Some hard lessons (some that I have personally learned) - to hopefully save other newbies some grief.
* When using any medications or additives, always research and measure properly. Even if someone gives you instructions, they may assume you know some things that you don't yet.
* Corals can sting and kill each other, when acclimating or placing new corals, do not toss them all together.
* Never put your hands in the tank without gloves. Scratches get infected and fingers get lost.
* Do not feed fish right before bagging/bucketing them. Fish poop. Poop kills.
* Even the nicest people can give you bugs/pests/etc. Don't add anything into your tank without quarantining and testing first. Not even Chaeto.
* The coolest looking stuff always comes with a catch... research before you buy. If you are a hopeless impulse buyer, keep a reference book with you (in your car, purse, etc).
* Salespeople lie.
If I have left out some hard lessons that you know of - please share.
* When using any medications or additives, always research and measure properly. Even if someone gives you instructions, they may assume you know some things that you don't yet.
* Corals can sting and kill each other, when acclimating or placing new corals, do not toss them all together.
* Never put your hands in the tank without gloves. Scratches get infected and fingers get lost.
* Do not feed fish right before bagging/bucketing them. Fish poop. Poop kills.
* Even the nicest people can give you bugs/pests/etc. Don't add anything into your tank without quarantining and testing first. Not even Chaeto.
* The coolest looking stuff always comes with a catch... research before you buy. If you are a hopeless impulse buyer, keep a reference book with you (in your car, purse, etc).
* Salespeople lie.
If I have left out some hard lessons that you know of - please share.
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