Thinking Of Calling It A Day

[scotty]

with working and being at uni i don't feel i am able to give my tank the time it deserves i'm just not enjoying it the same anymore . i have only had my nd aquatics tank for just under a year now after parting with my juwel rio 125.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

After your recent tradegy and all the problems you had with filters before that, I can empathesize with you feeling a bit crestfallen about fishkeeping right now.

Perhaps try scaling right back to your current favourite fish species (plus a dither group if that happens to be a cichlid), keeping the tank very understocked (which means less maintenance), but will keep the tank ticking over until "the bug" grabs you again?

 

[Xraymark]

Sorry to hear that. Maybe do what NObody suggests. An easy maintenance tank to keep you ticking over. I've even thought about a tank with a single fish.
Or set up a nano tank.

 

[soybean]

I'm feeling much the same. I just simply can't be bothered anymore. I just don't seem to devote the time to it like I used to. I feed them and clean them out but don't seem to have time to enjoy them. I need something to motivate me again.

The other day I thought about rehoming every single one and buying just a fantail and having a family goldfish again! I'm sure it would appreciate nearly 40 gallons?!

 

[Xraymark]

I think that's why people constantly keep changing the look of their tank. From simple tinkering to whole new setup on a regular basis.
This forum also keeps the interest up. There are so many different directions to go. If bored change it.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I cannot wait to decomission my two Lionhead Cichlid nursery tanks, especially the one containing the 44 "teenagers", which I'm doing daily 50-75% water changes on, because of the small ~75l volume and massive overstocking while trying to grow them on to the magic 5cm size that my LFS has agreed to buy them off me at. Then there is my 48x12x15 that suffered the Ich tradegy, getting daily water changes, because of the ~15 Ilyodon fry on top of their forever growing adults that will need to upgrade to at least the Rio240 soon. Then there is my Rio240 which houses my recently adopted Chaetostoma milesi, which I am hell-bent on bending over backwards for after losing a L444 (now C. formosae) in my 5x2x2 ~14 months ago ...

Tank maintenance on my six tanks is taking up almost all my time outside work!

 

[scotty]

just no too sure what to do! maybe think about changing my stock

 

[scotty]

just done my first waterchange in five weeks!!! feel really bad about leaving it so long

 

[This Younger Spouse]

just done my first waterchange in five weeks!!! feel really bad about leaving it so long

I became very disinterested in my 55-gallon cichlid tank because they sat in their caves when it wasn't feeding time, and when out to feed they'd rush around for five minutes, eat, knock the stuffing out of each other, and then sit back in their caves.

BORING!

So I just rehomed them, picked up some whiptail cats and corys to go with my BN pleco and synodontis cats, and will be stocking with discus in a few weeks. Now I'm looking at the aquarium and LOT, and am fully engaged in swapping around substrate, rocks and wood. And live plants!

Funny what a change of pace can do.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

I think literally everyone goes through this, i was inactive on here for about 6 months because of otherthings going on, i had a complete stocking change and havent looked back since

Definitely dont pack it in, trust me you will regret it

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Yeah you've put in far too much time and effort up to now to pack it all in, i think a scale back is the way to go for now since one of your problems is time

 

[Man of fish]

Yes don't stop altogether! Just go smaller or make the tank easier to handle somehow! I'm sure you'll figure it out!

 

[Tolak]

I often back off during the summer, stock minimally, so less maintenance is needed. Forget serious breeding during the summer, don't want to be tied up with the daily maintenance issues associated with that. Too much nice weather, bbq & so on to enjoy during the summer, the couple month's break helps keep interest when things get rolling again in the fall.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

I often back off during the summer, stock minimally, so less maintenance is needed. Forget serious breeding during the summer, don't want to be tied up with the daily maintenance issues associated with that. Too much nice weather, bbq & so on to enjoy during the summer, the couple month's break helps keep interest when things get rolling again in the fall.

Thats weird as im the opposite, love it through spring/summer but back off in the winter. I dont find doing water changes, going to the lfs etc much fun in colder weather

 

[This Younger Spouse]

I often back off during the summer, stock minimally, so less maintenance is needed. Forget serious breeding during the summer, don't want to be tied up with the daily maintenance issues associated with that. Too much nice weather, bbq & so on to enjoy during the summer, the couple month's break helps keep interest when things get rolling again in the fall.

This tracks with my lifestyle as well. Busy, busy, busy all spring/summer/fall. Winter is when I spend the most time enjoying my tank (which is in my home office where I spend most of my time when inside).


And I don't see anything wrong with interest in aquaria waxing and waning. Nothing stays the same. Great advice to scale back and still enjoy it.