Learn from our mistakes

[DEEPWATER]

Learn from other ppls Mistakes!!!!

I though it would be a good idea to start a thread so other ppl could learn from our mistakes before it happens to them.

I.E

Heaters .
They should be used with a controller<<why ?
Some heaters .Well most heaters will become defective within time and over heat your tank(sometimes right from the factory) so to avoid this happening use a Ranco Temp controller http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8831

 

[jackson6745]

Gaskets go on the inside of the bulkheads When I started my tank I originally placed them all on the outside and everyone of them leaked

 

[DevIouS]

Research on your own or ask about the care & needs of live-stock before you buy them.

Not that I have done anything drastic in the past......but I am noticing that more & more members are asking about live-stock after they purchased it......

:fishhit:





PS...
:lol: Rich

 

[DEEPWATER]

Dont buy a a 10 gal sump for a 100gal tank !!!!

make sure your sump will not overflow if your pump just so happen to shut down when youre not home
Get a big Enuff sump for your tank ,to hold your skimmer and if you want a Refuge .Meassure your baffles right the first time .so everything FITS!!
----------------------------------------------

 

[fritz]

Don't cut corners trying to save money, spend the money and do it right the first time.

 

[inkblue]

:fishhit: dont buy damSels to cycLe your tank...

 

[masterswimmer]

Measure twice, cut once.

 

[loismustdie]

If you plan to use metal halides, you seriously need to consider a chillier. There are other ways to control temperatures, but there is nothing better than a chiller. For anyone considering the dorm room refridgerator technique, by the end of the summer, you could have purchased a chiller with the excess you spent on your electric bill to run the fridge.
Set up a quarantine. It will be easier for you to treat for disease of newly purchased fish.
RESIST IMPULSE BUYS!!! There is nothing at the pet store today that you won't be able to find at a later time after you've done appropriate research on caring for the animal.
Make sure you have enough money to buy what you need to provide for the animals you plan to purchase. You shouldn't come in here asking which piece of equipment you should buy now and what you could hold off on.

 

[loismustdie]

wait until you have the money to buy the tank that fits the place you want it to. Constant upgrades only cause you to spend more money than you need to and yo'll have a closet full of stuff you couldn't get rid of.

 

[DEEPWATER]

For heaven sake ,Dont use tap water to start a Saltwater tank (fish or Reef)


Use a Filter system (Reverse Osmosis ,RO/DI ) Now it not an expensve unit to buy ,But it uses up water ,4gals of waste water(which you can use for washing clothes .pools ,Fresh water tanks ) to 1 gal of RO/DI water> which you use for your saltwater friends:biggrin:

 

[ezee]

Hey all,

Create a budget taking into consideration mechanical filtration, tank, salt, LR, etc.

Then quadruple it. And that's just for the first year.

E

 

[coralcrazy]

stock Your Tank Slowly...and Wait A Month For Your Tank To Fully Cycle...instant Cycle Products Are Crap!!

 

[DEEPWATER]

Opps one more thing about heaters ,Get Titanium heater
You really dont want to see what a Broken heater(Made from Glass) can do your tank :smash:

 

[Chris5]

My Contribution.....

*Do not buy "used" sand and use it in your own tank...Even if someone is getting rid of their old sand for free trust me when i say you will be saving yourself from a big headache later on by buying yourself fresh new sand....:link:

*Research, research, research before buying...If anything ask any one of the experienced reefers on the board before doing something your not sure of, there is no such thing as a stupid question....:grouphug:

*Do not use shrimp from the grocery store to cycle your tank, and do not (taken from a friend, wont mention names lol) bury your fish in your tank under the sand when they die.....:sad2: or for that matter overdose stress coat stuff bc you think you can get away it because it also decomtaminates heavy metals present in the water, that combined with overfeeding and overlighting, can cause one nasty algae bloom......

*Never judge a book by its cover, if it looks to good to be true (algone, looking like a as seen on TV advertisment product) it may actually work for something .....

*If your tank is doing well, dont touch it....Let it be, and let things go their own course, touching corals to much or stressing your tank mates can stir things up and create unwanted results...

 

[Tonyscoots84]

the one biggest advice in this wonderful hobby is...........................

even for me its hard to have but its worth it in the long run....

 

[Chris5]

lol tony i might have to use that as my advatar ......I have a-d-d when it comes to this hobby ....:biglaugh:

 

[loismustdie]

that's perfect, Tony. Couldn't have said it better.

 

[GQ22]

dont put a fish in your tank if your not going to keep it in the long run, ie damsels, or over crowding with tangs....fish are HARD to catch.

 

[GQ22]

treat live rock for pests ie flatworms aptasias etc.. before putting in tank

 

[GQ22]

dont wait the weather gets to 70plus degress before thinking about cooling your tank...get some cheap 5 dollar fans and use them!!! they work great