Biggest Lesson You've Learned?

[Peter_in_the_city]

I think its nice to admit mistakes and learn from our experiences. I've probably committed all the sins of reefkeeping, so I'll list a few:
Tang in a 60 gallon (didn't work)
Copper in a display tank (this one wasn't too bad but seriously just get a 20 long during a 1$/gallon sale)
Added buffer to raise pH (oh man don't do this. I was chasing 8.0 pH and succeeded in getting my alkalinity to 20+)

 

[Nathan Milender]

Beware used equipment
Beware retail assessments of species compatibility

 

[windemerejack]

Biggest lesson i learnt was double or treble what you think you will spend on a reef tank.

 

[ScottR]

Patience and you’ll have less patients...

 

[Twoddler]

I suppose my biggest mistake was using contaminated No3 tester, inadvertently raising from 5ppm to 50+ .
And yes DKH swings, killing my few sps

 

[Mellotang]

Those RODI a filters need to be good
Membrane too!!

 

[Utubereefer]

Biggest lesson i learnt was double or treble what you think you will spend on a reef tank.

Just don’t keep track of what you spend then you won’t worry about it.
My mistake was not removing pests from frags going into my system. Vermatid snails suck

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

1) The Clearance/Returned items section on SaltwaterAquarium.com
2) You can get an additional 10% off anything in there with code SOLD.

Can't tell you how many good deals I've gotten on equipment in there.

 

[Mellotang]

Take everything you hear with grain of salt and make your own conclusions based on experience

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

I learned that a reduced flow rate due to clogged intakes on filters can cause stagnation of water ! Peee-yoooh !

 

[DirkCourage]

Your tank will tell you what it needs, effective reefing is being observant and responsive. I bought a lot of stuff starting off that I didn’t/don’t need. There’s no shortage of things to buy in this hobby, and buying before you need something is great way to waste money.

 

[mgelb16]

I think its nice to admit mistakes and learn from our experiences. I've probably committed all the sins of reefkeeping, so I'll list a few:
Tang in a 60 gallon (didn't work)
Copper in a display tank (this one wasn't too bad but seriously just get a 20 long during a 1$/gallon sale)
Added buffer to raise pH (oh man don't do this. I was chasing 8.0 pH and succeeded in getting my alkalinity to 20+)

The biggest lesson I have learned is that don't do anything that could cause you any stress. There are a lot of other things to deal with in life and the last thing you want to worry about is your tank because you took a risk with a fish or a coral. Keep it simple.

 

[homer1475]

One word......

Patience, and lots of it.

 

[hotdrop]

I learned that most vendors are sh1t and that you you should expect to pay 150% or 200% more than the lowest price if you want fish and corals that aren’t sick and infested. And even then you could get ripped off (WWC is famous for this)

 

[Twoddler]

I've posted once on here, but I,ve just beat that one. During a water change, all pumps off here's a pic, guess the mistake

 

[hds4216]

I've posted once on here, but I,ve just beat that one. During a water change, all pumps off here's a pic, guess the mistake

Trying to use your reef tank as a culinary tool?

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I've posted once on here, but I,ve just beat that one. During a water change, all pumps off here's a pic, guess the mistake

Frozen food? It's getting hot in here!

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Biggest lesson, that's easy. Gfci and a ground probe on all tanks. I have had some serious shocks during my time in this hobby

 

[Twoddler]

I've posted once on here, but I,ve just beat that one. During a water change, all pumps off here's a pic, guess the mistake

Left heaters on (probe in different compartment) managed to heat up to 32c

 

[Mellotang]

If your skimmer waste doesn’t smell it’s not working