Wife Update! Not hooked, but snagged.

tjkohler

tjkohler

Member
Well, some of you have been following my plight to convince the wife to let me get a 'big' reef tank. Here's an update:
She likes to look at the tank up close and find new critters and growths. She's real good at it and has found several types of mini crustacians, slugs, snails. She also has found several feather dusters and what appears to be a single polyp that has grown about 3 times in size. She asks questions a lot too.
This weekend she asked me where in the living room I would want to put the tank. I have told her several times (without her asking) already so I knew something was up. I told her again and she said ok, as long as all the little tools (salinity checker, additives, etc) that are all around my 10 gallon wouldn't be in sight. So it worked! Now I just need to start saving for the setup!
Thanks for all the help with my questions and concerns guys and gals. I'll soon move up to a 55 gallon, although I may still keep my little nano because it's just so cool.
 
iechy

iechy

Member
Congrats:D I know how you must feel. We went to the LFS this weekend just to "look" since we were in the area and my wife saw a coral that she liked and bought it herself for the tank because she wanted it. I don't have to tell you how pleased I was to have my wife get hooked, get a new coral, andhave my wife pay for it;)
By the way, it was a very pretty sun polyp which is a totally different color from anything else in my tank so I was glad we stopped to look:D
 
steamboat1569

steamboat1569

Member
As aquarium creatures go, wives can be the most detrimental to the tank inhabitants. A wife can toxify the tank in no time. They emit a strong toxin, known as, nag. If it is not pretty, give it up.
It has to have color to match the living room.
Placate the 'Wife" with gold and platinum, and she will be a great asset to the tank. Only go to the fish store if you make an essential stop at her favorite clothing store or jewler.
Boy, is this sexist or what?
 
hondo

hondo

Member
congrats on getting the wife to the "Dark Side". One suggestion though if your going to a larger tank go to the 75g as the 55 is difficult to aquascape. I chose the 50g over the 75 to save a few $$ and it was the biggest mistake I have made in this hobby (after starting out with cc that is). The extra room front to back makes all the difference in how the tank looks.
 
iechy

iechy

Member
I'll second hondo on that. I got a 55 and wish I'd done the 75. The expense isn't that mcuh different and it's much deeper so you can have a more natural look rather than just stacking up in a narrow tank. I plan to make up the difference on my next tank by getting something HUGE.;)
 
irishstout

irishstout

Member
Ill make that a third. Go with the 75 you will be much happier as, like was said above, aquascaping a 55 is a pain it the you know what.
 
kelly

kelly

Member
And a fourth on the larger tank. I have a 75 gallon, and would not want to have a 55 gallon. Spend the few extra dollars, you will be glad you did.
My wife offered to get me a 150 gallon for the living room in addition to my 75 gallon. I chose not to get it. My youngest daughter just started a trade school, and I think the money would be better used helping her with misc expenses at school, like food, apartment, utilities, car insurance, etc. I can always get a tank later.
 
wrassecal

wrassecal

Active Member
Steamboat - I am most ashamed of you! Slamming women that way. I decorated the living room around the tank but, I'll let you earn your way back into my good graces with gold and platinum;)
And I agree with the others being the owner of a 55 gal, I sure wish I'd started with a 75, but now I'm going to have to just bypass that next time and go oh, say around 120:D
This started out as my husbands hobby, but ended up more mine than his. He likes to look at it and deal with the equipment and I get to do all the cool stuff and research! I got caught up at work last week and he actually tested the water all by himself, found high nitrates and had to do a water change. It only took him 4 calls to me to get it done. I'm so proud of him:)
 
dburr

dburr

Active Member
A 90 gal is the same as the 75 gal, just a couple inches taller.:D :cool: :p
Go for it!!
Gotta thinkn' ah!
 
jonthefb

jonthefb

Active Member
kelly, man thats an awesome decision on your part, and if you have any extra cash you can surely send it to me:D ;) (man being a poor college student and in this damn addicting hobby sure does suck)
And for everyone else about the 55-75 arguement, heck forget the 75 and get a 135! When i started the hobby 4 years ago, i had to work with a 75 gallon tank that was narrow (not sure the exact size), but it was horrible to aquascape. all of the liver rock ended up slumped agains the back glass. well two years ago i made the move from a 75 to a 135(back when the parents were funding this hobby of "theirs" but that i always got stuck cleaning and testing) and oh....my.....god, the space, wonderful, lovely, beautiful, space! i could friggin go scuba diving in that tank cause there was so much room!!! (of course i wanted them to get the 180, but the settled for a 135) the extra room just added so much depth to the tank, that caves, and ledges and gorgeous gorges could now be created and not look awkward. We finally ended up aquascaping the tank so that if you looked at it from abouve, the lr made the shape of a number 3. coolest thing ever
wow sorry to ramble guys:D ;)
good luck
jon
 
