Embarrassing Moments in Reefkeeping that NEED Explanations

TJ's Reef · May 19, 2015

OK, so had some company over the other day and just so happened that I'd only recently completed some 'basic' tank maintenance as in algae scrub and Skimmer cleaning........... most days I clean out the Skimmer cup by taking a hose and toothbrush to it while outside and then water it into the grass for water conservation and grass fertilization right ? So on this occasion I just emptied into the toilet and brushed out in the sink, leaving those normal (to us) protein spatter marks on both plumbing fixtures with full intent to clean up well after getting Skimmer back into action in the Sump............... So you can see where this is going by now huh ?

OBVIOUSLY I got distracted and totally forgot to clean up the Bathroom before said company had to make a pit stop before heading home. A few minutes pass and then the 'LOOK' when they came out and then my 'LOOK' as I realized what they had just seen and what they must think had happened in that room. Well not being another Reefkeeper and me not having a 'dirty' Skimmer to show where this 'smelly matter' had come from trying to explain this was just slightly hard to do in a completely believable way. Probably won't forget to clean up the tiolet at least for a very long time....lol

So, how about you all ? Got any funny or ebarrassing stories to tell ???

Cheers, Todd

fishroomlady · May 19, 2015

that is funny!

Pete polyp · May 19, 2015

I get funny looks at the store when I'm buying 30 tubes of superglue. I usually just smile and say "don't ask or you might become an accessory"

melypr1985 · May 19, 2015

Mine is stupid, but I'll share it anyway. I keep defrosted frozen food in a shot glass in my fridge. It will last me about three days. When people come over and look in the fridge for something to eat or drink they always have that look on their face like "what the heck is that?! yuk!" I always have to explain what its for and what's in it.

maroun.c · May 20, 2015

-Somebody always has to step in to the basement after a skimmer cleanup and residual smell!!!
-The look on the pharmacist face when I buy 10-15 urine sample cups every 2-3 weeks to hold corals in when coming back from travel.
-The look on people faces when I walk out from a friends apartment with a urine sample cup filled with tank water for testing or the look on my neighbors face when they see me walking in with the cup in hand (learned to place it in a bag after few funny looks and people looking strange while shaking hands

Pete polyp · May 20, 2015

Oh I almost forgot. I go to my brothers house to get Rodi and for a while I was using 1 gallon milk jugs. I noticed his neighbors giving me strange looks as I would load up the trunk with gallon jugs of clear liquid. I'm kinda surprised they never came over and asked for a taste.

TJ's Reef · May 20, 2015

Another 'ONE' many of us has gone through is explaining the whole 'Blue Glow' thing looking like a recreational indoor 'Grow Room'...... for veggies... of course. Most of my neighbors have made some kind of mention over the years like " So what are you growing in there ?" and I like to respond with "Oh, just some 'Killer' tropical Corals why do you ask ?"

Cheers, Todd

rlman41299 · May 20, 2015

Well mine is not really embarrassing. One time a cop came to my house and asked what I have been hiding in my garage and if they can check it out. Well, I have my rights and if they don't have a search warrant they can't step inside my house. I asked for explanation to why their action. Apparently couple of my neighbors have called in and voiced out their concerns that I "may be" selling drugs for they see blue bright light by the window of my garage and see multiple people leave the house with baggies with them and mostly at night time during weekends. As soon as the officer mentioned it, I laughed and eventually showed them what I have in the garage.

kschweer · May 20, 2015

Good stories everyone. Mine is kinda funny. I weigh my salt out when mixing up for water changes. I feel it's more consistent than using a measuring cup something similar. So one day I was weighing out the salt on a digital scale on my dining room table and forgot that the cable guy was coming to fix an issues I was having. Not thinking I went and let him in, when he walked by the table with a digital scale with a paper plate of salt on it he did a triple take. He didn't say much while working but it was by far the fastest a cable company has fixed something for me.

rlman41299 · May 20, 2015

kschweer said:
Good stories everyone. Mine is kinda funny. I weigh my salt out when mixing up for water changes. I feel it's more consistent than using a measuring bio or something similar. So one day I was weighing out the salt on a digital scale on my dining room table and forgot that the cable guy was coming to fix an issues I was having. Not thinking I went and let him in, when he walked by the table with a digital scale with a paper plate of salt on it he did a triple take. He didn't say much while working but it was by far the fastest a cable company has fixed something for me.

