Anyone else have my mental problem? Almost like "seasonal depression". Being a ReefBum: "Old tank, complacency/ neglect the tank" syndrome.

[ReeferSamster]

Anyone else get this and do you do anything about it actively when you notice the symptoms?

I've had most of my live rock and some corals for about 2 decades now, with 4 tank upgrades in its lifetime, and I noticed a pattern when I passed 20: I'm in the psychological "old tank problem/complacency" stage. It's almost like seasonal depression, lol. It happens once or twice a year. If I didn't get a new coral, or a new experimental, god forbid "blueberry gorgonian" itch or some other wacky creature that I would swear to keep alive, (i've had 3 blueberries in my reefing life, and I swear I'll never try again. (i hope...gulp )....
about once or twice a year, for like a month or two each instance, I neglect the tank. Its sneaky and unnoticeable at first. It's a progressive disease that starts with unclean glass tank walls. Then the skimmer cleaning gets more and more delayed. The water changes slowly cease. I usually don't lose any life, but I did lose a clam I had for 5 years, the last episode I had, although I'm not sure if it was related, because it kept coughing as if something was inside, so i know it was an acute issue and not a passive environmental one. Usually, some hair algae or other nuisance starts creeping at the edges of my montis.
Heck, I haven't been in R2R in 2 months, due to my seasonal psychological issue.

Things I've noticed at this stage of becoming the reefbum:
At about 1.5 months in, I'm nearing the end cycle of the "neglect the tank" period and now I did my first water change in like 2 months and it felt good. So I guess I'll clean the glass now. Fortunately, this time around I lost nothing. In fact, my zoa's are becoming weeds and have invaded my center rock. I gotta get them under control.

I just let things call where they may, which is why i have spots of montis or that orange acro and random zoas here and there just grow. I stopped thinking about my aquascape "fengshui" crap about 10 years ago.

I found a tiny clone of my rose bubble in my sump, and I have no idea how that happened.

I can't believe my golden midas blenny hasn't jumped out the tank yet. He's a record for me @ 2 years.

Usually, I think my brain has a "hair algae" meter, after which there is sufficient hair algae creeping at the rocks or Monti, I start getting agitated and I know I'm near the end the "reefbum stage", and that I'm going to start with the tank again and I feel the fire starting in my heart again. This usually leads to another potential cycle of "Wow. A blueberry gorgonian/dendra/neon green super sponge/cucumber" at my LFS, and then I go get it, much to my dismay later. Is this what it feels to be a "Bipolar Reefer"? I don't think I have bipolar in general, thankfully it's limited to this obsessive money sink that's been with me almost half my life. I'm such a nostalgic fool.

Yea. So, anyone else relate?

 

[Gribbles]

I wanna see more pictures of that sexy tank

 

[ReeferSamster]

I wanna see more pictures of that sexy tank.

wow. You just could be my reefing therapist. You are making me want to clean the glass and siphon out the crap on my sand. It's actually very dirty. Now I'm motivated to clean it up. Lol. was it the external validation or peer pressure?

Well heres the right side island. I forgot what that big green coral is called, but he's almost about the size of a melon, but the problem is, he rests on the tiny spot where he grew from, so the anchored section is the size of 4 fingers, and I'm scared it will tilt. I don't know what I could do if it did fall off.

This is lesson learned for me, I never thought I would have these guys for such a long time, i was not careful about longterm spacing, anchoring and positioning. So now all the corals are also at war with each other.

What was the name of that coral again? I remember getting it as a frag in Reefapolooza 5 years ago or so.
You know what? I don't really think its a mental disease. I think I'm just lazy.

 

[ReeferSamster]

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[ReeferSamster]

. oops sorry deleted accident

 

[tobster]

Tank looks good. Love that monti shelf

 

[Coinzmans Reef]

I get right to the edge of Breakdown tank or go bigger, after awhile the tank reminds me why we are in this
cause its dang AWSOME ! Just keep breathing and the passion returns.

 

[ReeferSamster]

Tank looks good. Love that monti shelf

Now I feel super pressured to clean it. Its dirty as heck in real life. I think the blue light is hiding most of the gunk. Mostly where I chipped off the monti to keep it from overshadowing.
Anyway, does anyone relate to the Reefbum phase you get once in a while? Or am I the only one?
Edit: How do you delete post. It keeps posting, why can't I just do a return carriage line.