M

mr hanky

Guest
i know you have heard this 10 times already but get the bigger one 5 ys ago it was a 75 then a 150 then a 180 all running in my living room to this day 400 gal!! all sw hmmmmmm anyone think im nuts? glad my wife is hooked too!!!!!!!!! robby
 
steamboat1569

steamboat1569

Member
The wife thing is purely a joke. My wife and I get along great, but I do have to buy her affection to the tank from time to time. The loss of the last 2 corals that I purchased had a dramatic impact on my marriage of over 15 yrs. I think the guys out there would tend to agree.
The wife must be treated as a tank inhabitant, as we must make sure she is happy with anything we add to the tank.
She lets me take care of the tank, but if I lose anything, I have hell to pay.
 
broomer5

broomer5

Active Member
I've measured this before.
Exactly one minute after I set up a new tank - I want a bigger one.
Why one minute - dunno - guess I finally sit back and admire the new tank for 59 seconds - then WHAM ! Shoulda got a larger one :p
Congrats on convincing your wife that saltwater tanks don't smell bad, and getting her involved. Nice job.
How's that 18 pound piece of live rock doing ?
 
tjkohler

tjkohler

Member
Broomer,
She says she can smell it, but that it doesn't stink bad.
The 18 lb piece of live rock is fantastic. So much life popping up all over the place. I couldn't have been more happy. Although it does touch the front and back glass in one place so it's a little big for a 10 gallon. The thought was always that it would be moving to a 55 (now I'm thinking 75-90,

[hr]
). I can honestly say that I would be happy with just this 10 gallon, but lust after a bigger tank.
The tank will get set up sometime this Winter. I've got to find some Southdown sand so that I can actually afford a bigger tank. The difference between $2/pound and $4/50 pounds is huge when you need 250-300 pounds :).
 
javajoe

javajoe

Member
Having your wife into the hobby can be good, but it can also be a bad thing. My wife and I are equally into this hobby, and it gets us in a lot of trouble. The last trip to the LFS we agreed ahead of time that we would ONLY spend $50 more than our store credit we had coming for trading in some red sea xenias, but the store got in 100 corals that day, and we spent $250. oops.
The tank looks great though. :D
I am on vacation this week, so I've not been near the computer much, but just an update, I bought 2 more VHO bulbs and endcaps, so i am replacing the NO bulbs finally, i am in the process of making a hood for the bulbs.
Monday we went up to see Bang Guy's 250 gallon tank and 900 gallong refugium--- AWESOME!!! I am in the process of planning a 55 gallon refugium in the basement as well. My wife's hairdresser has about 200 pounds of live rock in his basement that he is going to give us real cheap. some will go in the refugium, the rest into the 65 gallon hex that we picked up used for a seahorse tank.
So, as you can see, when your wife is into the hobby as much as you are, sometimes it can be dangerous! :)
Brianna (our 4.5 month old) LOVE to watch the tank. Our neighbor, who has been like a mom to us for years, tells us that it is her "Expensive Mobile". :)
 
jonthefb

jonthefb

Active Member
javajoe, thats a great metaphor for teh tank, an expensive mobile ha!!!
tj, man i am in the same boat as you. back home my parents have my 135 up and kicki, but im like 4 hours away from them now in college, renting an apartment, and have a 20 gallon my little 7,5 cube that im setting up. i love my 20, as its kicing ass now (been set up for 9 months now) but man i miss the 135. Theres so much more i could do with a bigger tank. Being a studnet and no tknowing where your gonna live in the next year makes it difficult though. i dont want to have to break down and move huge tanks, that would just be a pain in the ass. plus the apt. that were in now has a mx limit of a 55 gallon tank without renters insurance (incase the thing leaks or breaks), and also threr is a guy that i work with that used to have like 9 tanks set up in his house that wants to sell me a tank, stand, hood and everythign for like 60 bucks. ohh the friggin pressure! :D ;)
decisions, decisions, decisions!
good luck
jon
 
steamboat1569

steamboat1569

Member
Yeah, I have seen the Mr. 4000 tank. I believe that he is trying to make up for his lack of something. Show off!!!
I plan on making my entire back yard into a tank!
How much does shamoo go for these days?
 
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