if you could change just one thing ...

bioteacher · Apr 21, 2015

I have been keeping for years as a classroom teacher. our system sure has had its ups and downs. Somethings were our fault some things were simple serendipity. If I could change just one thing right now it would have been to have set our peninsula style 412 as a center over flow I believe it would have let us control the flow in the tank much better

if you could change just one thing on your system what would it be??

that Reef Guy · Apr 21, 2015

1. I would have gotten a 75 Gallon instead of a 55
2. I would have never bought Pink Briareum because Half the Rock in that Tank is Covered in it and now I am worried my Tank will crash at sometime in the future do to so much Live Rock becoming Dead Rock since it is getting Covered in Pink Briareum (The Fastest Growing Coral Ever).

diablomaster9045 · Apr 21, 2015

I want to redo the rockstack in my 120g but I don't have a place to store my 18in clam.

Pete polyp · Apr 21, 2015

I don't think it will cause a tank crash. I have seen tanks with 90% coverage in gsp and it had no problems.

that Reef Guy · Apr 21, 2015

Pete polyp said:
I don't think it will cause a tank crash. I have seen tanks with 90% coverage in gsp and it had no problems.

Really?

I would loose so much beneficial bacteria that lives in the live rock that filters the water.

Or am I mistaken?

I just think that one day I will wake up and out of the blue there will be a huge Ammonia Spike that kills everything.

Shep · Apr 21, 2015

I would not have used the CaribSea Life Rock, I would have gone with normal dry rock.

Pete polyp · Apr 21, 2015

I would have passed on buying a skimmer. Biggest waste of money out there.

bioteacher · Apr 21, 2015

yep, I think so many of us buy a skimmer or other piece without really getting everything figured out first.

bioteacher · Apr 21, 2015

A skimmer isn't a waste its the wrong one that would be a waste otherwise my skimmer is a critical tool in our system

love2surf927 · Apr 22, 2015

Shep said:
I would not have used the CaribSea Life Rock, I would have gone with normal dry rock.

Why not?

that Reef Guy · Apr 22, 2015

Shep said:
I would not have used the CaribSea Life Rock, I would have gone with normal dry rock.

What is wrong with the CaribSea Live Rock?

Pete polyp · Apr 22, 2015

A skimmer was a complete waste of money for me. It wasn't that I bought a piece of junk or one not fit for my system. It's because I don't need one. It has been in a sack in my closet for the last 4 months.

bioteacher · Apr 22, 2015

Everyone's system is different: I know we would have a very difficult time keeping the bio load we have and sps corals both in great shape without our skimmer.

Paul B · Apr 22, 2015

I would have set up my tank here, in Bora Bora.

Shep · Apr 22, 2015

that Reef Guy said:
What is wrong with the CaribSea Live Rock?

So far it just does not seem to work as well as normal rock, the coating they put on it makes the rock less porous. It could be all in my head and I hope that I am just seeing things.

bioteacher · Apr 22, 2015

That would be amazing Paul, I have been lucky enough to take students to Abaco the Bahamas twice. I love that Island and the chilled out easy going folks.

DurocShark · Apr 22, 2015

I don't know that I'd change anything. Over the years (too many years, including a stint doing aquarium maintenance for commercial tanks) I've made mistakes and poor choices. But each time I learn something. Even my current nano is causing me to learn and is always a work in progress. For example, I pulled the skimmer and haven't seen any trouble even though I feed heavily. My 70 will start out with a skimmer, but as I learn about that tank I may change it too.

I don't think that any tank should be a static display. Otherwise, take a photo and pin it on the wall.

Paul B · Apr 22, 2015

That would be amazing Paul, I have been lucky enough to take students to Abaco the Bahamas twice.

I wish I was one of your lucky students. But if you dive in the Bahama's, then you dive in the South Pacific, you won't want to dive in the Bahama's or Caribbean any more. I am spoiled which is a shame because the South Pacific ain't cheap.