I used to be super OCD years ago, and it made me hate every second of it... I think that's what puts a lot of people off about saltwater too. AHHHH OMG EVERYTHING HAS TO BE PERFECT OR YOUR WHOLE TANK WILL DIE!!! DRIP AND TEMP ACCLIMATE THAT FISH AHHHHHH!!!! CHECK EVERYTHING 10000000 PER DAY, EVERY DAY!!!!!
I've learned to trust my instincts over time, and that a lot of the stuff we keep is actually a lot hardier than we give it credit for. Earlier this week is a perfect example... My main isn't running yet, and I was about to get a 29 gallon Biocube set up as a QT. Then at 8:00 o'clock at night, someone dumps a maroon clown, and a lyretail anthias on me.
And I haven't even unpacked my RO system yet. So I start scrambling and pull an all nighter. By the time it hits 9:30 in the morning, and I have to haul butt to work, I basically have the water in, salt mixed, and temp sitting at barely sixty nine degrees. No idea on exact salinity, as my Hanna is still in the mail. Backup dip hydrometer is sitting on top of my garage fridge; go to get it, accidentally knock it off onto concrete, and it shatters. So I mixed as best I could, using Red Sea's ratios.
So, at this point, my choices are to leave them in the bags for at least another twelve hours, or dump them in (don't even have time to float) and hope for the best... I end up doing the latter. Come home, everyone is still alive. Hannah tester shows up the next day, salinity is at 1.034. Yikes! Thanks Red Sea. Obviously fixed that right away.
Everyone is still healthy, eating, and happy. The moral of the story is learn to trust your knowledge, and gut instinct, and don't freak out over every little thing. You'll live longer. And so will your tank. Haha
