What are 3 things you wish someone had told you when you started....

ReefRondo · Jan 20, 2022

1. The upgrade is so much sooner than you think so plan your gear around a larger tank to begin with.
2. Opinions are like buttholes, everybody has one…find a tank you like the look of and by all means follow that reefers methods.
3. Take your time and quarantine. You can’t just throw 50 fish in a system on day 2 without some form of disaster which inevitably knocks you back in the hobby in general.

Sean Clark · Jan 20, 2022

bnord said:
Am a typical peri-Covid tank start-up - had tanks in the 80's (wonder how many of those are out there), so I was all ears to find out how to get up and running as fast as I could.
My DT is a mixed 180 Cade which started Sept 2020 and overall has done well, though like all of us have had learning pains/stumbles. And am lucky to have in a. town of 100K, 2 nice LFS's with great management and support.

But here are 3 things that I wish I knew as getting started and committed to the forever tank, and things I would like other beginners to consider/be reinforced, when starting

1. Adding Kalkwasser to your ATO reservoir is never a good idea - led to the closest thing I have had to a melt down and surprised that I didn't lose more with an All spike that of course happened while away for the weekend. Solution: Kamoers are cheap and easy
2. Pocillopora is NOT a good beginner SPS coral - it was indeed a pride and joy for my first SPS and first 6 months of growth. I now have 12 (+) colonies, some in the most undesirable places including the back glass, but are also pinging a nice Monti or two, and scraping them out seems only to spread them more. Solution: Just say no.
3. Zoas are great for a garden, but keep them off your lawn - Similar to above, but in this case, I planted them on a nice secluded rock, and looks great there, but the ones I placed on the hard scape to fill in the bare spots are a mistake
4 As a bonus Some tangs grow faster than others - that darling little Vlamingi that we added at the 2 month mark and who we fell in love with, and who has more personality than her cat, has grown so fast that we need to re-home him now (2 months ago really) before he hurts himself. Will miss him dearly Solution do your research apart from what the LFS staff tell you, and create a well thought out stocking plan

Wonder what yours are or what you would tell your 18 month younger self...

I see that number 3 has no solution... maybe I am reading into it too much. Or am I?

Fishy Jacket · Jan 20, 2022

I have been out of the hobby 20+ years and now getting back in. Back in the day set up 3 DTs over a dozen years. First fish only, second mixed with clowns laying eggs/hatching (tried, but no success keeping nubs alive), third really growing corals with side benefit of best looking fish. This time my relocation and house remodel has stretch my start to almost a year. I have used that time to plan and revise approach/equipment (many times). Should be going by summer.

My top 3:
1. Every time you set up a tank consider yourself new to the hobby. Knowhow is a filter to new ideas, not roadblock.
2. No substitute for planning. While there are many ways to succeed, the ones you will be happy with are limited.
3. Reminder from several R2R posts...water quality (input and control) and lighting are king.

Honorable mention: Going slow will save you time and money, plus reduce frustration.

N.Sreefer · Jan 20, 2022

1. Your freshwater knowledge DOES NOT transfer to reefkeeping its night and day.

2. Do not go cheap on lighting

3. RODI is not optional, even with clean source water when you have copper piping in your house

Honorable mentions: buy your test kits before you need them, salt varies in quality and some salts have elevated alk check your fresh mixed sw to see if its inline with where you want your parameters swings are not good. Damsels are the devil and aiptasia can sniff your tank out from the LFS and will follow you home....

Kayanarka · Jan 20, 2022

1. So
2. Much
3. Work

bnord · Jan 20, 2022

Sean Clark said:
I see that number 3 has no solution... maybe I am reading into it too much. Or am I?

you are right, meant to say, not just imply, keep a fence around the garden

Dburr1014 · Jan 20, 2022

ReefRondo said:
2. Opinions are like buttholes, everybody has one…find a tank you like the look of and by all means follow that reefers methods.

I like this, the rest of the story is "and everyone thinks everyone else's stinks!" lol so true.

1) quarantine
2) that pretty matting coral... It will grow everywhere and will be hard to get out!
3) you will get addicted once you figure it out.

LRT · Jan 20, 2022

1.)Importance of water quality (0tds) Your going to get out what you put in. This goes for husbandry as well.
2.) Locking in and maintaining basic params the pros handed down to us. Alk,cal,mag,ph,salt and temp.
3.) Patience and no slacking on the first 2. Its nearly impossible to fail if you cover first 2 rules to best of ability.

Other important notes. Heavy turnover through tank, includes top of water movement and skim heavy to remove everything that makes it back to sump for crystal clear water.
Feed your livestock and not your tank. Keep strict control of nutrients entering your system it makes it easier to export the system and allows Cuc to keep up with work and do the job intended.
Stay in control.

Mrmiles · Jan 20, 2022

1) Mature live rock
2) stability is king, so stop messing around with your parameters
3) keep it simple, lights, skimmer, flow, water Changes.