I like that one lol

GatorScott · May 20, 2015

kschweer said:
Good stories everyone. Mine is kinda funny. I weigh my salt out when mixing up for water changes. I feel it's more consistent than using a measuring cup something similar. So one day I was weighing out the salt on a digital scale on my dining room table and forgot that the cable guy was coming to fix an issues I was having. Not thinking I went and let him in, when he walked by the table with a digital scale with a paper plate of salt on it he did a triple take. He didn't say much while working but it was by far the fastest a cable company has fixed something for me.

BAAAAHAHAHHA that's awesome.

glb · May 20, 2015

I don't have a funny reef tank story but I do have a good pet story. When my youngest was born, we bought his 3yo brother two hamsters. He named one after himself and named the other one 'What's your name'.

drernesto · May 21, 2015

I have my tank close to the balcony door. One day Wile I was looking into my refractometer on the balcony I heard a neighbor shouting why are you spying on me with your spyglass telescope!

dadof4 · May 21, 2015

I actually had the city police and sheriffs department barge in with a warrant. Thank goodness the wife and kids were gone for the weekend. Once they realized what was going on they apologized and left, all except for two of the city cops that hung around for a few hours and got a lesson on marine aquariums. One of them I'm friends with now and I helped him set up a 150 gallon. I found out from him that it was the new neighbors that called after seeing the glow of the actinic lights and peaking in my basement and seeing my mixing station, stainless steel table I use for testing, and all the containers of powdered replacements stacked against a wall. Neighbors got a talking to....

Blue Damsel · May 21, 2015

Pete polyp said:
Oh I almost forgot. I go to my brothers house to get Rodi and for a while I was using 1 gallon milk jugs. I noticed his neighbors giving me strange looks as I would load up the trunk with gallon jugs of clear liquid. I'm kinda surprised they never came over and asked for a taste.

Haha,I get the same thing when I'm unloading and discarding my 10- 1 gallon jugs. None if my neighbors have ever offered to help...Lol

Blue Damsel · May 21, 2015

rlman41299 said:
Well mine is not really embarrassing. One time a cop came to my house and asked what I have been hiding in my garage and if they can check it out. Well, I have my rights and if they don't have a search warrant they can't step inside my house. I asked for explanation to why their action. Apparently couple of my neighbors have called in and voiced out their concerns that I "may be" selling drugs for they see blue bright light by the window of my garage and see multiple people leave the house with baggies with them and mostly at night time during weekends. As soon as the officer mentioned it, I laughed and eventually showed them what I have in the garage.

Gotta love the nosey neighbors!

Blue Damsel · May 21, 2015

I'm a newbie and read several tips on how to jump start your tank cycle. So, I walked into the grocery store, went to the seafood department and asked for a single shrimp. The lady carefully selected a shrimp and wrapped it with such care as if I had asked for 5 pounds of shrimp. I walked to the check out lane and when the cashier saw the little wrapped cube with a sticker charge of $0.20, she stopped and asked, "What is this!?" I think she thought it was some kind of prank. I had to explain that it was a single shrimp for my saltwater tank so she could finish checking me out for payment!

TJ's Reef · May 21, 2015

drernesto said:
I have my tank close to the balcony door. One day Wile I was looking into my refractometer on the balcony I heard a neighbor shouting why are you spying on me with your spyglass telescope!

Good one and which I'm always very conscience of when spying on my neigh..... I mean reading my Refractometer...

Cheers, Todd