Big Mistake made and learned from

[r4rlee]

I set up my aquarium about a year and a half ago everything was doing good until I moved where I moved to the building was hotter and I noticed that I had a lot more evaporation so I will top off the tank with salt water not realizing that the water evaporates but not salt I was wondering why I was getting salt spikes until I was talking to somebody at my LFSO who then told me what I was doing wrong but by this time I had lost all my coral totalling about $2000 Canadian so if you’re new to the hobby please do not make the same mistake I did

 

[billyocean]

It's good to post mistakes like these. Sometimes most of us don't consider the basics when talking to people about reef keeping. I can totally see this as an oversight/mistake made by someone without this kind of information.

 

[Karen00]

Oh no. I am so sorry to hear of your loss! I didn't make this mistake but I could have. When I first joined this forum to do my research I was confused by what people were calling topoffs with freshwater. I couldn't quite wrap my head around it even after all my reading. I finally had to ask the question. Thank goodness for this forum because I would've done exactly what you did. I'm surprised you still didn't see the salinity rising even at your old location. Even minor topoffs with saltwater will creep up a lot over time.

 

[Mogwai]

I set up my aquarium about a year and a half ago everything was doing good until I moved where I moved to the building was hotter and I noticed that I had a lot more evaporation so I will top off the tank with salt water not realizing that the water evaporates but not salt I was wondering why I was getting salt spikes until I was talking to somebody at my LFSO who then told me what I was doing wrong but by this time I had lost all my coral totalling about $2000 Canadian so if you’re new to the hobby please do not make the same mistake I did

That is crushing news. Bright side, you'll crush it next go at it. Mistakes will definitely happen and learning from them makes it better next time around.

 

[Djordan719]

I set up my aquarium about a year and a half ago everything was doing good until I moved where I moved to the building was hotter and I noticed that I had a lot more evaporation so I will top off the tank with salt water not realizing that the water evaporates but not salt I was wondering why I was getting salt spikes until I was talking to somebody at my LFSO who then told me what I was doing wrong but by this time I had lost all my coral totalling about $2000 Canadian so if you’re new to the hobby please do not make the same mistake I did

Sorry that happened! That particular mistake didn’t happen to me, but I’ve made plenty in the last few years. Posts like yours are good to see and I hope that a new Reefer sees stuff like that so they don’t make the same mistakes

My biggest mistake (so far) is impulse buying without doing enough research. I would buy an expensive piece of equipment in the beginning that was either more than I needed, or too small for my needs. Also at my LFS I would see a cool fish or coral without taking the time to research reef compatibility or their specific habitat and dietary needs. I feel like I’ve learned from what I call my biggest mistake(s). I’m planning my next build, and I find myself thoroughly researching every aspect of it. I also spend time asking others for their opinions as well.

Good luck to you and keep reefin!

 

[Rmckoy]

These posts remind of of the mistakes that are so easy to make , just thinking we have salt water aquariums why are we putting freshwater in ! Makes sense ….

glad you finally caught it

 

[Kathy Floyd]

Sorry that happened! That particular mistake didn’t happen to me, but I’ve made plenty in the last few years. Posts like yours are good to see and I hope that a new Reefer sees stuff like that so they don’t make the same mistakes

My biggest mistake (so far) is impulse buying without doing enough research. I would buy an expensive piece of equipment in the beginning that was either more than I needed, or too small for my needs. Also at my LFS I would see a cool fish or coral without taking the time to research reef compatibility or their specific habitat and dietary needs. I feel like I’ve learned from what I call my biggest mistake(s). I’m planning my next build, and I find myself thoroughly researching every aspect of it. I also spend time asking others for their opinions as well.

Good luck to you and keep reefin!

This, this and this.

I think we all have done something without knowing. At least we learn(ed).