif is the price we pay for loving somethin mabe you can just limp along with what youve got and save up to replace 1 tank at a time ive made sum really dum decisions wif tanks ive bought in the past but the great thing is im much wiser when buying now gud luk please dont giv up on the fishies when theyre going gud theyre awsome

 

[Squid]

The route i went was to have one 48gallon tank, and a good filter (eheim). A good size tank with a good filter gives you some stability. Set it up with a more simple and maintainable aquascape that looks pleasing enough to the eye, then sit back and enjoy the fish.

I found running a tank that was not mature (under 6 months old) with a naff filter a bit of a bind too, with some losses. Now I have no problems with the water stats, minimal maintenance and scarce losses, and it is enjoyable again.

I think we have all been there at some point ;-) , but you could try keeping it simple for a while and consolidate the expense in to one good tank!

Squid

 

[chamberpot]

Don't worry, it'll be OK.
You obviously care about your fish or you wouldn't be so upset about the whole situation.
I don't really know the best way for you to go from here and like most newbies, I'm warey of giving advice in case it's shot down in flames.
But, fish rule and if you're going to look after them, then look after them properly. (Confushus said that)

Don't give up. You may have lost your way, but you are asking for help in the right place.

All the best, Don

 

[Faythee]

Awwww...You sound just like me ! Spilling water on yourself and dropping wood on your foot. A tad perfectionist too...yup that's me. Sounds like too much. Maybe downsize to just 2 tanks ? that would lighten the load a bit. I recently bought a Hagen Aqua Clear Power Filter (external). I can't believe how much better my tank has been since. It was not too expensive. I also shop for things on Ebay. The problem with my tank is I never like how it looks...no matter what. I am setting up a 55 gallon and using sand, with some rocks and wood and just a couple plants. Plain black background. I think I will be happier with plain and natural. I am going to keep my 10 gallon as a hospital tank. That's about all I can handle ! As far as the stand you don't like...there are other options. My husband is building me one. I have even considered painting cinder blocks black !! Hey...it wouldn't crash that way ! Wish you the best

 

[SJ2K]

If your fed up with annoying little tanks, ditch the silly hex tanks etc, sell up what your unhappy with and invest in a new, quality, large tank

 

[Azaezl]

Thanks for all the replies

I feel a little better now, still not sure what to do, the hex is definately going, I've never liked it and it just sits there taunting me lol. I have got other spare tanks that are bigger but can't really combine all my fish as they need different setups. It's not the maintenance or anything that's hard work or annoying, just the fact that every tank has one thing or another wrong with it.

I did want to setup the 2 4ft tanks I have in storage but I'd have to move the double stand & tanks to make space for it and there's nowhere to move it to, so I'm selling them.

I'm going to have to have a good think about what's staying and what's going and which tanks / fish I really can't live without(which is pretty much all of them bar the goldies), I hate tuff decisions, I had all this a few weeks ago when I had to close down my rio 240 and get rid of all the fish in that(really miss my bichirs).

Roll on next year when I might have the cash to sort it all out and get it how I want, although faythee you pretty much hit the nail on the head, I'm a perfectionist and even when I get a tank looking great an hour later something just won't look right and it'll drive me mad.

 

[Eyebiter]

It doesn't surprise me that your 30g is your best set up. One thing I've noticed in the trade is small tanks are a pain. Another is you can't beat new equipment. Or at least equipment that's correct for your tanks. I used to try and rig different filters or customize lighting but unless you have a lot of time and experience it's just better to get the right stuff.

I'd say put them all away except the 30g. When that's good for 6 months look into getting a 55 or something bigger. You always got to go bigger !

Get through the tough time of wanting to give it all up and you'll be a better aquarist after. The best knowledge is from experience.

 

[Faythee]

although faythee you pretty much hit the nail on the head, I'm a perfectionist and even when I get a tank looking great an hour later something just won't look right and it'll drive me mad.

I know......I hate the tube that goes to my bubbler. No matter what plants or anything I try to hide it with you can still see it...so ugly...drives me mad !!!

 

[Zeoth]

although faythee you pretty much hit the nail on the head, I'm a perfectionist and even when I get a tank looking great an hour later something just won't look right and it'll drive me mad.

I know......I hate the tube that goes to my bubbler. No matter what plants or anything I try to hide it with you can still see it...so ugly...drives me mad !!!

Count me in too

 

[benniebru]

i would say just worry about getting one tank setup. and remember YOU GET WHAT U PAY FOR no only with fish tanks but with anything in life usually the cheaper way is the more headache way

i would suggest setting up just one tank and spend the money to get good equipment (nothing second hand its usually not worth it unless you are close to the ppl you get it off of) to me it just seems a bad run of luck just do one tank at a time and if u dont have the money to keep all them up then you shouldent have that many. set up one get it going good then once its all established i would then start a second

 

[jeej]

In the past I've had various dramas running multiple (small) Guppy tanks - that is why this time I am concentrating on setting up one large tank and I'm not gonna rush through any stage of the initial process. It's all too easy to give in and get a bit over excited, but now I figure that it will be far more rewarding in the long run if I take little baby steps etc...

 

[CFC]

If your fed up with annoying little tanks, ditch the silly hex tanks etc, sell up what your unhappy with and invest in a new, quality, large tank

That the best advise ive seen in a long time. Tanks under 20g should be banned from general sale as all they do is create problems unless they are being used for rearing fry or keeping single/pairs of small fish.

It sounds like you are trying to get more from the tanks than they are good for, that 5g hex tank was never meant to be set up for any longer than it takes two goldfish to die at the hands of an 8 year old child. There are people who set up and running truely amazing nano and pico aquariums, but they tend to be people with years of experience of running decent sized tanks behind them. Smaller tanks may seem like an easy option but in reality it is far easier to set up and keep one or two larger tanks than constantly battle with several small ones.