talk me out of quitting the hobby

[pastehim]

It has been four years since I got into this hobby and have over all enjoyed it! However, as my tank has required less and less attention I find I don't have the same excitment for the hobby. Saltwater tanks aren't hard to keep if you practice some good rules of thumb! Most of them learned here!!! I had my Hippo Tang Die and while I have some other cool fish I'm really not intersted in replacing my show piece fish. He lived a good long life and I watched davey jones locker claim him. All interest I had in the tank seems to be gone.
I listed all the stuff on craigslist and have a guy coming to get it tonight. I am having second thoughts, but not sure if they are enough to keep me from selling the set-up. My wife could careless, nothing bad about her, it's just not her hobby and she doesn't have an opinion one way or the other so I figured before it's too late I would put it out to this group (sorry there's really no board for this question) and see if you'll can give me some reason I am lacking at the moment to call off the deal
thanks!

 

[spanko]

Because the addiction is in your blood now. You will sell your stuff and some time down the road you are going to want back in and will pay at today's dollar for the things you got rid of at a discount.
Redo what you have, do a biotope, do a species only tank, just change it up a bit to get some excitement back into it.
Or sell it a leave now knowing full well that you will be back someday.

 

[florida joe]

Ah the saltwater burn out. Something I am fully aware of. There was a period when I let my tank fall into serious disarray. Algae so bad on my glass I could no even see what was still alive. Then one day I cleaned the glass out of boredom and the old thrill came rushing back the only advise I can give you is to go fully one way or another. If you feel you must leave the hobby then do so. You can always come back. IMO you will never get the thrill back if you stay in it half headedly

 

[djcanis]

I think we have all been at that point. But you WILL miss it. I had my first tank up and running for 3 years, followed my home from college and beyond that, this past december we in upstate NY were hit with an ice storm, lost power for 6 days, lost everything in my 2nd tank despite my best efforts. For 5 months I starred at a hung of glass and plastic half filled with water, rock and curshed coral. At the time I thought ok, no more hassle, no more water changes, and tests and cleaning and monitoring. But you miss it. Last night I amost killed everything in my tank out of shear stupidity. It get frustrating when things go wrong, depressing when you lose something that show fish or centerpiece coral. But you will miss it. I dont think I am saying anything you havent thought of. Just my $.02

 

[tank a holic]

walking away for a while isn't a bad thing but do you need the money?
sell the livestock and garage the rest then in a year or so you can use it when you want too again or at least after that long you may know for sure you want to leave and sell it for more than what you can now

 

[oceana]

Personal choice really.
Like you said this is not a hard hobby. People make it much more complicated then it needs to be. Like you I find that I get bored with the tanks. For me I think I have more fun building the reefs then I do anything else. Once they are fully stocked I always seem to lose interest. For me another big part of the fun is the forums. When I am building a tank I have all sorts of stuff to talk about but once its done I always have that "now what?" feeling. I have sold my tanks four times
BUT
EVERY SINGLE TIME I come back. Once its gone I miss it within a few months and have to start all over. The build is great but the cost of starting over time and time again takes a bit of fun out of it. Because of that I don’t think I will ever be fully without a tank. I really love it and I think that’s the key. If your heart is not in the hobby you might as well get out. The hobby is not going anywhere. If you have a change in heart you can always come back. A hobby is meant to bring enjoyment to the ones who participate in it. Once that enjoyment is gone your best off taking a break. Be forewarned though. The reef bug is a nasty little creature and will sneak up and bite you when you least expect it

 

[tpigg81]

i agree that you should sell the livestock and keep the equipment. I myelf have too many tanks and some of them get NO attention, water changes or anything. Partially cause of lack of extra cash and/or intrest in that particular tank. There is a proliferation of pods and baby snails ect and that really is my only intrest in it. All of that electricity just to see those once a month. I don't know why the tank is still set up so I understand your lack of intrest. But trying to replace hardware/equipment down the road if you/I regain interest cost lots more than letting it sit. Hopefully that'll help...just my opinion. BTW Good luck!

 

[bigtankbigfish]

+1 on selling the fish but keep the rock, the tank and equipment. Unless u need the cash. Of course storing all that can be a pain, maybe rent a small unit or put it in the shed.
A year ago I sold my 220 at a 500 dollar loss just avoid to having to move it to my new house, I figured I already a 75 so that would keep me happy, here at I am today looking at this tiny ass 75 gallon wishing I had my 220.

 

[woody189]

Just sell the fish, and keep the tank and equipment in a garage or something.
If by 2011 you dig up the tank, then sell the stuff.
I think a yr and a half should be enough time for you to figure out if you miss it enough to come back.

 

[hyattdk2000]

I would think twice before selling it.... I had two horses (I know a very different hobby) at different times I got fed up with the hobby sold everything both times and then wish I did not. Some time you go through phases in life when nothing seems very interesting. But you ALWAYS go back to them and it is very pricey then to re purchase everything

 

[woody189]

Originally Posted by hyattdk2000
http:///forum/post/3067862
I would think twice before selling it.... I had two horses (I know a very different hobby) at different times I got fed up with the hobby sold everything both times and then wish I did not. Some time you go through phases in life when nothing seems very interesting. But you ALWAYS go back to them and it is very pricey then to re purchase everything

are we talking equestrian horses or seahorses

 

[pastehim]

Thanks everyone...I sold the tank. As I talked with the guy who bought it, I remember how thrilled I was when I got into the hobby and that excitment is missing. However, the new owner has that excitment and has been calling me asking all sorts of questions and I realize it is now his time to be learning new things about this awesome hobby and my fish will be better for it.
For the moment I am going to take a break and see what life is like without my saltwater tank. Who knows, I may be back sooner than I think. Thanks again everyone for some well thought out posts. You're a great group!

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3067690
Because the addiction is in your blood now. You will sell your stuff and some time down the road you are going to want back in and will pay at today's dollar for the things you got rid of at a discount.
Redo what you have, do a biotope, do a species only tank, just change it up a bit to get some excitement back into it.
Or sell it a leave now knowing full well that you will be back someday.
+1 I have been there and done that. If you are having second thoughts do not sell it. It costs way too much to start up again. Doing something different is exactly what you need to do.