It’s easy to forget the reasons why we dedicate the majority of our lives to caring for these beautiful animals. In a changing world full of comparison, it can happen to all of us that we start in this hobby looking for an oasis and it ends up becoming a stressor in our lives.
It could be by the influence of social media, changes in our lives, or constant comparison, that we all tend to change our approach to why we dedicate so much effort to these animals. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and ask ourselves, why do we do this?
The reason why we decide to dedicate a big part of our life to these animals is very personal. In my case, seeing the incredible results of my efforts in my tank helped me gain confidence in myself and notice that I can do something beautiful with the tools that I have at my disposal. This has been a big boost to believing in myself once again in difficult times.
It doesn’t matter if you have a 20 or 200-gallon tank, or if you have 1 fish or 30, or if you take care of soft corals or have an Acropora tank. What really matters is the personal reward you obtain in each moment in which you decide to be disciplined and take care of your system, each moment you use to educate yourself, and every moment that you can enjoy the beauty of your tank.
I believe that re-enjoying the little things is vital so this passion perdures and accompanies us for the rest of our lives as a positive influence to us and for anyone that surrounds us.
Get close to your tank and observe like it was the first time you saw it. Surprise yourself with its colors, different shapes, and patterns. Feed your fish and take a minute to see them eat. Invite one of your friends who has never seen your tank and show it to them. There are many ways to refocus when we have lost the main course and remember the main reason why we’re doing this.
Our aquariums are always going to be an extension of ourselves. The importance of balance is fundamental. We need to be wise in the moment we need to invest time and money in them, understanding that if we neglect ourselves, we will then neglect the tank. Impulsive purchases or excessive work in the tank have a big long-term cost. Recognizing our limitations and working around them will determine how much time we can enjoy our passion for the aquarium.
Make friendships that share the same love for “reefing” and invest time and interest with them. See their tanks, the challenges they face, and the animals they love. We are social beings and having a community of close people that are as interested as you in seeing their aquariums flourish, will no doubt make a difference in how far we can go.
Try sharing what you know! If you have been doing this for multiple years, you possibly have answers to the questions somebody close to you has for their aquarium to get better. It could be in an internet forum or a club. Helping people who are starting out and are interested in listening to your advice will be an experience of so much help to those who are listening to yourself. Putting our grain of sand to help others is one of the acts that can fill our hearts as human beings.
Working on our ego is important. After many years of experience and learning, we can disconnect from what it is not to know anything. We need to understand that the place we’re in today is thanks to the collective knowledge of generations of people who have dedicated themselves to aquarism. Appreciate this and see what you know as a tool that was given to you to share and not to put yourselves at a superior level to someone who just started their first tank today.
The reasons why you do this are yours. Make sure you do two things:
1. Make sure that your motives are never an impediment to others because at the end of the day, one way or another we will always be one community and it is more that ties us together than what separates us.
2. Make sure the motives for what you do fill you with astonishment, inspiration, and love every day.
Remember, it’s not necessary to have the more complex animals, the most knowledge, or the biggest tank. When we love nature for what it is, growing simple Xenia is as amazing and magical as an Acropora.
About the author
Alex Martinez is 27 years old and has been involved in reefing since he was 15. This year, he started a YouTube channel for the Spanish-speaking reefing community. https://www.youtube.com/@rinconreefgarden