 

[ReeferSamster]

I get right to the edge of Breakdown tank or go bigger, after awhile the tank reminds me why we are in this
cause its dang AWSOME ! Just keep breathing and the passion returns.

Wow. edge of breakdown? You live life dangerously, sir.

 

[tobster]

Now I feel super pressured to clean it. Its dirty as heck in real life. I think the blue light is hiding most of the gunk. Mostly where I chipped off the monti to keep it from overshadowing.
Anyway, does anyone relate to the Reefbum phase you get once in a while? Or am I the only one?

I’m still in the “honeymoon “ phase. I’ve only been doing this for about a year and a half.
Sometimes I think I should stop cleaning or fiddling with whatever and just let it do its thing.

 

[crazyfishmom]

I use my tanks as a means of stress reduction and that includes maintenance. I work a pretty stressful job and have special needs kiddos so stress is a constant in my life these days. My husband jokes around about the frequency of power head cleanings and how many tasks my boss added to my plate that week. If I ever quit my job I’m sure the tank would crash a few weeks later from the bliss of neglect.

 

[ReeferSamster]

I use my tanks as a means of stress reduction and that includes maintenance. I work a pretty stressful job and have special needs kiddos so stress is a constant in my life these days. My husband jokes around about the frequency of power head cleanings and how many tasks my boss added to my plate that week. If I ever quit my job I’m sure the tank would crash a few weeks later from the bliss of neglect.

But for some reason I "lose" it like once or twice a year, almost completely and then I come back, right before hair algae starts to get too much.

Maybe your "stress relief" makes you be consistent, because it protects you from worldly stress, so its like positive reinforcement.

 

[ReeferSamster]

I’m still in the “honeymoon “ phase. I’ve only been doing this for about a year and a half.
Sometimes I think I should stop cleaning or fiddling with whatever and just let it do its thing.

Oh to go back to it. Yea. Enjoy man. It's the best times.
Almost like when you have a child that is like 3-6 years old, those are the best times. lol

Now my cleaner shrimp annoys the crap out of me. And my clownfish is starting to get nasty when my hand goes near his wanna-be anemone. He's retarded. There's a perfectly sized rose bubble across the tank away and this moron is hosting in that oversized big green "i forgot the name" coral. My reeftank and I are like a jaded elderly couple that just annoys the crap out of each other.

Ah... can't live with it, can't live without it. whattodo....

 

[tobster]

lol my first fish were a pair of clowns and it’s surprising how hard they can bite to be no bigger than they are.
I zoomed in a the corals and they are cool looking.
Hopefully someday my montis will grow like those you have.

 

[ReeferSamster]

lol my first fish were a pair of clowns and it’s surprising how hard they can bite to be no bigger than they are.
I zoomed in a the corals and they are cool looking.
Hopefully someday my montis will grow like those you have.

I'm sure you can. If you can keep zoas or gsp's alive, they'll flourish. Just give it plenty of alk and calc and that's it.
I got lazy picking up the frag pieces after fragging, and I forget them, and in a few months they start taking over downstairs: See the top grandfather has so many chips through the years, because I have to frag it from overshadowing my corals below it. omg. now that i really look at it, i need to clean the tank. Thanks guys! I notice all those patches of hair algae on the grandfather monti and brown bacterial stuff on the rocks below. (I don't think it's algae)

I can't bear to throw frags away. I planted a dropped green guy from the island on this side. dang it. Now Im gonna need a bigger tank. . It happens like every 5 years or so.

 

[tobster]

Wow I didn’t even notice how big the one in the back was!
If you do decide to clean it up post a pic- would love to see it.

 

[crazyfishmom]

But for some reason I "lose" it like once or twice a year, almost completely and then I come back, right before hair algae starts to get too much.

Maybe your "stress relief" makes you be consistent, because it protects you from worldly stress, so its like positive reinforcement.

I think it is a bit more like it’s easier to stress about the tank because in the grand scheme the tank is less of an issue than everything else I’m stressed out about. But it keeps me on top of the tank and that is a good thing.