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View Full Version : Lessons learned the hard way.



Dallas
Mon, 30th Apr 2012, 10:26 PM
Ok I know we all have made some mistakes in this hobby. I have and
will make more than most. Luckily I have got a lot of help and asked a
lot (and I mean a LOT) of questions, that has saved me from even more
huge mistakes. That is what this post is about all the
stupid/funny/airhead things we have done or almost done that might
keep someone from doing the same thing. It is always hard to admit
mistakes but it is even harder to have to pay out the nose for them. I
for one learn by doing, but if I can save some money or a week of work
from learning by others mishaps, all the better.
Have done:


#1Water Change’s: Don’t do your water change by lifting a 5g bucket
over your head and try pouring it in to the top of your tank. (Next
time: if I cannot find a small pump to help I will get the water above
the tank and use a hose.)


#1a Lighting: When dumping your 5g bucket of water in to your tank,
TAKE OFF THE LIGHT’S FIRST!


#2 Silicone: Don’t try to make perfect beads with the nose of the
bottle (Next time: I will just put it on my finger then run my finger
down the edges. You are going to get it on you no matter what.)


#3 Buying Rock: Don’t go to some pet store and pay $7-10 a Lb for live
rock. (Next time: just get it from another reef keeper for a lot less.
Oh and its a lot better rock most of the time as well)


Saved from near disaster:
Ok I had to cut this list down; it would be way too long.


#1 Look that puffer fits in their 10g tank just fine. (Looked at what
a fish needs before getting it. i.e. food, tank size, ect.)


#2 Adding salt water to a salt water tank duh. (Bad idea)


#3 If my fish will eat, he can have more food. (Just don’t)


#4 Let’s put my return at the bottom of the tank for better
circulation. (Power outages will not go smooth “there is way to make it
work, but do your homework”)


#5 Bigger is better putting in a bigger heater then my tank needed. (If it got stuck-on my tank would be cooking in no time)


Thanks for reading and I hope everyone can add to this list. I know
that I will make many more big time mess-ups, so my list is not as
long as it will be. I would really like to see everyone's list. Oh and I am not trying to tell anyone how to do it the right way. There
are so many right ways. These are just things I've leaned from.

reefreak
Mon, 30th Apr 2012, 10:31 PM
when getting an anemone never have a powerhead that can suck him in.( learned that the hard way)

Dallas
Mon, 30th Apr 2012, 10:36 PM
when getting an anemone never have a powerhead that can suck him in.( learned that the hard way)
That reminds me I have a bi-color blenny that would make my nano wave maker it's home when it was off. would have to scare him out every time I needed to turn it back on.

reefreak
Mon, 30th Apr 2012, 10:40 PM
Well to this little thing I lost all if my livestock but my coral

Zack
Mon, 30th Apr 2012, 10:48 PM
I have two small maxijets that do all the lifting for me during my water changes. It's not a huge amount of weight at 2 gallons out and two gallons in but it would be a life saver with a larger volume.

350gt
Mon, 30th Apr 2012, 11:19 PM
I just bought a long enough hose to have my mixing pump transfer the saltwater to my tank from the garage, so much easier that way when your doing 30 gallons plus..

Jrsatx showed me to put some masking tape around where your going to silicon, that way after you bead it and smooth it with your finger you can rip up the tape for perfect lines...


A reef keeper(any model) can be a life saver if your worried about a heater getting stuck.... It will turn off all the heaters and pumps or lights... Whatever you choose to turn off when the temp gets pass a point you selected........

Reefer madness92
Mon, 30th Apr 2012, 11:36 PM
Using tap water....never again

Europhyllia
Tue, 1st May 2012, 09:38 AM
if there is something on your rocks that you don't like, resist the urge to pull out a bunch of liverock at one time (or it may result in a gorgo killing massive brown slime bloom -dinos or diatoms?)

hobogato
Tue, 1st May 2012, 09:49 AM
yep, gorgos and pest algae (any kind) or pest anemones dont mix.


if there is something on your rocks that you don't like, resist the urge to pull out a bunch of liverock at one time (or it may result in a gorgo killing massive brown slime bloom -dinos or diatoms?)

koa25
Tue, 1st May 2012, 10:21 AM
Girlfriend "That octopus would be so cool to have. Can we get it?"
Me " That would be pretty cool, Not going to lie. But we wouldn't be able to own anything else"
Girlfriend "What about the ten gallon?"
Me "Well it is still Cycling"
Girlfriend "Oh... Sad face"
Me "Well we can keep it in the refugium on the main tank in a little container until the ten is ready" <------Never again.

allan
Tue, 1st May 2012, 12:01 PM
You know, I would like to set up a octo tank.

"should be easy."

koa25
Tue, 1st May 2012, 12:17 PM
In theory. I knew it was going to be a chore. Making the ten a "Sealed" tank with no escape area's yet cleanable and maintanable. Had a plan with some scrap plexi, polyfil, and a swing door to feed him. But i never even got to the building stage before he escaped in the big tank. Preparation is key. Lesson learned. Just cause the girlfriend likes it? Doesn't mean I have to cave.

Reefer madness92
Tue, 1st May 2012, 01:39 PM
No kidding seems like every fish my girlfriend wants is not at all compatable with what I have...