Tank anxiety

I have dreamt on multiple occasions of one of my tanks basically shattering. Doesn't make for a good nights sleep!

I have also had my HOB skimmer overflow on a couple of occasions, so I wake up in the middle of the night a few times a week just to check on it :/

 

Yeah I found a cure for that skimmer issue... before sleep or even if I'm going to be gone for work all night I'll adjust it down slightly so that it takes a bit more time and dry's out the skimmate Thus less to no worry of overflow!

 

IMHO you will become more comfortable as you become more knowledgeable. However, six years from now you'll still be learning because not only do you need to understand various aspects of oceans but obviously you need to understand each animal's needs and how they live together in your system. Learning doesn't stop and crazy things can still happen even to the most experienced aquariust. Believe me, I've seen it happen many times. IMHO people who don't worry a bit are over confident and I don't care who they are.

Here's an example of knowing your tank after many years of running one: several years ago I woke up around two a.m. because my house was too quiet. Not kidding about this because it was my first thought when I woke up. Well, we had a power outage due to a storm but it wasn't the storm that awakened me---it was the lack of noise from no pumps and powerheads running. This was the day I stayed home from work because I needed to manually create some water movement as well as heat water on the stove (edited because I didn't heat water on my stove, I did on my neighbor's because they had a generator thus they had power). I was trying to keep the temperature fairly consistent. Fortunately the power came on about seven hours later because if it had been days I would have lost everything.

You're normal so join the club!

 

That's what I needed to hear! That's some funny stuff guys. Thank you for sharing the Real Life stories that we all go through. I just tend to freak out if I know something I'd not perfect. I know this is my thread but this has some of the funniest posts I've read.

 

Hope we all helped! I have a buddy who has reefed for well over 20 years. He is extremely knowledgeable. Does he know what he's doing? ABSOLUTELY! Does he still get concerned about things? ABSOLUTELY! Keep asking questions and have fun.

 

I think putting a kid through college is actually less expensive than this hobby. ;D

I think it's pretty normal to worry, or stress, over your tank. They are also very frustrating at times. It does get easier as you become more experienced though.

The best advice is also the hardest to follow, especially when you are new: Go slow!

 

+1 A little easier, kinda.

GO S L O W ----> :2thumbsup

 

Just remember if werent a little "odd or strange" you would never have decided to fill a glass box with water and some pumps, sand, stones, fish, corals and other strange things, and put it in your house.
And worse still, expect your friends to be impressed with the hard work and commitment that you freely give, in the furtherance of this hobby and "heavenly pass time"

Reefers are all odd, but it's what makes us even more special.;D