What are some things new (or old) reefers do that they should avoid trying?

[mindme]

You said the great thing about dry rock is you can spend so much time designing and modifying the scape? Breaking up rocks and fitting perfectly. Now we're spending to much time on it.

I didn't mean the time spent was the bad thing. I meant not taking into account how tall it was, regardless of time spent, while thinking you've made the perfect aquascape was to be avoided.

It's just a mistake I made often when I was new to the hobby.

 

[DavidinGA]

Treating every fish with copper and Prazi pro and saying they've been through 3 fish now.

New reefers should NOT be treating every fish they get imo. They'll end up killing more that way.

They should observe every fish for a set amount of time in a QT system and then treat it if necessary.

 

[mindme]

Right, I was referring to traditional cuc like you need x amount of snails and x amount of crabs, etc. = Garbage.

My favorite are nerites. I don't know why anyone would ever recommend them, they are the most worthless snails I've ever had in this hobby.

But I do love trochus snails.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

^difference between a hospital and qt tank! Right on. Ty for saying that.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Top crown snails are without a doubt the best snail I've come across.
D

 

[sixty_reefer]

Someone told @Lost in the Sauce he was wrong?!?

I’ll have some popcorn too please

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

New reefers should NOT be treating every fish they get imo. They'll end up killing more that way.

They should observe every fish for a set amount of time in a QT system and then treat it if necessary.

This is what I do personally...observe behavior and get them eating whatever it is you'll be feeding them

 

[FoolishWizard]

I think some people feel "starting" with dry rock means the tank will NEVER have all the beneficial bacteria as if started with live... Beneficial bacteria will come with every frag, every snail shell, every other thing added to the tank throughout its life. The beneficial bacteria will build but "starting" with dry doesnt need to be avoided.

Starting dry rock will just teach you from the start to slow tf down and be patient.

 

[EugeneVan]

I start my 210 gal reef with 95% dry rock in the DT and 5 % live rock placing inside the sump. I never had to go through the ugly stages and by 6 months into the maturing, I have SPS, LPS slowing going into the tank and they were doing great. You just have to know how to do it right at the begining. I used a lots of technical skills I used in my freshwater plant tank to avoid the unwant algae. I guess it work in saltwater too. Here are a few pictures of my SPS, LPS

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I think some people feel "starting" with dry rock means the tank will NEVER have all the beneficial bacteria as if started with live... Beneficial bacteria will come with every frag, every snail shell, every other thing added to the tank throughout its life. The beneficial bacteria will build but "starting" with dry doesnt need to be avoided.

Starting dry rock will just teach you from the start to slow tf down and be patient.

I see what you're saying and don't totally disagree but imevery time you introduce a frag or any small organism into the tank it will have to compete with other bacterial strains which are much more established

 

[kingoftheHiLLpeople]

Things new reefers should avoid:

Buying high-end (overpriced) equipment
Diving in with overly complex setups (you don't need a 5 compartment sump with 4 reactors bro)
Starting out with dry rock + bottled gimmicks
Running ULN systems
Skipping QT or observation setups
Buying from any LFS that says they don't run copper in their livestock tanks
Advice from reefers who tell you only the newest gear will work
Excessive water changes
Using one giant heater
Using tap water
Petting lionfish
Being unprepared for the inevitable failures that you'll experience as you learn/grow in the hobby.
Chasing pH
CUC (yes, they are not necessary and often a waste of money)
....I have lots more, but that's it for now.

Petting Lionfish still has me laughing haha

 

[EugeneVan]

I think some people feel "starting" with dry rock means the tank will NEVER have all the beneficial bacteria as if started with live... Beneficial bacteria will come with every frag, every snail shell, every other thing added to the tank throughout its life. The beneficial bacteria will build but "starting" with dry doesnt need to be avoided.

Starting dry rock will just teach you from the start to slow tf down and be patient.

Totally agree. This hobby is all about patient. If you change one thing with the tank doesn't matter it is the light, the flow, the chemical... you may not see the end result in 2 to 3 week later.

 

[mindme]

I see what you're saying and don't totally disagree but imevery time you introduce a frag or any small organism into the tank it will have to compete with other bacterial strains which are much more established

But are all bacteria things we actually need?

Is it biodiversity because more variety of bacteria is better, or is it biodiversity for the sake of biodiversity.

In other words, what are the goals we have for the bacteria in our tank? And can the bacteria in a bottle fulfill those roles? In my experience, they have been able to do so.

What goal or benefit does live rock provide beyond those goals? Especially since it requires accepting a hefty amount of risk.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

But are all bacteria things we actually need?

Is it biodiversity because more variety of bacteria is better, or is it biodiversity for the sake of biodiversity.

