Things I would do differently? How about you?

[Bernardhny]

When I received my tank it was a birthday gift. I received a 55g Cube that is truly beautiful, but over the last year of having the tank I have come to realize that I would do things a little bit differently if I could:

Equipment

• The tank shape is just not ideal for a reef tank. I would rather have a nice long tank. 55G is just not big enough for what I want to do. I guess nano is not my thing. I want big an expansive.
  • Lesson to Newbies: Be patient. Save the extra pennies and get the tank you WANT the first time.
  • Lesson to Newbies: Think about the entire system. A small tank with a small cabinet means a small sump unless you have the environment to have your sump in a separate room. When you have my tank, it limits the size of the sump, which limits everything you can put in a sump like a skimmer etc. It also limits how much auxiliary equipment you can put in like a GFO/Carbon Reactor, C02 Reactor etc.

Aquascaping

• I think there is a general impatience I had in setting up my tank. I wanted live rock, so I got a bunch at a high cost and it was not really live. It took a lot of effort for the die off to occur and for the tank to settle down. Not a fun experience. More importantly I had misconceptions about layout. Now my layout sucks and I don't have the courage to redo it.
  • Lesson to Newbies: take your time. Order dry rock instead of live rock. It will save you money and your tank will be cleaner, plus it is easier to take your time to create an awesome layout
  • Lesson to Newbies: Putty is awesome! Don't think that putting together your aquascaping can be done without it. Rocks don't sit nicely all the time. Layout the design and use the putty to lock it into place. Remember, various creatures in your tank can topple rock. Lean something somewhere and it is bound to fall over.

Advice from others:

• I have a bunch of great local fish stores. They always have a bunch of advice to give, but remember they are out to make money. So they are going to try to sell you stuff you might not need, or that is in stock. Do your due diligence and be patient. Check your options and above all have fun with it. It is a long term hobby, it takes time for a tank to mature so don't rush it.

I hope this helps others, and I would love to hear other peoples feelings towards the lessons they learned!

Thanks

Bernard

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[MrDJeep123]

When I first started 12 or so years ago I spent a few years researching the fish before I made the plunge. I always refresh read and wish that I had taken just as much time to learn the corals.
Also don't take on more than you can handle. Leads to laziness. I had to take a year hiatus because I lost my last tank to bryopsis. I didn't dip and clean a frag or two and next thing I know a forest. On top of that there was a baby incoming, we got a German shepherd puppy, and after losing a lot of money on corals lost it was time to realize I had too much on my plate. So know your limits and don't over extend yourself.

 

[LPSGUY]

I would spend the money on biggest tank, best lights, best skimmer, more live rock. Cant cheap out in this hobby!

 

[mike007]

I have had tanks all my life and i have always been frugile when it comes to spending money on my tanks. The last few years i have changed and gotten more serious about reefkeeping. Now i realize that sometimes it dosen't pay to buy cheap equipment, in the long run you will wish that you should have bought a bigger tank, better lights etc. Now looking back i wish i would have done more research and i would have realize that sps is they way to roll.

 

[MSD60178]

lots of thing but 1st that came to mind was bult my sump bigger, IMO your sump can't be to big