Mistakes You've Made

Stacef · 05-10-2008, 11:32 PM

So lets hear some stories of experiences that have taught you something in this hobby, fresh or salt. Of course-Learning from your mistakes lets hear the stupid things we all wish we would have thought of prior to the problem.

Think of it as...things you wish you knew as a newbie.

My first one, When I moved my 90g, I had air strips all along the length of the back of the tank. We went to bed after a long day. I woke up like 3-4 hours into the night. Well, we never turned the air pump on, and DIDN'T have check valves. So needless to say, we had well over 20 gallons of water on the floor, at 2 in the morning.

Moral of the story, if you use an air pump, spend 29 cents, and put a check valve on!

I can put many more, lets hear a few of yours. We won't laugh at you--too hard!

Triggerjay · 05-11-2008, 12:29 AM

uhmm.... Mistakes? Humm.... never really made any!....... LOL j/k...

I made every mistake there is to make.. I think the best one was using carbon for the first time without rinsing it.. Bad move..Heres a pic of it.. This was some time ago...:

Varga · 05-11-2008, 12:41 AM

I installed a pond pump and the next day all my sps corals were dead!!!!

Triggerjay · 05-11-2008, 12:43 AM

That was recently too, wasn't it? I remember the thread..

Jason

Varga · 05-11-2008, 12:43 AM

yup like 2 weeks ago

cracker · 05-11-2008, 12:48 AM

where to start? I keep making a "few" of the same mistakes. However there is one I won't make again. I had a mag 36 separated from the return & needed better light. Plugged in what I "thought" was the chord to the refugium light.

rlcline76 · 05-11-2008, 12:50 AM

I have made mistakes, but none like y'all have. Mine were the general Noob mistakes...but unfortunately, I am dedicated just enough in the hobby to really screw something up down the line! lol

Varga · 05-11-2008, 12:50 AM

msbdiving · 05-11-2008, 01:12 AM

Didn't have a qt tank when I first started. 2nd was rushing. Wasted a lot of money that way. Hope others learn from mine. Take things slow, read up before you buy and qt.

lcstorc · 05-11-2008, 08:22 AM

Pretty much the standard newbie mistakes before finding RS.
Even afterwords I don't test as often as I should. I definitely overfeed. (Coempensated by a giant skimmer and lots of water changes.) Overstocking even when I know better. Not using proper QT methods.

sasquatch · 05-11-2008, 09:23 AM

I invent new mistakes, the most recent was rescuing a peppermint shrimp from the sock and casually throwing it back in the display, as "all food" comes from above umm poor shrimpy was headless in 0 time and everyone had a nice snack, Priscilla was like a heat seeking rocket, awesome to watch but not a happy event lol

Frankie · 05-11-2008, 09:26 AM

My mentor and teacher in keeping reefs taught me well. I made very few mistakes and no animal ever had to suffer because i listened. I was very fortunate to have learned from Gene the lfs owner in NY. Also the valuable members of RS have been my life line. I guess the biggest mistake i made is when i moved south and tried to put my faith in the lfs here.
I truly recommend all newbies to take the 101 class. good basic stuff. Saltwater Aquariums 101

Kerchakone · 05-12-2008, 02:35 AM

Bought a Toadstool from petco. Nuked my tank. Killed one fish, a bunch of cuc, a clam and all but 2 corals.

slakker · 05-12-2008, 02:39 AM

Impulse buying lifestock!!!! I never learn from this one... :P

Stacef · 05-12-2008, 09:40 AM

Haha the Impulse is a big one.

Seems to be the #1 problems--
No QT
Impulse Impulse Impulse
Overfeeding..the list goes on!

05-10-2008, 11:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stacef Torch coral Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 595 View Gallery Karma Komment	Mistakes You've Made So lets hear some stories of experiences that have taught you something in this hobby, fresh or salt. Of course-Learning from your mistakes lets hear the stupid things we all wish we would have thought of prior to the problem. Think of it as...things you wish you knew as a newbie. My first one, When I moved my 90g, I had air strips all along the length of the back of the tank. We went to bed after a long day. I woke up like 3-4 hours into the night. Well, we never turned the air pump on, and DIDN'T have check valves. So needless to say, we had well over 20 gallons of water on the floor, at 2 in the morning. Moral of the story, if you use an air pump, spend 29 cents, and put a check valve on! I can put many more, lets hear a few of yours. We won't laugh at you--too hard! __________________ Stace Worried about the costs to run a Saltwater tank? Here are some tips on cutting back to keep your bills in the same range as before. Put a timer in the bathroom, the family is now only aloud to take 5 minute showers, baths are out of the question. Tv time is cut to 1 hour a night, we have to make up for all of the lights/pumps/heaters/chillers/etc. running No more lights, duct tape all light switches in the off position. If someone needs light, they can sit by the tank. Sorry bunny, I sacrificed you to help others save money!

05-11-2008, 12:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
Triggerjay Reef Lobster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 1,424 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made uhmm.... Mistakes? Humm.... never really made any!....... LOL j/k... I made every mistake there is to make.. I think the best one was using carbon for the first time without rinsing it.. Bad move..Heres a pic of it.. This was some time ago...: __________________ 125g Mixed reef, 100g Basement sump, two 40g breeder frag tanks, Iwaki 100 main return pump, Sequence Reeflo Dart CL pump, Sedra 9000 powered DIY 3 foot tall skimmer, Aqua 40w UV, Two little fishies phosban reactor, Kangaroo dosing pump, 29g tank in my daughters room, All tied together into one system.

