When To Throw In The Towel

[snfkotara]

When is enough enough? Is it when most your prized acans die off or you feel like crying when you look in your tank to see lots of unhappy coral. So my question is when is enough enough?

[robalv]

When you have to ask, when is enough enough? and or your broke!

[Gseclipse02]

well first find out why they are dieing .. IMO i have been there witht he crying part no lie lol .... im glad i stayed in it now my tank is looking good!!!

[snfkotara]

From everyone I have talk to I somehow got a bacteria infection. As soon as I noticed it I started dipping the coral.

[Mr Cob]

There is one fact. Once a reef enthusiast always a reef enthusiast. If you leave, you WILL be back. So cut your losses by just staying in. It's like a marriage dude. Good times and bad times but you must stay one always!!! Divorce is not an option!!!

[BIGBIRD123]

NEVER SAY DIE....

About 3 weeks ago, I lost 90% of the coral in my tank because of theA/C going out, I'm still here and starting over ...

[ACE]

If you stay with it, whatever issue you have will pass and things will improve. Always going to be ups and downs, just a part of life. Stick with it, you will not regret.

[Ping]

Bacteria, I would think about U.V. or Ozone.

[aquasport24]

IMO, most of the time dipping will do more harm than help when your corals already stress out. You have not mention your water parameters.Have you run any active carbon to clean out the dead corals tissues?

[Europhyllia]

I have had a little 30g reef tank for ten years. It's had it's ups and downs but after two kids I finally stopped messing with it because I didn't have time to add all kinds of stuff to the tank and it turned beautiful! Awesome how slight neglect can work in your favor!
It was really perfect for a year or so. No nuissance algae, nothing dying. Just great big happiness.
Then my toddler dumped a can of fishfood into it.
It was terrible. Even with a hang on filter, water change and skimmer running it turned into a swamp.
:( I felt like giving up at that time and posted a question on 'another' forum about if I should bother to try and safe it or just give up.
I figured there was NOTHING anybody could say to cheer me up but someone suggested a bigger tank. More stable. More to look at. Etc.
I got a 130g for mother's day.
That really DID cheer me up!

[Bill S]

I've been in the hobby - on and off - mostly on - for over 35 YEARS. It's addicting. Even late last year, when I was seriously considering getting out, I just "down-complicated" instead. No more SPS. It's made a WORLD of difference. The tank just cruises along.

All hobbies have cycles. This one is just SO frustrating - because when you have a bad run, you just HAVE to prove it to yourself that you ARE capable of doing it.

Hang in there.

[barderer]

Giving up SPS is the key I think. A key which I can't seem to use cuz SPS is dope. Nothing drives you mad like a huge SPS colony evaporating overnight for a unknown reason.

[RICKY81]

i am just getting started to the saltwater hobby and in it for only 2 yrs now... i have also gone through hundreds $$ of dollars from sps, corals, and fish dying but everytime i learn something new even when i thought i knew i was doing the right thing i actually wasn't..... so i guess as long as you keep yourself out of trouble and entertained at home happy with your tank rather that out in the streets risking yourself of getting in to trouble.... safe and happy reefing

[Jeff]

go ahead and take a break for awhile if you want, just don't get rid of any of your stuff because you will be back again later and it is way more expensive to buy again than when you got out. also try to go another direction with your tank, like a lagoon or large refugium that is a mangrove forest, or see how simple you can make your tank and still have a thriving aquarium.

[brewercm]

So many comments that are spot on in so many places. I downsized myself and went smaller and a different route (no SPS), but kept the concept of making my tank as self sustaining as possible. Next to water changes and cleaning my skimmer it pretty much does everything itself and all I have to do is enjoy it.

It really comes down to what your feelings are and where you want to go with it. Like so many have said though that once it's in your blood you will probably be back at some point.

[jennabee]

Hey Sherry dont give up, Even though its hard to lose some things, You will bounce back. Just enjoy the hobby and don't overwhelm your self. As addicting as this hobby is:blushing:

[ballardjr2000]

i got an currently unused uv sterilizer i can loan you if you want? shoot me a PM i am in located in Kingsville Tx