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

Dearth · #1 01-12-2016, 01:27 AM

Took this idea from another forum

In light of my recent heart attack I have had to make some short term plans for looking after my tank and at least for the next 6 months to a year I will have to make adjustments for consideration of my health and well being which could possibly become permanent depending on what the many tests I am taking find.

With that being said has having a long term or permanent condition changed the way you reefed or having a family member who has constant medical attention needs changed your mindset of how you reef or has it always been part of how you reef?

Reef Pilot · #2 01-12-2016, 01:47 AM

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.

Reef Pilot · #3 01-14-2016, 11:24 PM

Quote:

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 · #4 01-15-2016, 07:00 AM

Quote:

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 · #5 01-15-2016, 07:16 AM

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

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #6 01-15-2016, 08:19 AM

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

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #7 01-12-2016, 01:51 AM

First of all, sorry about your health condition. Hope your tests give you some good news.

As to your question, my girls love the reef tanks and know the names of most of my fish and corals. I have been training Felicia (and to a lesser extent Isabella) on how I do water changes, clean the glass, etc. I'm hoping that over time, they will remain interested in this addiction and be able to take over. Felicia is the more responsible older daughter so this will probably fall on her if anybody.

The other option is to do what we see on those "Island Life" and "House Hunters International" shows on tv and end up retiring to a tropical beach side paradise where we can snorkel or swim in the coral reefs and forget about keeping a tank at home

Anthony

Fin2you · #8 01-12-2016, 02:01 AM

I have to have surgery on my ankle so I need to "streamline my tank cleaning chores" so my husband can take over while I recover. He's always been my muscle & he'll pitch in here & there but more than that his fish keeping is limited to him enjoying my hard work.
We fully converted my FW tanks over to Seachem's Matrix in the filters instead of charcoal, replanted the tanks with volcanic soil. This has proven to cut needing to clean the tanks in 1/2. My 11 year old daughter has taken to feeding these 2 tanks.
The salt water tank is just being slowly set up & hubby has been involved so that he understands more the day to day. We are sticking with easy to care for corals right now & peaceful fish!

Aquattro · #9 01-12-2016, 02:08 AM

I suppose my daughter's condition/issues reduce the amount of time/care I have for the tank. Lot's of hospitalizations, nurses in the house day and night have impacted my time with the tank. I've tried to balance things out so that it gets the minimum at least, but at the end of the day, it is just a box of water I call a hobby, and there are more important things in life to care about.

mseepman · #10 01-12-2016, 03:46 AM

I was struggling through 2015 and finally got diagnosed as having RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis). As such, some days parts of me stop working and that has changed how my tank thrived (or failed to). I do my best to just ignore it and push through because the tank does a lot for helping me through stress and/or tough days. I relaxed on some of my habits and continue to try to automate more of the tank. I also had to learn to ask for help more readily if i'm having an attack and need to do something in the tank.