Feel guilty - hobby taking too much priority

Totally agree. Once you get things going and settles and on a routine. Maintenance doesn't take much time, unless you want it to.

 

Before 3reef and my reef tank I would probly watch tv daily for 2-3 hours. I just replaced my TV view times with the reef tank, so other priorities arent neglected. I now maybe watch 20-30 minutes of TV a day now. so you just got to get daily agenda in order.. it will all work out.. The first 6 months are the hardest.

 

My wife used to get mad at me for spending so much time on my tank. That was when I was getting it up and running. I spent alot of time actually building my stand and canopy, drilling the tank and setting it up. I don't spend nearly as much time on it now that its up and running. I also have an ato system so all I do now is dose and feed and clean every now and then. Reef tanks are very time consuming. I have decided that if something ever happens to my tank that I will just run a fresh water tank after that, much easier to care for and much more practical. That's why I believe that if people are not willing to spend the time or money that is required for this hobby then they should do fresh water.

 

Chill out my man! Kids are kids, they grow to a certain age and they don't want much to do with you anymore. As long as you aren't neglecting their nurturing of their spiritual, educational and recreational needs, they will be fine. As far as your spouse, if she respects you and understands your needs and wants and you do like-wise, all will be good there also. Now for the Aiptasia...did you try a few true Pepermint Shrimp?

 

I hear what you're saying but I have to agree with everyone else. After I hit the 6 month mark the time required to be devoted to the tank dropped drastically. My system became more automated and will be become even more so shortly.
My youngest is 4. I included him in everything from the build to adding livestock and everything in between. It's good quality time for him and I. Actually we spend more time together now and have grown that much more close because of the tank. Before we'd only 'hang out' if I had to run downtown or when we went fishing. Now we spend a good 30 to 40 hours each week together, just him and I. My other kids at home are teens and don't want to be any near dad LOL so that's not a problem.

 

I include my daughter with the work I do on my tank. She's no totally interested but that's ok. I would never say she is " neglected " because of my tank. Neglect is way too strong a word. Besides, the actual daily time I need to put into the tank is a few minutes everyday and maybe every 3rd or so day maybe half an hour.

 

I hear ya Unclejed. I have a 10 y/o son. What I have done is get him involved with the process...even helping with research (he loves youtube and getting into 3reef now). The wife is giving me chit about it but she is also the one pushing me to get it done! Go figure. I'm being pressured to get fish yesterday! I learned my lesson last time and now I'm taking my time. I told them when football season rolls around we should be ready to get a few fish.

Brian

 

hahah. I always see everyone on here talking about doing stuff they shouldn't be doing at work(not bad stuff, just off subject, like being here on the forum!) I just thought it was kind of funny that so many people seem to be on the forum when they are at work, on a company computer.

It seems at times that I am preoccupied a lot with aquarium related things and I want to hang out with the family..but then, we get together occasionally. Most days we don't have much going on... Dad works first shift & takes college classes. My 3 older siblings have already graduated.:-/ Hopefully we will have time this summer on a vacation? lol(suggestions please? - I have another thread for this. )

Now that I think about it...this lack of family "interaction"(I guess you could say?) would be because I am working on a build.

 

yep, include the fam in tank, take em to the LFS just to look every now and then... pretty soon its "hey, uhh, can we get one of those?" my five yr old wants the "camo" dragonet now!

 

I agree with previous poster Re: TV. Just substitute time you would be watching TV/movies for tank time and it'll all even out. Plus your tank will give the kids something for 'show and tell' at school (via pictures)....if they even do that stuff anymore.