giving up, advise

[v2k]

When I see how beautiful everyone else's tanks look I don't want to give up. But Am I correct that one cannot get away from a 15-20 gallon water change (for an 50 gallon aquarium +30 gallon refugium) every two weeks? My system crashed because I was so busy and nowmost of my soft corals have now died or bleached.

It actually seems I am changing water every week...and it is too heavy for me. And I always seem to do it when I am already exhausted (e.g. HAVE to go grocery shopping.) I have nowhere to place one of those RoDi.
I guess I just need to know that I am doing the right thing by giving up for now.

How DOES everyone do it?

Advice?

Thanks, Victoria

[Texreefer]

you have several options that i'm sure many of us on here would help you with,, first off you could set up the RO/DI in your garage and run a line to your tank and use a dosing pump for top off.. mix the water in a five gal bucket and use a powerhead to pump it into aquarium so you don't have to lift it... same with emptying the tank.. just run a long hose outside so you dont have to carry a bucket..
I'm not sure your tank "crashed" because of no water change unless it has been completely ignored for several months.. there were likely some other factors involved like age and stocking levels.. don't know with out more detailed info.. anyway we would gladly help.. i'm very lazy and i will do anything to cut down on a tank chore..

[blueboy]

i agree with tex. i don't think your tank crashed just because you didn't do a WC often enough. i've even heard some people question the value of WC's. are you testing your parameters? what are you hoping to accomplish with the WC's? do you have adequate filtration, and flow? how long has the tank been set up?

[brewercm]

I agree, I'm terrible about doing water changes at times but everything seemed to be doing fine. I have one of the float valves in my sump and run a line from my RO unit under my sink that has an auto shutoff. Keeps my sump nice and at the same hight, not to mention the salinity is stable. Also great for when we go on vacation and don't hvae to worry about someone having to keep adding water to my tank.

[v2k]

Aquarium set up since june 2005..had been doing fine

Something died in there, ammonia spiked, i noticed soft corals were not opening up.did not have time to attend to it...when I did water changes then it might have bee too late...more stuff died..major water changes followed, shocked for ammonia.

purchased new protein skimmer working great, purchased new retrofit lights so there are 4 wats per gallon.

soft corals beginning to open up again. Xenia tree and pony(?)coral plump but not expanded...only happy camper is the Florida Ricordia. Chili pepper starting to perk up.
mushrooms droopy.

yellow tang, yellow tailed damsel, two blue chromies and happy healthy mandarin fish.

i don't want to throw good money after bad..I don't kn ow when I should give up...maybe this is not my strength...I am an artist, a full time professor in Austin, live in San Antonio and a mom and wife. Have a parrot, two cockatiels and a canary...somehow i acquire all these inhabitants...then it is difficult to separate from them. My son has a 30 gallon fresh water tank which is a breeze.

I there such a thing as a self maintaining aquarium tank?

[Texreefer]

no

[Shark_Bait]

v2k sounds like your problem was your death(s) in the tank. I do not have the best looking tank by far, but on the other hand I can't tell you the last time I did a water change. I do have a water tower and auto top off system that keeps the tank water level constant. And I add trace elements and other additives on friday night when the week and the rest of the chores are done. Plus this gives me the weekend to just look at the tank and see what's going on.
I am not the best "reefkeeper" as I don't do much maintance at all. But I think everything in my tank is happy. Granted it does not crow with the speed and color that some of these other guys have but it still grows.
Hang in there. And maybe get the rest of the family involved.

[v2k]

What is a water tower?
When folks empty the saltwater from their tanks, do you empty them into your kitchen sinks so you dont kill everything in the garden?

Where do you locate a water top off system so that you don't h ave a hose running from one part of the house to another?

I hope these questions are not inane. It just seems such a pity to give up when the critters seem to be about to bounce back.

Thanks for all your feedback.

[DaBird47]

there is always the option of having someone come in and maintain your tank on a schedule, shouldn't be too expensive...just a thought...D

[jap1]

You could always downsize if you don't want to give up the hobby. I've been enjoying my little 12 gallon nano. You can't do too many fish, but you can put in a decent amount of corals. Best thing is, I only change out 3 gallons when I do water changes. It's super easy to maintain. I don't ever dose anything either.

[Ping]

PM sent

[demodiki]

I am not sure her doing water changes is the main problem. A smaller tank sometimes needs more attention than a bigger one would.

[Darth-Tater]

hey victoria right now I am in Tennesee and will be home thursday. Hold on until then . I will come by an look at the tank and see if I can get you back into a working solution. or call me on my cell 210 241-8741 oe 210 241-2091. I ahte laptops :lol

[v2k]

Thank you guys, you are truly the best. Ping helped me comprehend how to fit the needs of the tank within my time limits...and what to test for. Every day it is looking a bit better. Optimism is setting back in if I can get a RoDi to work...set up under the kitchen sink...a two danister with a Ro on top is sufficient for soft corals and fish?