In other words, what are the goals we have for the bacteria in our tank? And can the bacteria in a bottle fulfill those roles? In my experience, they have been able to do so.

What goal or benefit does live rock provide beyond those goals? Especially since it requires accepting a hefty amount of risk.

Bacteria in a bottle for cycling typically consists of only nitrifying bacterial strains. Bacterial diversity is very important....From playing roles in intricate symbiotic relationships to participating in every geochemical cycle to helping to mitigate the spread of disease to serving as food sources and performing many more services I would say that biodiversity is very important.

Also, I don't see it quite as risky as you do.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Someone told @Lost in the Sauce he was wrong?!?

All I wanted to do today was bicker on forums but life keeps getting in the way.

Hold it down for me @ZoWhat

 

[mindme]

Bacteria in a bottle for cycling typically consists of only nitrifying bacterial strains. Bacterial diversity is very important....From playing roles in intricate symbiotic relationships to participating in every geochemical cycle to helping to mitigate the spread of disease to serving as food sources and performing many more services I would say that biodiversity is very important.

Also, I don't see it quite as risky as you do.

Ok, so what goals and roles are the bacteria providing that dry rock tanks are not getting?

I've never put a single piece of live rock in my 180g. I did not have an ugly stage, I do not have algae problems.

What am I missing in my tank by not having live rock?

I live in Florida and can pick up a piece of live rock in 30 minutes or less. What would be the benefit for me to do so?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Ok, so what goals and roles are the bacteria providing that dry rock tanks are not getting?

I've never put a single piece of live rock in my 180g. I did not have an ugly stage, I do not have algae problems.

What am I missing in my tank by not having live rock?

I live in Florida and can pick up a piece of live rock in 30 minutes or less. What would be the benefit for me to do so?

I don't know if you would physically notice anything or not but different microbes carry out different metabolic activities and play different roles in the environment some of which you probably don't even know about such as supporting your tank inhabitants' immune systems and helping them recover from ich or even just stress. I'd imagine there would be increased efficiency in the cycling of nutrients as well. But if you're satisfied with what you're getting now, don't let me change your mind...you do you.

 

[jmichaelh7]

Things new reefers should avoid:

Buying high-end (overpriced) equipment
Diving in with overly complex setups (you don't need a 5 compartment sump with 4 reactors bro)
Starting out with dry rock + bottled gimmicks
Running ULN systems
Skipping QT or observation setups
Buying from any LFS that says they don't run copper in their livestock tanks
Advice from reefers who tell you only the newest gear will work
Excessive water changes
Using one giant heater
Using tap water
Petting lionfish
Being unprepared for the inevitable failures that you'll experience as you learn/grow in the hobby.
Chasing pH
CUC (yes, they are not necessary and often a waste of money)
....I have lots more, but that's it for now.

Chasing pH!!!! Is big .

the expensive equipment is inevitable don’t u think ?

petting lion fish hahah

 

[mindme]

I don't know if you would physically notice anything or not but different microbes carry out different metabolic activities and play different roles in the environment some of which you probably don't even know about such as supporting your tank inhabitants' immune systems and helping them recover from ich or even just stress. I'd imagine there would be increased efficiency in the cycling of nutrients as well. But if you're satisfied with what you're getting now, don't let me change your mind...you do you.

Oh, I see. You're one of those people who doesn't realize Paul is full of it. Want to keep your tank running for 40+ years? Don't unplug it.

If there was a bacteria that ate ich or did that stuff, someone would isolate it, sell it in a bottle and get extremely rich.

Or if the people who sold live rock could actually prove such things, they would quickly use it for marketing their products.

If such a thing did exist, there would be probably little to no guarantee that you would even get that on your live rock. I've never since I've been in the hobby heard that keeping live rock means you won't get ich. I mean ich has been around for much longer than dry rock.

Ich management and immune systems are just about having healthy fish, it has nothing to do with dry or live rock. I do ich management in my 180g, all my fish are healthy and fine.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Oh, I see. You're one of those people who doesn't realize Paul is full of it. Want to keep your tank running for 40+ years? Don't unplug it.

If there was a bacteria that ate ich or did that stuff, someone would isolate it, sell it in a bottle and get extremely rich.

Or if the people who sold live rock could actually prove such things, they would quickly use it for marketing their products.

If such a thing did exist, there would be probably little to no guarantee that you would even get that on your live rock. I've never since I've been in the hobby heard that keeping live rock means you won't get ich. I mean ich has been around for much longer than dry rock.

Ich management and immune systems are just about having healthy fish, it has nothing to do with dry or live rock. I do ich management in my 180g, all my fish are healthy and fine.

I used ich simply as an example of something that makes a fish sick. I'm not claiming bacteria kill ich. Have you really never heard of probiotic bacteria that promote health though? That's some pretty basic science...