What are your biggest fishkeeping "oops!"?

[FMF0331]

GETTING MARRIED :shhh:

 

[bkstang]

Great thread. It's good to learn on somebody's mistakes :tongue1:
As a newbie in this hobby I will have more to share than others.
1. I filled my 29 g tank with salt water only to discover at the very end that my tank is not leveled properly (I was stupid enough to use my iPhone to level it !!! (sorry Apple). It bothered me so much I decided to drain it, level it again, properly this time, and fill it with the new mix.
2. I installed my Reef Octopus HOB skimmer and turned it on. The skimmer came with a sponge that was installed under the collection cup. I was sure this is how it is supposed to be. WRONG. The sponge should be attached to the outlet elbow. The water level in the collection cup was so high that it started dripping behind the tank which i didn't see. I heard a lot from my wife about reading manuals, forums,etc, etc.

So far that's it.

 

[BILBO913]

putting a stone fish in my tank!!!!! to scared to put my hand in the tank to fix frags or rock work. so now i have to catch him first, what a PIA.

 

[BaaMNYC]

Lol at fmf

 

[Oldschoolreefer]

In the beginning-Being too impatient and trying to rush nature
Later- slacking up on water changes ( I have been cured since )!
Recently- EVER, EVER allowing Sawtoothed Calerpa in my tank- OMG! I could be in this hobby for another few decades and still manage to come up with bone-headed mistakes.

 

[rookie07]

I left my ATO while doing a water change today......that was even my post in the "make sure you don't forget to..."----------> D'oh!

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Telling my girlfriend how much time and money spend on my saltwater tank..

keep the cost to yourself :lol2: my fiance asked me how much i spent on everything i changed subject real quick she would of :smash:

 

[Tonyscoots84]

GETTING MARRIED :shhh:

yea i no what u mean :dead1:

 

[yah-the submariner]

Lol,i have to get some qoutes and coments going! This is turning into the most brutally honest (seriously never disclose the full time and dollar amount) hilarious and informative thread i've read in a while. (No thanks to me b.t.w)

 

[e.muehlbauer]

My tank had been running almost a year or so, and was doing well. Things seemed stable. Then I bought a bottle of Marc Weiss Coral Vital, and started dosing the tank. It caused a hair algae outbreak that took over 2 years to bring under control. Every bit of live rock looked like Cousin Itt.

 

[fritz]

Biggest would be spending money twice because I tried to save a little money the first time. (the only thing worse than spending money once us spending money twice.)

 

[44santababy]

total newbie here, added a yellow tang FIRST! You all know the outcome...

 

[Awibrandy]

Not putting a float valve in my collection container, and causing floods in my bathroom. Got one now.
Forgetting to turn off the ato during water change.
Not paying attention to where the ato line was, and ended up flooding the stand & living & dining room floors.

Biggest one: Hiring "Bob's Pets" store on Myrtle to move my tanks from the old house to where we are now...........................

 

[tenMann2]

Biggest would be spending money twice because I tried to save a little money the first time. (the only thing worse than spending money once us spending money twice.)

That's an unfortunate one for me as well. Trying to save at first, only to spend more later only to get something better.

 

[Marcellina]

My biggest oops was leaving all the food in the cabinet underneath the tank unlocked.... which led my 2 year old to feed ALL the foods and supplements at once to my 29 biocube. By the time I noticed the tank the water was dark brown. If it wasnt for my 4 year old crying to find Nemo and Marlin I would have just dumped the whole tank. Somehow in the murkiness I did find the two listless clownfish and the barely moved in the QT for a week but slowly they are the only survivors of Hurricane Massimo.

Easy solution. Invest in a cabinet lock!

 

[FlyTekk]

Biggest would be spending money twice because I tried to save a little money the first time. (the only thing worse than spending money once us spending money twice.)

I think ive gone through every powerhead and every ligth trying to avoid the cost of vortechs and radions..... in the end? I have both. Lol. Cost me double.

Oh and ive done the whole forget ro/di making water ruining wood floor in my apartment and cieling downstairs.

 

[OOtzie]

Telling my girlfriend how much time and money spend on my saltwater tank..

Haha after I mentioned what I payed on a maryjane frag she watched everyday until it melted:dead1:. I learned, when they ask about dollar cost you say "I did well".

 

[yah-the submariner]

haha after i mentioned what i payed on a maryjane frag she watched everyday until it melted:dead1:. I learned, when they ask about dollar cost you say "i did well".

lol

 

[scubajay]

1. Leaving my tank unattended with a 2 year old.
2. Forget to turn the heater back on after water change (winter time). 10 hours later came back to find my fishes wearing North Face Jackets.


The best thing I ever done was tell my wife that I got all the equipment through Craigs list for $200.00 when I really got everything brand new for $3,000.00.

 

[MatthewScars]

Not putting a float valve in my collection container, and causing floods in my bathroom. Got one now.
Forgetting to turn off the ato during water change.
Not paying attention to where the ato line was, and ended up flooding the stand & living & dining room floors.

Biggest one: Hiring "Bob's Pets" store on Myrtle to move my tanks from the old house to where we are now...........................

That's why I manually turn my RODI on an off. I just set a kitchen time every time i turn it on. I never trusted ATO.