What did I get myself into ?

[cwerner]

The lesson I've learned is....don't have cats at the same time. My wifes cats are always knocking all of my powerhead magnets off the tank and pulling out my filter floss. Now this morning they jumped on top of my tank and managed to submerge both of my Current USA R24 lights in the tank. Luckily it didn't kill all of my corals and fish, but that is an expensive morning.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

The lesson I've learned is....don't have cats at the same time. My wifes cats are always knocking all of my powerhead magnets off the tank and pulling out my filter floss. Now this morning they jumped on top of my tank and managed to submerge both of my Current USA R24 lights in the tank. Luckily it didn't kill all of my corals and fish, but that is an expensive morning.

you need a spray bottle with water. spray them whenever they go near the tank. worked for mine, now they sit and watch the pretty fish.

 

[cwerner]

you need a spray bottle with water. spray them whenever they go near the tank. worked for mine, now they sit and watch the pretty fish.

That works great....until I'm in bed for the night. Tank is in the living room.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

That works great....until I'm in bed for the night. Tank is in the living room.

they get the hint, usually end up leaving it alone. mines in my living room/dining room.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The lesson I've learned is....don't have cats at the same time. My wifes cats are always knocking all of my powerhead magnets off the tank and pulling out my filter floss. Now this morning they jumped on top of my tank and managed to submerge both of my Current USA R24 lights in the tank. Luckily it didn't kill all of my corals and fish, but that is an expensive morning.

Oh heck no !!!

 

[Reef2317]

My main regret was not having enough money to start with my dream tank. The changing and upgrading over the years has made it hard, and some LFS will sell just to sell, not sell to aid.

Reefing is a unique hobby and I really enjoy the experience of learning how to manage my little ocean and keep everything happy.

Except for an overly aggressive little male clown fish. My female is super chilled out but the moment my hands in his tank I'm chow lol

 

[Reef2317]

That works great....until I'm in bed for the night. Tank is in the living room.

How big is the tank you could make an egg crate box around it?

 

[snorklr]

had a new modular home built when we moved south...and realized there wasnt a single wall in it that was a good spot for a tank...so its in the attached garage...makes spilling water less traumatic though...in addition i didnt want to spend big bucks on a potential failure so started with a 30 , now have a 40B...and its frustrating because just about every fish i want needs a larger tank

 

[Reef2317]

That works great....until I'm in bed for the night. Tank is in the living room.

Or make the air around the tank irritating to the cat? My neighbour diffuses essential oils in water and spritzes around i suppose that might work around the base of the aquarium or get some citrus cleaner spray and wipe the cabinet.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Or make the air around the tank irritating to the cat? My neighbour diffuses essential oils in water and spritzes around i suppose that might work around the base of the aquarium or get some citrus cleaner spray and wipe the cabinet.

A HUGE no-no and is responsible for many tank crashes and water quality issues once it reaches the water atmospherically

 

[Reef2317]

A HUGE no-no and is responsible for many tank crashes and water quality issues once it reaches the water atmospherically

Allow me to clarify she does not own a tank she uses it to freshen her carpet and upholstery.

I was only suggesting that there a certain scents cats don't like and making use of them in anyway could be beneficial like put bundles of fresh peppermint or thyme around the tank it may be enough to deter them.

 

[Dom]

I don't regret getting into it, but one thing I didn't realize at first was how expensive the hobby can get haha

The hobby can get expensive, but it doesn't have to.

A lot of people run out and buy stuff whose jobs can easily be replicated with do-it-yourself approaches.

As an example, I could never wrap my head around a $500.00 roller mat system when you can get the same result with a 29cent piece of white felt in your media tray.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Well, I haven't been in the hobby as long as a lot of you, only about three years total time now. Started on a whim and a 29gal tank with very bad lfs advise. Went through a rough time before learning and putting together my current 75gal in a much better manner.
Besides the going slow mantra the one thing I wish I understood way back was that no two tanks are alike or will run the same. Every one of our little ecosystems are individual and run differently. It took me awhile to understand that what works for one tank may not work for yours, there's no "right away" to do things.
That and once your in your pretty much in for good, with all the money and time I've invested I don't see backing out

 

[Reef2317]

The hobby can get expensive, but it doesn't have to.

A lot of people run out and buy stuff whose jobs can easily be replicated with do-it-yourself approaches.

As an example, I could never wrap my head around a $500.00 roller mat system when you can get the same result with a 29cent piece of white felt in your media tray.

Quite literally just had this discussion with LFS.

 

[Reef2317]

Well, I haven't been in the hobby as long as a lot of you, only about three years total time now. Started on a whim and a 29gal tank with very bad lfs advise. Went through a rough time before learning and putting together my current 75gal in a much better manner.
Besides the going slow mantra the one thing I wish I understood way back was that no two tanks are alike or will run the same. Every one of our little ecosystems are individual and run differently. It took me awhile to understand that what works for one tank may not work for yours, there's no "right away" to do things.
That and once your in your pretty much in for good, with all the money and time I've invested I don't see backing out

Had that discussion with them as well numerous times, like when my tank didnt have a diatom bloom after the initial cycle, or the second or third cycle i put it through to make sure it was ready, or how my cheap $100 start up light wasn't good enough for my fish only tank, or my customised filtration would leave my water dirty etc.

A big thing I learnt is to ignore what people say should be happening or is "normal" and the assumption that you are doing everything wrong because your tank is different. Its your tank and if you care for it you know it better than anyone.

 

[Coinzmans Reef]

Agree on divorce while Not recommended.
Since divorce, I get what I want when i want without permission.

Sounds boring, I like playing the game of seeing how much I can get into the Mancave without here catching on.

 

[Rmckoy]

Sounds boring, I like playing the game of seeing how much I can get into the Mancave without here catching on.

Challenge accepted .

 

[Cichlid Dad]

A HUGE no-no and is responsible for many tank crashes and water quality issues once it reaches the water atmospherically

I was changing my filter socks last night and smelled this great fragrance. I stopped what I was doing and realized it was coming from the sock. I went to the laundry room and next to where I keep my socks was my wife's smell good beads she adds to the wash. Just being next to a open bottle transfered to my socks

 

[Reef2317]

I was changing my filter socks last night and smelled this great fragrance. I stopped what I was doing and realized it was coming from the sock. I went to the laundry room and next to where I keep my socks was my wife's smell good beads she adds to the wash. Just being next to a open bottle transfered to my socks

Good thing you realised

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Good thing you realised

Yes, very scary!