Lost all interest in my reef tank

[boalgf]

I've had a reef tank for a good long while. I started to realize a few months back that I just don't like it. The corals and fish are pretty, but it doesn't grip my attention like my tank with my puffer, eel, large angel, beta... I have already decided to get rid of it anf now just do the regular maintenence and feeding. I don't spend any quality time with it like I do my FO tank.
My girlfriend was over yesterday and she, of course, loves the reef much more than the other tank. She came storming upstairs asking what i'd done with sharkbait (my perc clownfish). He's gone... Come to think of it, I can't remember the last time I saw him at feeding. He could have been dead for god knows how long. I bought him from a guy who had him 3 years and I had him a few more, so it might have just been his time. Really though, I need to ditch this tank that I love so little. I don't know why I don't like it though. I've pulled off a tank that has 3 dwarf angels and a happy Mandarin Dragonet. I should like it more. I'm all about a bigger tank for my fish and some knew eels though. RIP sharkbait and thank god for a great cleaner crew.
Anyone else just totally not in to/ lost interest in owning reefs or small fish?

 

[nw2sltfsh]

Prior to my move from New England to PA I had had an aggressive tank for quite a while - after the move we decided to go a differnet route and do a reef - spent a ton on lights and everything that was needed for me to decided after 12 corals were added that I am just not that into Reef tanks - I perfer my aggressive tanks and the look of eels and lions and triggers
So all the small reef safe fish were taken back to the LFS and traded for my preference - all but one coral was given away to people locally and I have my precious agreesives back
I dont blame you for losing interest - I love my tank as it is and would not want a reef back

 

[littlebuck]

well im right there with you. I want to do the same thing but i want to wait untill i move. I have a reef right now and im gonig to get rid of the whole thing. Tank and all. I think i have more in to this tank then it would be to have a 150 gal aggressive or even bigger. Good to see someone else in NC. What all do you have in your tank now? I have a friend that is looking for corals. He jsut came down from NY to see his family and stopped by to get corals from me. littlebuck70@yahoo.com if you want to chat.

 

[boalgf]

Glad to see I'm not the only one in this situation. I know most aquarists seem to like reefs more.
Hey littlebuck: In my reef I have a flame, coral beauty, and lemonpeel angel. Purple fridmani, 2 blue chromis, one green chromis, mandarin dragonet, black ribbon eel and lots of inverts. I will be sad to give up the ribbon eel though. It only really did well in the reef tank with lots of inverts to pick off at it's leisure.

 

[ronald_j]

Me too!!! I sold my 90 gal. and bought a 125 so I can set it up as an aggressive tank. I finally gave in to my wife and kids because all I ever heard from them was "your tank is BORING." I don't know, I guess they were right. I had the reef set up for at least 6 years but I figure it's just time for a change.

 

[ophiura]

To be honest, though I LOVE brittlestars and reefy things, I would equally LOVE an aggressive tank. Aggressive fish, IMO, have much more personality. I don't think it is abnormal.

 

[boalgf]

You hit it right on the head. There are definite personalities to all of my larger fish. Aside from the lemonpeel being a mean little thing, the small fish are just normal skittish fish. All of my large fish (aside from the beta) will eat out of my hand, it's really fun.

 

[juddster]

Ditto to all! I am selling my 90 reef ..it has been up for a few years its very mature and pretty but no excitement factor. I am almost finished cycling my 180 agressive setup, i cant waut to load it!! pictures to follow when ready.....i am not into rushing it.

 

[iluvswfish]

Agreed with all! I'm just trying to plan what I want and after several months research, the aggressives are just way cooler. Small, peaceful fish just don't do it for me. The thing I do like about a reef tank is the motion. If I were to do a reef, it would probably end up being a predator reef though.
The only thing that is kind of daunting with the aggressive FOWLR I want is that all the fish I feel I really must have demand a large tank. Hubby finally agreed the other day I can get between 135-180 gallon that will be large enough for the types of fish I'm really interested in keeping. I first bought an undrilled 55 gallon FW setup but, for the expense of getting it suitable for a SW aggressive tank (knowing I will have to upgrade), I might as well pay the same money for a larger used setup.

 

[unleashed]

i loved the looks of my reef tank but I also love my aggressive and larger fish.so I wouldnt lose interest in my reef i decided to make it a semi aggressive reef.which keeps the tank very interesting to say the least. my 300 reef stock list is as followed
spotted bamboo shark 12 in
,vol lion 8 in
,unicorn tang 5-6 in
,scopus tang 3 inch
,dej sailfin tang 6-7inches
bristle tooth tang 10-11 in
blue hippo tang 4-5 in
,2 bird wrasses4&6 inch.m/f
2 maroon clowns 4 & 2 in,
australian multicolored dotty back 3 in
flame hawk small 2 in
pearlscale butterfly 2 in
banjai cardenal 1 1/2
green chromis 1.1/2
bi colored damsel 2 in
coral beauty 2-3 in
scooter blenny 3 in

 

[nigerrabit]

unleashed, do you have pics?? I like your idea of mixed. Thats is what I am going with.

 

[connor]

OMG are you seriuos i LOVE my reef before i had FO agressive it was cool but my reef blows it away maybe you guys never got good corals and nice fish

 

[unleashed]

Originally Posted by NigerRabit
unleashed, do you have pics?? I like your idea of mixed. Thats is what I am going with.
if you would like pics post email ill be glad to send some. i also have some in a photo
Album URL: http://unleashed.myphotoalbum.com/vi...umName=album09

 

[boalgf]

Originally Posted by connor
OMG are you seriuos i LOVE my reef before i had FO agressive it was cool but my reef blows it away maybe you guys never got good corals and nice fish

Great fish, great coral... Still boring.

My tangs and foxface are all reef fish I guess. I just like them more in my fish only set up.

 

[dme]

boalgf, there as untold ten of thousands of people all over the world and we all have our different liking top what it be reef or other wise for so many say my eel tanks are boring so it all depends on every individual to what their likes are to what they want the most for your not alone in this who has giving up maintaining a reef tank.
I just hope after all the spending I done for my two reef tanks that I not feel as you do for I done F/O tanks all those years, up until about 3.5-4 years ago for As well, I giving it a great deal of thought and is why I am at the finale decision to have only eels and reef tanks. And I am in plan to have two sets of dwarf eels both reef tanks in which will give me a total of eight eels in all. And I know I will be happy with it :joy:

 

[connor]

Originally Posted by boalgf
Great fish, great coral... Still boring.

My tangs and foxface are all reef fish I guess. I just like them more in my fish only set up.
did you have sps that is what my reef is and my friends is softies and lps and is boring i have just a little bit of lps and softies and a ton of sps and its awesome

 

[boalgf]

I like looking at reefs and don't fault people for having them. I became much more attached to my larger fish and it simply overwhelmed my interest in the reef tank. If I could keep a reef with the types of fish combinations I like (puffers, eels, triggers, large angels) then it would be great.

 

[mystic7]

I love my friend's reef tanks but I wouldn't give up my aggressive tank for all the beautiful corals in the world.

 

[unleashed]

i think thats why i have so many tanks up lol or larger ones for that matter I have a few small fish in my reef but most wont stay very small for long.I do love my agressive fish but have found that even tangs can be tough buggers.there has to be something said for a so called sissy reef fish equiped with razor barbs on there tails.id say they can measure up to some of the other aggressives

 

[boalgf]

My tangs hold their own in the tank. They aren't quite as tough as the porcupine puffer at feeding time, but they get more than their fair share of food.