Thinking of quiting the hobby

[Woefulrelic]

I see where you are coming from. You can do a lot to remove the leaking stuff with a sump, if you've got a brain for carpentry it might not be difficult to pick up. That wouldn't remove the question of the tank bursting to something to that effect. Could try going the pond route and making it out of a material you feel more comfortable with, you can concrete those bad boys but you wouldn't see your severum well without a side window. I'd still convert away from canisters though. It's made my families lives a lot easier when if something goes wrong all they have to do is kick off the breaker exclusive to my fish tank. Sump holds all the water that drains out of the tank when the pumps are off, and no fittings you need to tamper with like the o-rings and hoses.

I'd try to go bigger and get it made from something that lets me sleep at night. With ponds you have more options, and adding viewing panels is pretty easy. I'm guessing one of those pentair fiberglass tanks could be something worth looking at, those things shouldn't pop like a tank. Those frogs are nice though, I've always wanted to incorporate them with fish.

 

[Oddball]

The pentaire tank or something equally durable is a good option. I, too, like the Dendrobates frogs. However, I'd pass on them due to having a toddler in the house. There's no second chance on any mistake with these frogs.

 

[BIG-G]

Sorry to hear all this. I think that this is something most of us go through if you've been keeping aquariums for any length of time. We all have a horror story. I had a 150 reef tank leak over night once.
I built a building separate from my home because of this. If it ever happened again at least my home will not be destroyed.
I completely understand wanting to give it up for a while. I did for about 5 years but this hobby gets into your DNA, it really is like an addiction.

Look at it like trying something new with the frogs, not quitting fish.

 

[BIG-G]

The pentaire tank or something equally durable is a good option. I, too, like the Dendrobates frogs. However, I'd pass on them due to having a toddler in the house. There's no second chance on any mistake with these frogs.

I'm not sure about my information so this is more a question than a statement. But I was under the impression that once the poisonous frogs are in captivity they slowly lose their poison because they get it from the poisonous bugs that they consume in the wild.

 

[GamerChick5567]

In the future maybe you can put the tanks in a separate place, like on a plain concrete slab on your patio or in your garage? Make sure any important tools and stuff is lifted up out of the way on big workbenches (and your car isn't in the garage LOL) and you shouldn't have any issues if it floods. You can also put some sort of drainage system in maybe, that is what I want to do eventually. Just have like a greenhouse or quonset hut or something on a concrete slab in the yard full of fish tanks and food I'm growing. Need to save for that down payment on a house with a big lot already haha.

Also I second putting the tank on your insurance policy. Maybe it's also under pet insurance? Not sure haha. Glad your wife and kid are ok.

 

[Wailua Boy]

Come on Stanz, you're a fish guy; you're in this for life. lol

 

[jaws7777]

Last month my filter hose became detached from my external filter and flooded the ground floor of my house.
I was at work when it happened and my wife was out with my 1 year old daughter.
Luckily she came home before the tank had totally emptied. She phoned me at work in a panic and said the ground floor is under water.I told her to turn off the electricity supply from the fuse board out side.Once I knew she was safe from electric shock I talked her through how to stop the water coming out. Not an easy task over the phone.
I rushed home,I was half an hours drive away from my house.
When I arrived the tank was 3/4 empty and luckily all my fish were still alive.
All the flooring on the ground floor was ruined and the house needed drying out with commercial blowers and dehumidifiers.
I am now in the process of replacing all the floors and skirting boards in my house.Some of the walls will also need to be re plasterd.
I estimate around 160 gallons came out of the tank.This looks a lot more water on your floor than it does in the aquarium.
The work on the house is not the end of the world, I am a carpenter so can sort that out quite easily.
My concerns now are safety. I may be being a little paranoid but I keep thinking what if the tank ever burst or there was ever an electrical fault and my daughter got hurt.
Probably very unlikely but these things do happen.
On a plus side my ray, Severums and spotted dollars are all OK. I did lose three of my seven pink tailed chalceus.

Not sure what to do from now.
Fishkeeping has been a big part of my life for a long time.I am still pondering on this.
I do consider keeping dart frogs in there instead.They interest me and their set ups can look stunning without needing large volumes of water.
On the other hand I love my fish and have become very attached to my ray.
Any way,check your filter connections regularly and if I go quiet,that means I've thrown in the fishkeeping towel.

I know you long enough so i'll just be blunt.... no, no,no...... and no again.

I know how much you love your family and hate that this happened to you. But i really like what BIG-G said about how this hobby gets into our DNA and that has to ring true for someone who is as passionate about this hobby as you are.

Funny story and not a lie. Wednesday morning i had a similar issue. Tanks are in the basement and it was on a smaller scale. I usually use a pump to drain my tanks out the basement window but for some reason i used the toilet...figured it was a small tank (75 gal) what the hell.... well the toilet was stopped up...flooded the bathroom and a small portion of a guest bedroom along with the hallway...other than the bathroom both rooms have carpeting. It was a beautiful morning and i spent most of the day vacuuming up wet carpet...still have the dehumidifier running lol....anyway for about 5 seconds i thought this is b.s wtf am i doing...i want out.

Took a break and sat infront of the poly tank and one of the ones that i raised from earthworm size swimms right up to the glass and i think no way i could put this fish in someone elses tank.....then my kids come down and hang out with me while i finish up my wc's. Its like our ritual they play, talk to me about all sorts of stuff, fight with each other and annoy the crap out of me...but i love it.
The thought of getting out quickly disappeared.

Think about this...could you see handing that ray over to another hobbyist?

P.s. gotham doesnt need you, better off spending the spare time doing wc's

 

[jaws7777]

Oh yeah plus 1 on swiyching over to a sump....do it.

I really need to get around to drilling those siphin breaks...been lazy but this crap is always an eye opener

 

[aztsm]

Man, sorry to here this Darren. I understand how you feel and wish you the best which ever direction you go. Your presence, expertise, and advice would be greatly missed here.

 

[Aquatank]

You can stop smoking at certain point but quiting the aquarium hobby is a task that needs a lot of self control and willpower.
And this type of accidents happen to the people who keep fishes for a good period time,so don't stress to much and give it another chance.