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You get pretty addicted to the coral.
I've only had fish my whole life until a few years ago when I got some free coral now all I want is to learn more about it/get some harder ones.
 
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Calmwaters said:
Thanks everyone for all the encouragement I'm off to bed I how you all have a good rest of the night.
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I HOW you have a good rest of your night! Sleep tight and sweet dreams!
 
00W said:
I still do research every day whether it be for fish I'll never buy or a product I'll never use. :)
It all gets filed away in there somewhere.
There will always be some success stories sure but the failures are the ones you don't see on you tube, etc.
My advice will and always will be go insanely slow in this hobby.
For us old people, time moves quickly and your tank will be mature before you know it. ;)
@Katrina71 advice is sound on both the fish and soft corals. They help fill in the gaps, help with the learning curve and honestly help mature the tank.
When I bought my trigger it was actually at the LFS for 4 months or more before I brought it home and it was the first fish I bought in at least 4 years.
It'll happen no worries.
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Agree. I have gone very slow.

Oct 11: Water/sand/initial cycle started
Nov 12; 2 clowns added and basic CUC
Feb 14: Diamond Goby and and Mel Wrasse ((LFS kept them for a month while I got rid of GHA)
Feb 29: orange shoulder tang and chocolate tang (I would have waited a few more weeks to add to give goby/wrasse time to adjust and more importantly ME to adjust feeding/ stay on top of changing water parameters but the vendor I’m getting them from couldn’t hold them any longer)

Additional fish will be added in 30 day increments or longer depending on the socialization and health of current fish.

It’s hard, but one thing I didn’t do is go to LFS a lot and look at fish cause I would have brought something home and messed up the stocking plan list the a leader in the industry created for me.

Hopefully this and what Joel/Katrina said will make you feel better. Saltwater tanks have a lot of bare areas whether that be fish or corals.
 
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Katrina71 said:
Anyone correct me if I'm wrong, but expect 3 or 4 major ugly stages in your tank through the first year.
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Guaranteed! Just had my first big one. I didn’t count the diatom outbreak before it cause that’s normal and means things are progressing.
 
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ESABOE said:
Agree. I have gone very slow.

Oct 11: Water/sand/initial cycle started
Nov 12; 2 clowns added and basic CUC
Feb 14: Diamond Goby and and Mel Wrasse ((LFS kept them for a month while I got rid of GHA)
Feb 29: orange shoulder tang and chocolate tang (I would have waited a few more weeks to add to give goby/wrasse time to adjust and more importantly ME to adjust feeding/ stay on top of changing water parameters but the vendor I’m getting them from couldn’t hold them any longer)

Additional fish will be added in 30 day increments or longer depending on the socialization and health of current fish.

It’s hard, but one thing I didn’t do is go to LFS a lot and look at fish cause I would have brought something home and messed up the stocking plan list the a leader in the industry created for me.

Hopefully this and what Joel/Katrina said will make you feel better. Saltwater tanks have a lot of bare areas whether that be fish or corals.
Click to expand...
I definitely stay out of my LFS as much as possible because I know I would bring anything and everything home with me.
Right now they have a 5 inch mean as h@ll clarki surrender for $10.
He's 12. He's perfect for my big tank but also could send everyone over the edge.
I haven't been back.
 
Calmwaters said:
The BRS videos said if you did it their way you would have little to no ugly stages... guess they lied...
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I followed their methodology and I consider 4 months before GHA a success- especially since it was my fault. Even their personal tanks in there homes have gone through the uglies as BRS and WWC have been transparent showing us. A mixed reef is an extremely hard hobby with many iOS and downs.
 
BRS
ESABOE said:
I followed their methodology and I consider 4 months before GHA a success- especially since it was my fault. Even their personal tanks in there homes have gone through the uglies as BRS and WWC have been transparent showing us. A mixed reef is an extremely hard hobby with many iOS and downs.
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How was the GHA your fault?
 
00W said:
I definitely stay out of my LFS as much as possible because I know I would bring anything and everything home with me.
Right now they have a 5 inch mean as h@ll clarki surrender for $10.
He's 12. He's perfect for my big tank but also could send everyone over the edge.
I haven't been back.
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You’ve heard me mention the cute baby orchid dottyback at my LFS, I’m smitten now that I’ve seen one in person and dottybacks weren’t even on my LIST!!! Hahaha
 
Fishy Guy said:
How was the GHA your fault?
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When I changed the mat- roller roll of fleece for first time, it was wonky, detritus was building up in the chemi- pure bag below (attached basket). By the time I realized it looked like it was on there for 6 months. Would I have gotten some GHA anyway, yes. But human error exasperated it. Remember I don’t run a skimmer/fuge etc so Zi have to ensure the stuff I am using is working properly at all times.

Low maintenance tanks while convenient, leave little room for error
 
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I'm actually looking forward to starting from scratch in the new tank. Well, pretty much. This time I have a much better idea of what I want to grow where. I don't mind the uglies. I just ride them out.
 
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Katrina71 said:
I'm actually looking forward to starting from scratch in the new tank. Well, pretty much. This time I have a much better idea of what I want to grow where. I don't mind the uglies. I just ride them out.
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Funny, I’m feeling the same on the uglies. So different then how I approached first tank
 
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ESABOE said:
When I changed the mat- roller roll of fleece for first time, it was wonky, detritus was building up in the chemi- pure bag below (attached basket). By the time I realized it looked like it was on there for 6 months. Would I have gotten some GHA anyway, yes. But human error exasperated it. Remember I don’t run a skimmer/fuge etc so Zi have to ensure the stuff I am using is working properly at all times.

Low maintenance tanks while convenient, leave little room for error
Click to expand...
Good to know. If you count the initial diatoms then I’m in my second round of uglies. Just trying to better understand what I should expect.

My tank is an AIO so not an exact comparison but I don’t have a skimmer or fuge so similar concerns.
 
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IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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