Has a long term illness or condition in the family changed how you reef

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Well, not permanent (or at least I hope not), but I did have rotator cuff surgery 5 months ago. That basically made me a one armed bandit for a couple months. Slowly starting to use my arm again (right arm), but still lots I can't do. I can't raise it yet or reach out very far (as when trying to reach into my tank). So it has definitely stopped me from doing some things that I had planned.

I want to redo my upstairs tank. That means removing/moving rocks and coral, but have been holding off until I have more use of both arms. Almost there now, though, so might attempt it in the not too distant future.

Having said all that, can't compare my condition to that of a heart attack or many other more severe and possibly long term condition. I still feel very fortunate for the good health I am enjoying.

Saw my surgeon today,... and bad news. My first surgery didn't work, and will now need shoulder replacement surgery (reverse metal ball and socket). Scheduled for Mar 14, so will be another 6 months after that before I can do stuff again.

So, crap,... do I try to redo my tank before that, or wait until after next summer? I do have some use of my right arm again, and think I could do it. My tank really needs to get redone (I said that last winter), as the mushrooms are really taking over... But if I have any trouble or difficulties with the tank following the surgery, won't be able to fix anything. My wife is OK with feeding the fish and minor maintenance. And will be able to change water after a couple months with her help. But not anything else.

So I have some decisions to make...

[input80]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Saw my surgeon today,... and bad news. My first surgery didn't work, and will now need shoulder replacement surgery (reverse metal ball and socket). Scheduled for Mar 14, so will be another 6 months after that before I can do stuff again.

So, crap,... do I try to redo my tank before that, or wait until after next summer? I do have some use of my right arm again, and think I could do it. My tank really needs to get redone (I said that last winter), as the mushrooms are really taking over... But if I have any trouble or difficulties with the tank following the surgery, won't be able to fix anything. My wife is OK with feeding the fish and minor maintenance. And will be able to change water after a couple months with her help. But not anything else.

So I have some decisions to make...

Let me know if I can help out on weekends Walter.

[hillegom]

Plus 2
Walter, if you need help, let me know.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Plus 3.

Was going to post earlier but it may be a good thing I waited till others chimed in.

Walter, if you get all the stuff organized on your end, let us know what days/times will work and maybe we have a "work party" at your place one weekend soon to get your tank moved or redone or whatever. You supply the plan & we'll supply the muscle

I think its a good idea to get it all done ahead of time, before your second surgery.

My good friends TomR & Chin Lee both told me to prepare my tanks ahead of time to be neglected for 6 to 9 months after my first daughter was born. I did that and boy was I glad I listened to their advice because the tanks were neglected for 9 months post-birth. If we can come over and give you a hand to get everything set up the way you want before your surgery, you'll have one less thing to worry about (less stress = heal better). Your tank(s) are supposed to help you relax and relieve stress, not generate unnecessary stress every time you look at it and think "I need to change this or move that." Let us help you out so you can enjoy your tank post-surgery, not stress out over it.

If there's issues afterwards, post on here and some of us can come out again to fix them.

Cheers & good luck,

Anthony

[Reef Pilot]

Thanks everyone, for the kind words and offer to help. It is very much appreciated. You guys are all a great bunch, for sure. But I want to keep things in perspective. I consider my shoulder issue more of an inconvenience than anything else. I have already gone skiing once this year, and plan to do as much I can (depends on snow conditions, I'm a powder hound) before the next surgery. So no one should have any sympathy for me.

But I do have some decisions to make. I think I will be quite able to redo the tank before the surgery. But as you guys also know, that is not the end of it. My concern is if things go bad in the tank afterwards (corals not doing well, etc), I will not be in a good position to fix it.

And I know I have many offers to help, which I will not hesitate to call on if I need it. But would like to make the right decision too, for what is best for my tank and livestock as well.

My choices are a 1) major redo, 2) minor moving around of rocks and trying to beat back as many mushrooms as possible, or 3) nothing and wait until my shoulder recovers again. At the moment I am leaning on #2, just doing enough to help the tank (and my SPS) survive until I am good again.

[input80]

I'm not too far that I can't help you out with your rock work etc Walter.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by input80

I'm not too far that I can't help you out with your rock work etc Walter.

Thanks, Ian and will keep that in mind. But am good for now. Just need to decide what I should do in the near term.

[hillegom]

Don't like 3 either
I like Anthony's way of thinking