Joeganja
2500 Club Member
Throughout the years I’ve come to believe there are certain things I’ve learned to do whether it’s a tip or a trick, DIY, Do’s and Don’ts, and lessons I’ve either been accustom to or have taught myself and to a extent shared with friends and peers who are in the same hobby. It’s always a learning curve which is what I love about this hobby but I try to make more consciousness decisions as the years progress.
I’m sure some of you have certain methods to the madness, tips, tricks, do’s, don’ts, and even certain things you would urge newcomers to the hobby to to be cautious of and even maybe things we take for granted now but in the beginning were a complete unknown to us.
I’d really like to have a thread where someone who’s maybe new to the hobby or even someone who’s been at it for years can pick up some neat tricks and learn what results in success for our aquariums. Maybe even that advice for someone who’s new who should know about maybe something to look out for like Ich at your local fish store or something as easy as asking your local fish store to feed the fish you’re interested in to see if it’s eating rather than taking it home and finding out.
Here are some of the things I maybe have picked up from others or done myself:
• I buy a 100 count pack of razor blades from Harbor Freight tools for roughly $5 and they last me years and I sometimes use them to clean the glass or cut a zoa (with safety of course).
• I also am one that uses super glue gel and I get mine from the local dollar store for a 2 pack for $1 and when I get to the checkout with 10 packs I get looked at funny.
•I also use a universal CPAP machine hose hooked up to a pump in a 20 gallon bucket to fill up my rodi water and top off my ATO reservoir with and it’s really flimsy and easy to use rather than tubing that tends to be more stiff and difficult to work with.
• I also for probably 10 years now used food grade safe containers by Cambro (purchased at my local Smart & Final) to either mix saltwater, move fish, maintenance, etc. because they are somewhat translucent, have graduations of liters and quarts. I don’t like using Home Depot or Lowe’s buckets because it may be difficult to see how well the salt has mixed or if I am dipping coral can’t put a flashlight behind the bucket and see what’s inside.
•I also use a very generic desk fan to cool my tank during the summer. My house typically gets anywhere from 79-85° (California
) and I like to keep my tank around 78-79° and a simple desk fan blowing across the tank is able to get it to that. Otherwise my tank would be for Discus.
I’m sure there are more things I do or have to share and when I come up with them I’ll post them.
I’m sure some of you have certain methods to the madness, tips, tricks, do’s, don’ts, and even certain things you would urge newcomers to the hobby to to be cautious of and even maybe things we take for granted now but in the beginning were a complete unknown to us.
I’d really like to have a thread where someone who’s maybe new to the hobby or even someone who’s been at it for years can pick up some neat tricks and learn what results in success for our aquariums. Maybe even that advice for someone who’s new who should know about maybe something to look out for like Ich at your local fish store or something as easy as asking your local fish store to feed the fish you’re interested in to see if it’s eating rather than taking it home and finding out.
Here are some of the things I maybe have picked up from others or done myself:
• I buy a 100 count pack of razor blades from Harbor Freight tools for roughly $5 and they last me years and I sometimes use them to clean the glass or cut a zoa (with safety of course).
• I also am one that uses super glue gel and I get mine from the local dollar store for a 2 pack for $1 and when I get to the checkout with 10 packs I get looked at funny.
•I also use a universal CPAP machine hose hooked up to a pump in a 20 gallon bucket to fill up my rodi water and top off my ATO reservoir with and it’s really flimsy and easy to use rather than tubing that tends to be more stiff and difficult to work with.
• I also for probably 10 years now used food grade safe containers by Cambro (purchased at my local Smart & Final) to either mix saltwater, move fish, maintenance, etc. because they are somewhat translucent, have graduations of liters and quarts. I don’t like using Home Depot or Lowe’s buckets because it may be difficult to see how well the salt has mixed or if I am dipping coral can’t put a flashlight behind the bucket and see what’s inside.
•I also use a very generic desk fan to cool my tank during the summer. My house typically gets anywhere from 79-85° (California
) and I like to keep my tank around 78-79° and a simple desk fan blowing across the tank is able to get it to that. Otherwise my tank would be for Discus.I’m sure there are more things I do or have to share and when I come up with them I’ll post them.