SteveMM62Reef · Jan 20, 2022

Put at least one other layer of finish on the stand with a high grade marine topside paint or varnish. Also flip your stand and soak the bottom with a clear finish, first coat, diluted 50/50 with thinner. Second coat full strength. Either build a containment tray in the bottom of your stand, or use a Rubber Shower Pan liner. Plan on a Flood, as you will get them, no matter how careful you are.

Nnavarro1982 · Jan 20, 2022

Make sure you maintain your light (watch for dirt and dust build up it can kill your light)

Don’t chase the numbers - do what works for your tank

nanos aren’t as hard as everyone makes them seem. A water change every 3-4 days really isn’t that bad.

be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes a day dedicated to your tank.

set the lighting schedule to when you’re going to be home to enjoy it - the fish and coral do not care what time it is as long as the schedule is constant.

wonroc · Jan 20, 2022

Dont listen to self made internet marine scientists

Reefing102 · Jan 20, 2022

1. Be aware of your resources. I’m not saying money or things like that, but just because some YouTuber or Pinterest board or instagram influencer says it can be done, doesn’t mean it should. Join a forum, get a general consensus from many people in the hobby not just “popular” people, and odds are you’ll make the right decision.
2. Not only use RODI water, but have spare on hand. You never know when you may need it or when you could help out a fellow reefer
3. You don’t have to buy everything the LFS says. Some LFS put tank packages together with profit in mind and not what you actually have to have. Research before hand and know what you need vs want vs total funds available.
Bonus: 4. This kind of ties in everything…if you don’t want to do all the work but still want the pride of a tank, hire someone to set it up and maintain it. Many quality LFS will do maintence as a side or main part of their business

MaxTremors · Jan 20, 2022

I don’t know if I can narrow it down to 3, but here goes:

1. Real live rock will make your tank mature faster, more stable, and more interesting.

2. When starting out, too much automation can hinder your education in managing a reef tank.

3. Quality LED lighting is worth the price. That said, you don’t have to buy high end, but underpowered strip lights and generic Amazon LED jobs, while many will grow corals, often have terrible spectrum, spread, intensity, and/or functionality. It’s better to get quality LEDs than to go cheap (cheap and quality aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive qualities, but they are for a lot of lights they are).

4. If you’re going to keep corals or anemones, you need to buy test kits first. Waiting to understand reef chemistry until after you have already purchased corals or anemones is unacceptable. Depending on your LFS to test your water is not viable. If you want to keep these animals, you need to learn how to keep them.

5. This kind of ties into the last one. Research all animals before purchasing them. Ensure that you can provide care before bringing them home. Aquatic animals are not disposable, not providing proper care is unethical the same way that not providing proper care to a dog would be.

6. Lastly, and I know some people will disagree, but don’t buy fish that are going to quickly outgrow your tank unless you have a concrete plan to upgrade (ie you already have the money, space, and realistic plan to upgrade), or have arranged a place to rehome the fish BEFORE you purchase the fish.

DopamineKata · Jan 20, 2022

YOYOYOReefer said:
1. Dont get an apex or a controller , terribly confusing for new reefers.

I keep hearing that line. They may be terribly confusing for new reefers that aren't tech savvy but they're going to be confusing to the non tech savvy no matter what their experience with reefing is.

Fishfreak2009 · Jan 20, 2022

1. QUARANTINE! This is often overlooked and while difficult for those with no patience, it will really help in the long run.

2. Don't buy what everyone suggests, within reason. Buy what you like and what gets you excited, so long as it will do ok with the rest of your livestock, and not outgrow your tank. If you like a tank with GSP, Xenia, leathers, and shrooms, then by all means keep them. If you like SPS, then plan your tank as an SPS tank. If you like butterflies and angels, then make a butterfly and angel tank, and keep whatever cheap corals they don't eat. Don't feel like you have to start with softies because you dont. It may be easier, but if you don't like them, then why start with them? Don't fall on the designer coral bandwagon. Keep what you find interesting or pretty, it doesn't need to be based solely on the latest instagram sensation.

3. Biodiversity helps make for a stable tank. If you aren't starting with liverock due to costs, pests, whatever your reasoning, try to introduce as much biodiversity as possible. Starting my tank with dry rock, I used bottled bacteria from 3 different companies, live PNS from Algaebarn, added tons of phyto, tons of different copepods (8 of the 5000+ count mixed species Algaebarn jars), a wide variety of cleaner crew, multiple types of coralline algae, 10 varieties of macroalgaes, live sponges, amphipods, live mysid shrimp, and have a WAY more stable tank as a result, and pretty much completely skipped the ugly stage.

X-37B · Jan 20, 2022

#1.Have the knowledge and understanding of what is involved with keeping a reef tank first.

#2 Have a plan before you start.

#3 Follow the plan and keep everthing stable and within the parameters you set.