What do you tell family and house guests about your ugly tank?

[Formulator]

Thought this might be a fun topic to discuss… Perhaps your spouse is patient enough to listen long enough to an actual explanation of the “ugly phase” or nutrient imbalances that led to your current battle with GHA, but for friends, relatives, and the occasional random house guests - do you acknowledge the disgraceful state of the aquarium or try to avoid it altogether? Any good jokes?

Happy Reefing!

 

[lil sumpin]

I try my best to manage the uglies before people come through but sometimes I let the tank go and the glass gets stained green with film algae. If folks ask about my plants, I typically say “yeah they’re alive”

 

[Reefer Matt]

I don’t get any visitors.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Depends how bad! I think people see the reef tank and say it looks cool rather then a reefer saying dang I let that mushroom and zoa take over that rock.

They don't realize my tank crashed a year ago and its taken this long to feel comfortable to regrow acros.
I know once I add the 15 frags from my qt it will balance out the GHA or red turf algae that spread.

Most just say wow your Nemo is exotic looking and I reply its a designer clown fish and they look at the bright green candy cane and it say its so cool. I point out my tiny acro frag and they say the stick that looks like a D****.... cries inside that is a $150 tenuis acropora.

 

[Reefering1]

My go to excuse is, "I'm letting nature run its course, can't rush nature...".

 

[reeftivo]

tell them "sorry for the look of the tank but I'm experimenting with culturing Phytoplankton". They probably won't know what that is and they will think you are some aquatic genius.

 

[Formulator]

they look at the bright green candy cane and it say its so cool. I point out my tiny acro frag and they say the stick that looks like a D****.... cries inside that is a $150 tenuis acropora.

This is funny. It’s so true though! If we really want to impress visitors we should all have softie and LPS dominant tanks…

 

[BristleWormHater]

This is funny. It’s so true though! If we really want to impress visitors we should all have softie and LPS dominant tanks…

Yeah lol... and get bombarded with "is that an anemone?"
"No its a blastomussa"
"Is that a disease?"

 

[RelaxingWithTheReef]

Most just say wow your Nemo is exotic looking and I reply its a designer clown fish and they look at the bright green candy cane and it say its so cool. I point out my tiny acro frag and they say the stick that looks like a D****.... cries inside that is a $150 tenuis acropora.

Reminds me of my first marine tank many years ago that was full of expensive colorful fish. For some reason everyone would say they loved the Blue Damsel. They were like $2.99 at the time. I would close my eyes, smile, and just shake my head...

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I’ve never once had anyone say anything about the algae in my tank. Family and friends that visit my house think it’s a normal part of a tank, haha

 

[aztoza]

I really try to clean rock and glass before people come because I’m proud of it and want it to look nice =) with so many variables I can’t control in the tank, it brings some peace to be able to at least scrub things clean.

But if not…I’d lower the whites to nothing that day lol.

 

[Rp8]

When the purple Cyano is running rampant I just say thank you when they say it’s sooooo pretty

 

[MoshJosh]

“umm actually, I’m cultivating an extremely diverse and complex bacterial and micro-organic biome that mimics pre-human reef conditions. Sort of a high level experimental process not achievable by most laboratories let alone a hobbiest. . . I wouldn’t expect YOU to understand” then proceed to call your guest a “charlatan”

Just kidding, on the off chance I allow someone into my home when the tank is not looking 100% I say “don’t judge me but the tank is dirty right now, but It’ll be cleaner next time”

 

[Formulator]

I’m cultivating an extremely diverse and complex bacterial and micro-organic biome

I mean… technically this part is true!

 

[lil sumpin]

I try my best to manage the uglies before people come through but sometimes I let the tank go and the glass gets stained green with film algae. If folks ask about my plants, I typically say “yeah they’re alive”

Some family members came through on a surprise visit yesterday, been transitioning into a new position so they came to congratulate me. I've been pretty busy with onboarding and getting a hang of things so they got to see piles of clean laundry that I haven't stowed away yet, some dirty dishes in my sink and this:

The plants are still kickin, maybe just a little ticked off

 

[Tamberav]

My tank is in the full ugly stage as I set I up recently and diatoms are in full bloom. Family is visiting.

Oh well. They said the fish look nice, I just told them the tank is new and it’s a work in progress.

 

[Miami Reef]

Relatives don’t really care about my tank anymore.

It became boring to them.


Maybe I need to have algae and uglies to grab some attention.

 

[Lavey29]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder