Today was a huge day for me. I feel that classroom tanks are on the mend and felt a positive attitude that has gone missing for a long time - as indicated by my lack of tank journal updates and club participation. Tanks and teaching have been very rough since Covid closure, which spilled over into everything and I haven't been able to keep up with anything. It is depressing and overwhelming to spend all day surrounded by sad tanks and have too much other work to do to figure out how to improve them.
Then I started lurking more here again and was drawn back to everyone's enthusiasm and problem solving, which has always been here. Then
@Coral reefer calmly and easily had a bunch of ideas, which shocked me. Due to some family needs I have no big plans for my spring break this week, which is actually good, and last week was the last science field trip of the year, which is a huge relief bc they take so much planning time.
My 105g reef is 11 years old and is getting a behind the scenes makeover. Apex hasn't been working properly for a few years and various equipment has had issues, so imagine that spaghetti of cables. Decided to plug everything into temporary power strips (safely) to start over and clean up. Eewww - cabinet and behind tank is so messy - the opposite of what I see in other members' tank journals. Started cleaning it and feeling my excitement return. I think recent sandbed vacuuming, water changes, and fixed light cycle are helping bleached corals recover. Had to leave due to obligations, but felt like working all night on it.

This club and forum rock; clearly, without you people I would have left the hobby. I look forward to updating my tanks in this journal.