REEF TANK MISTAKE

[Mixed Reefer]

Reef tank mistakes happen, let’s face it we’ve all been there. It’s inevitable at one point in this hobby we all will have an issue in our aquariums. This could be making quick changes faulty equipment under or overestimating quick tank cures. What are some mistakes or experiences you’ve made along the way? This could be equipment, live stock patience or whatever other disaster you created

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

I just dropped the locking nut for the UV lamp down into the housing, then as I was putting things back together, I forgot the O-ring and somehow the quartz sleeve slipped out of my hand and shattered at the bottom of the housing. Guessing I'll wait until tomorrow to replace the 8 t5's.

Oh and last February like a bonehead I spiked my salinity through the roof, killing 95% of my acros.

 

[MichaelJ]

Not buying a tester for everything..

 

[Drichards]

Biggest mistake I've made is joining all those Facebook groups when I first started out. Ask a question presenting a problem and get 1,000 answers in all different directions.
" to answer your question, it's probably"
- lighting
-P04
-to much flow
-N03 is high
-not enough flow
-silicates
-Stray voltage
Or
-Biome
-Clean up crew
-salt mix
-NO3 is low
-alk
-candles
-vaping
-good friday
-Friday the 13th
-Friday the movie

 

[MichaelJ]

Biggest mistake I've made is joining all those Facebook groups when I first started out. Ask a question presenting a problem and get 1,000 answers in all different directions.
" to answer your question, it's probably"
- lighting
-P04
-to much flow
-N03 is high
-not enough flow
-silicates
-Stray voltage
Or
-Biome
-Clean up crew
-salt mix
-NO3 is low
-alk
-candles
-vaping
-good friday
-Friday the 13th
-Friday the movie

 

[MichaelJ]

Biggest mistake I've made is joining all those Facebook groups when I first started out. Ask a question presenting a problem and get 1,000 answers in all different directions.
" to answer your question, it's probably"
- lighting
-P04
-to much flow
-N03 is high
-not enough flow
-silicates
-Stray voltage
Or
-Biome
-Clean up crew
-salt mix
-NO3 is low
-alk
-candles
-vaping
-good friday
-Friday the 13th
-Friday the movie

It was Friday the 13th! I’m telling ya! Lol. The movie

 

[theone]

My mistake was thinking those pallys will be cool in my tank.........10 years later I still can't get rid of all of them

 

[mandarin]

When i first started a reef tank I was battling green hair algae and did some research. I was using my parents well water and saw how bad that was and I was supposed to be using R/O-DI water and I knew the pet shop on my way home from work sold that so I stopped and bought 20g or R/O water did a 50% water change thinking in my head that R/O stands for REAL OCEAN WATER so i never put salt in it wiped out all my corals except the GSP of course……

 

[Mixed Reefer]

My mistake was thinking those pallys will be cool in my tank.........10 years later I still can't get rid of all of them

That’s one mistake I’m dealing with and definitely worth mentioning. Lol. Encrusting corals never again here

 

[dz6t]

Xenia, Xenia and Xenia.

 

[Chris.Reef]

Buying an eheim glass heater and having it break then nuke my whole tank. Also buying pincushion urchins.

 

[Pat02026]

Setting up a reef tank….. for the third time LOL

 

[thrillreefer]

Not quarantining anything… been lucky with fish but over the years I have battled: MEN (terrible but I beat them!), AEFW (hard to know whether beaten or just diminished); aiptasia (who hasn’t); colonial hydroids (thank you emerald crab), digitate hydroids (not that bad so far); bubble algae, GHA, Bryopsis, cladophoropsis, red/brown wire algae (H2O2 is your best ally against all!); brown jelly, and bacterial infections (antibiotics help!)

 

[Mike Lemming]

Currently dealing with Aptasia, ich and green hair algae. So much fun!

 

[kgstei]

Here are 2 big mistakes that happen a lot. Not having accurate and redundant temperature control Over the years I've seen a ton of tanks crash because of that. the other one is not having a backup generator for that rare occasion when powered goes out For a day orvtwo.

 

[Errol]

Overreacting to numbers.
Tank looked beautiful but numbers suggested there was a problem. Made adjustments. Corals died. Turns out the probes were off.