Welllll......

[digitalis]

I am considering getting rid of my tank. This lobophora is running rampant. It's encrusting over all my corals, and I can't stop it without pulling it off, and it just comes back somewhere else later. I don't take care of it at all. I haven't done a water change in at least a month or two. I haven't bought new MH lamps since Feb last year. If I decide to move, I have to tear it all down anyhow, and I'm concerned with how I'm going to accomplish that. I hardly ever feed my fish, and my wife scrapes the glass and complains that I never do it anymore, all the time telling me I need to feed them. My purple rimmed green monti died. On the bright side my hammer, frogspawn, and leather are huge, the clam is doing well, and so is the anemone. I just really don't dedicate the time to it that I think I should.

Any input?

[bklynmet]

pm sent

[lostwhirley]

smaller tank? Perhaps going down to a 65?

[digitalis]

Originally Posted by lostwhirley

smaller tank? Perhaps going down to a 65?

no problem with size... the problem is with the presence.

[LedZeppelinfan101]

My advice would be some that I wish I had listened to. Sell all your corals, live rock, sand, and fishes. However, DO NOT sell your equipment. That stuff is uber expensive (as you very well know), and you will regret it. Someday you'll want a tank again, and if you have the hardware already it'd save a ton of money.

[digitalis]

Originally Posted by LedZeppelinfan101

My advice would be some that I wish I had listened to. Sell all your corals, live rock, sand, and fishes. However, DO NOT sell your equipment. That stuff is uber expensive (as you very well know), and you will regret it. Someday you'll want a tank again, and if you have the hardware already it'd save a ton of money.

Yeah, I definitely agree. I know my tank was $700 new, Skimmer I got a good deal on for $500 with pump (it's $650 w/o the $100 pump), the lights I got a good deal on for $500, and the return pump I got for $200. That's $1900 there. I know new lights, I'd want 250W instead of my 150s, skimmer I don't know what I'd get, and tank I know I wouldn't sell for anywhere near 700.
I'm sure I could fit it all into the tank, and stash it somewhere after it was cleaned out. Right now, I'm just unsure it I want to take it down.

[Parasite]

wrong place,
sorry

[Bender 2]

Do you have any pictures of how bed the plague of lobo is? I know how frustrating it can be to fight algae problems.

Instead of getting out of the hobby, how about finding someone to watch your livestock. In the mean time you can "cook" your liverock and start over. If you do a search on cooking liverock you will have plenty of threads to read.

Just a thought. I hate to see anyone get out of the hobby.

[Parasite]

I think we all go through this from time to time, especially this time of year.
I'm still fighting my bubble alge problem (it is back just as much as befor).

To keep me interested I have made a list of small projects to do every once in a while. It ma be as small as just moving around some rocks or corals. I also am planning to replumb with a OM but instead of just getting everything and busting it out in a day I'm stretching it out over a few weeks just to keep me intereste in the tank.

Good luck, like aarron said I hate to see anyone get out.

Brett

[bklynmet]

yep.. keeping projects going definitely keeps my interest and a good suggestion...

[digitalis]

Originally Posted by Parasite

I think we all go through this from time to time, especially this time of year.
I'm still fighting my bubble alge problem (it is back just as much as befor).

To keep me interested I have made a list of small projects to do every once in a while. It ma be as small as just moving around some rocks or corals. I also am planning to replumb with a OM but instead of just getting everything and busting it out in a day I'm stretching it out over a few weeks just to keep me intereste in the tank.

Good luck, like aarron said I hate to see anyone get out.

Brett

Yeah.... I have a bubble algae problem too. Never really thought about having someone watch livestock, but I have 2 tangs (one yellow, one Hippo), 1 Royal gramma basslet, 2 clowns, anemone, Clam, plus all the coral that's in the tank. Every rock in the tank has something on it. The ones that didnt, went in the sump in the basement. I mean I suppose different ppl could hold different fish.. Joe already offered to take back the yellow, so that's one down. It's something to think about, I guess. I'd like to try the Naso to see if it will eat the Lobo. Gotta find one inexpensive first tho.

[grallster]

I think adding a large fish like a Naso for the algae is a bad idea IMO. Even if he eats the problem algae, it's still adding to the bioload which would probably result in another type of algae it doesn't eat getting out of control.

[1-900-REEF]

For what it's worth, I think downsizing was the best thing I ever did.
It's less tank to take care of, smaller water changes, fewer bulbs to replace, easier on the electric bill, smaller amounts of additives & salt, etc...
Just keep your favorite corals & clam. It would require less of your time & money, but you can still enjoy the hobby.
For me, the only downside was giving up my larger fish.