Coming and going from the hobby: How many times have you taken down your reef tank?

[Peace River]

Coming and going from the hobby: How many times have you taken down your reef tank?

Life happens. Sometimes we need to step away from reef keeping. Of course, many times that draw is seemingly magnetic and we are drawn back into reefing one way or another. It is also possible that the barriers are moved out of the way, and we have a clear path back to reefing. Sometimes taking a step back doesn’t mean that you shut down all of your tank, but you may have reduce the number of tanks that you have set up. Regardless of the reason that you may have stepped back from the hobby and then found your way back in, how many times have you taken down your reef tank?

Photo by @Walshy5050


This QOTD is sponsored by Nutramar: https://www.qualitymarine.com/nutramar/

“Nutramar’s 100% natural food products are used by public aquaria and breeders around the world. They offer superior nutrition to your most finicky and delicate fish and invertebrates.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I've taken my tank down once, due to a snail that ate all my fish and tank scratches

 

[Reefer Matt]

I first started reefing in 2005 and got out in 2006. The economy at the time wasn’t great in my area, and I had to sell off my 110 gallon system. It took until 2018 for me to find my way back into reefing.
My first tank…

 

[Gumbies R Us]

So far no, but whenever I move in the next couple of years I will have to take it down haha

 

[YBF_Reeftank]

I’ve taken down my first 55g fresh water tank, and my 150g that started leaking last year I barely restarted a 60g

 

[twentyleagues]

Started reefing around '99 and shut down an extensive "reef" in 2012 got back in 2023. There were 3 moves in between 99-05. Dont know if those qualify for shut down or the first tank a biocube that started leaking 6 month after I got it. Kept all inhabitants just switch tank setups or moved tanks.

 

[Thunderstruck34]

Oh this is a good one!

I initially started in 2007, took down my tanks in 2012 to save up for a move.

Started up again in 2016 but took down in 2018 due to work travel schedule.

With more virtual conferences and a lighter travel schedule, I’ve been back since 2021 and hoping this will be the last entry on this list.

What has been the biggest change for everyone that has been in it for awhile? For me it was lighting advances (MH to LEDs) and overall price!

 

[Manpeckz]

I have one tank that has landed on the shelf in the garage for over a year before coming back.

I actually reused both the rock and the tank again.

First time 6 months, this time a little over 1.5 years. Not all of it being good work though.

 

[vlangel]

I got into saltwater in the late 90s and only step away from the hobby for about 3 months after a heater malfunction cooked the tank around 1999. Have been in the hobby steady since then but have up and down graded tanks 3Xs but always moved everything into the new tanks.

 

[fish farmer]

I have never officially taken down my personal reef since 2000.

I upgraded in 2002, that tank got cooked in a heat wave two months later. I should have done a deep clean/ dry out, but recycled the tank and tried to get it to work for a couple years.

I moved the tank in 2005 into my new house. I upgraded to a 65 gallon a year later. That pretty much turned into a FOWLR for 4 years.

I downsized to a 25 gallon in 2009 and started to get corals again. I broke that tank. Kept the rock and coral pieces in the middle sump while I rebuild my current 29 gallon.

I had a 120 gallon FOWLR running during this time at a local campground, shut that down a couple years ago after 20 years.

 

[Kathy Floyd]

Great topic. Love reading everyone's responses.
For me, it's too expense nowadays to take a tank down and start all over.