If you could redo something, what would it be?

Be102 · Jan 13, 2017

Let's make a thread that allows others learn from your mistakes. Whether it be adding a fish before another, adding an evil coral or just not designing your plumbing with no ability to upgrade. Anything goes.

Diesel · Jan 13, 2017

Great thread my friend.

94Roarge · Jan 13, 2017

Placing rockwork too close to the glass!

Be102 · Jan 13, 2017

94Roarge said:
Placing rockwork too close to the glass!

Funny you said that. Was just thinking this week when I redo my aquascape if I should put my rocks against the back and just ignore wiping it. Bad experiences with cracks? Or just bad placement?

johntdaballa · Jan 13, 2017

I wish I could of better thought out on my aquascape and bought more rock. Wish I didn't cheap out on my skimmer, rocks.

pdt7361 · Jan 13, 2017

I need a bigger stand. My stand is far too short...makes plumbing and maintenance an immense pain.

Be102 · Jan 13, 2017

pdt7361 said:
I need a bigger stand. My stand is far too short...makes plumbing and maintenance an immense pain.

Just built my own stand for this reason! Check out my build thread, if I can do it. Anyone can!

pdt7361 · Jan 13, 2017

@Be102 I thought about changing it...but I'd have to completely tear down. Not sure I feel like doing that just yet

Be102 · Jan 13, 2017

pdt7361 said:
@Be102 I thought about changing it...but I'd have to completely tear down. Not sure I feel like doing that just yet

Good luck if you do! I still haven't done the actual switch just yet but hopefully it isn't too bad!

prsnlty · Jan 13, 2017

Would use less rock

morpheas · Jan 13, 2017

pdt7361 said:
I need a bigger stand. My stand is far too short...makes plumbing and maintenance an immense pain.

Same boat as you my friend. I'm so close to tearing apart to fix but I'm not there yet... But what a pain!

johntdaballa · Jan 13, 2017

Speaking of stands I wish I didn't cheap out or used the stand that came with it. Now the glass swing door isn't closing correctly.

pdt7361 · Jan 14, 2017

I've got someone local that has the perfect stand for me....just can't decide if I really want to tear down, change stands, and redo my plumbing

Be102 · Jan 14, 2017

My thinking for tearing down includes removing rock; scooping fish out, removing water, moving stand with tank on it, putting new stand in same place as old stand, put tank on stand, lay out rocks and use JB water weld to build some sort of aquascape... then attempt to put into the tank and then put water and fish. Sounds way easier than it's going to be .. but this hobby is fun.. right?

pdt7361 · Jan 14, 2017

The base rocks of my aquascape are cemented together...so that will be an issue as they'll have to come out in large pieces. And don't forget draining and moving the sump as well

TonapahNorth · Jan 14, 2017

pdt7361 said:
I need a bigger stand. My stand is far too short...makes plumbing and maintenance an immense pain.

Be102 said:
Just built my own stand for this reason! Check out my build thread, if I can do it. Anyone can!

How tall would you make your stand? Inside dimension.

pdt7361 · Jan 14, 2017

36-38 inches tall would be what I want. And ideally, I'd want the stand to be oversized by 2-3 inches on the front and both sides.

Be102 · Jan 14, 2017

TonapahNorth said:
How tall would you make your stand? Inside dimension.

Check out my build thread, I went with 36" https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/first-time-for-everything.281899/

TonapahNorth · Jan 14, 2017

I'm building mine to be 40" .... not sure if I'm gonna be happy with that. I think I'm going to tear the entire header out and make the top rim out of steel tube so as to maximize headroom.

To answer the original post. I would ensure that my tank is jumper proof. Early on, I lost a lot of fish without a lid (or a even homemade lid). I would also start dry everything (rock and sand) so as to minimize hitchhikers. I'm doing this precisely on my current build.

I'd also have established a QT system earlier in my reefing career.

94Roarge · Jan 14, 2017

Be102 said:
Funny you said that. Was just thinking this week when I redo my aquascape if I should put my rocks against the back and just ignore wiping it. Bad experiences with cracks? Or just bad placement?

The back doesn't bother me as it is blacked out. I hate little patches of algae where my fingers are too fat to get between the glass and rocks at the side of the tank [emoji14]