05-11-2008, 12:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Varga Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,090 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made I installed a pond pump and the next day all my sps corals were dead!!!!

05-11-2008, 12:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Triggerjay Reef Lobster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield MO Posts: 1,424 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made That was recently too, wasn't it? I remember the thread.. Jason __________________ 125g Mixed reef, 100g Basement sump, two 40g breeder frag tanks, Iwaki 100 main return pump, Sequence Reeflo Dart CL pump, Sedra 9000 powered DIY 3 foot tall skimmer, Aqua 40w UV, Two little fishies phosban reactor, Kangaroo dosing pump, 29g tank in my daughters room, All tied together into one system.

05-11-2008, 12:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Varga Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,090 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made yup like 2 weeks ago

05-11-2008, 12:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
cracker Reef Lobster Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: North East Florida Posts: 1,609 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Mistakes You've Made where to start? I keep making a "few" of the same mistakes. However there is one I won't make again. I had a mag 36 separated from the return & needed better light. Plugged in what I "thought" was the chord to the refugium light.

05-11-2008, 12:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
rlcline76 Acropora Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Fort Bliss, TX Posts: 1,975 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made I have made mistakes, but none like y'all have. Mine were the general Noob mistakes...but unfortunately, I am dedicated just enough in the hobby to really screw something up down the line! lol __________________ ~Becky~ I think everything ALWAYS comes back to underwear sooner or later. Whether or not that's a good thing is up to conjecture. BarbMazz Any weather is thong weather. BEELZEBOB When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. Say something once, why say it again? Talking Heads

05-11-2008, 12:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
Varga Elegance coral Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,090 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made ouch

05-11-2008, 01:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
msbdiving Midas Blenny Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 100 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made Didn't have a qt tank when I first started. 2nd was rushing. Wasted a lot of money that way. Hope others learn from mine. Take things slow, read up before you buy and qt.

05-11-2008, 08:22 AM	#10 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 16,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made Pretty much the standard newbie mistakes before finding RS. Even afterwords I don't test as often as I should. I definitely overfeed. (Coempensated by a giant skimmer and lots of water changes.) Overstocking even when I know better. Not using proper QT methods. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g Jawfish enjoyment ASM answer girl. Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

05-11-2008, 09:23 AM	#11 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,510 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made I invent new mistakes, the most recent was rescuing a peppermint shrimp from the sock and casually throwing it back in the display, as "all food" comes from above umm poor shrimpy was headless in 0 time and everyone had a nice snack, Priscilla was like a heat seeking rocket, awesome to watch but not a happy event lol __________________ DIY stuff for my tank stand, 100g tank,rock lift, overflow, foam walls, closed loop,lighting reflectors, 50gal sump, bubbletrap and sock holder, ato bracket,kalk bucket and reservoir, 40gal fuge, fuge lighting, remotish dsb raceway, turf algae raceway, dual pumped recirc skimmer, more to follow. Barb ripped my sig

05-11-2008, 09:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
Frankie Angel Girl's Daddy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: The End Of The World Posts: 6,039 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Mistakes You've Made My mentor and teacher in keeping reefs taught me well. I made very few mistakes and no animal ever had to suffer because i listened. I was very fortunate to have learned from Gene the lfs owner in NY. Also the valuable members of RS have been my life line. I guess the biggest mistake i made is when i moved south and tried to put my faith in the lfs here. I truly recommend all newbies to take the 101 class. good basic stuff. Saltwater Aquariums 101 __________________ Visit my aquarium -->Frankie's 120 gal Experiment Bruce: Today's meeting is Step 5: Bring a fish friend. Everyone brought a fish friend? DIY=DO IT YOURSELF! If we ignore the environment maybe it will go away....

05-12-2008, 02:35 AM	#13 (permalink)
Kerchakone Limpet Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 149 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Mistakes You've Made Bought a Toadstool from petco. Nuked my tank. Killed one fish, a bunch of cuc, a clam and all but 2 corals. __________________ 12g "Reef" Deceased. 46g Reef My tank: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

05-12-2008, 02:39 AM	#14 (permalink)
slakker Serpent Star Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 212 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Mistakes You've Made Impulse buying lifestock!!!! I never learn from this one... :P

05-12-2008, 09:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
Stacef Torch coral Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubuque Posts: 595 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Mistakes You've Made Haha the Impulse is a big one. Seems to be the #1 problems-- No QT Impulse Impulse Impulse Overfeeding..the list goes on! __________________ Stace Worried about the costs to run a Saltwater tank? Here are some tips on cutting back to keep your bills in the same range as before. Put a timer in the bathroom, the family is now only aloud to take 5 minute showers, baths are out of the question. Tv time is cut to 1 hour a night, we have to make up for all of the lights/pumps/heaters/chillers/etc. running No more lights, duct tape all light switches in the off position. If someone needs light, they can sit by the tank. Sorry bunny, I sacrificed you to help others save money!

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