What’s the 1 thing you would do differently if you did it all again?

[Cpage101]

??

 

[Slombardi]

Buy the right equipment the first time. I end up spending more money replacing the cheaper sh** I got originally when I get the quality things later on.

 

[Cpage101]

Buy the right equipment the first time. I end up spending more money replacing the cheaper sh** I got originally when I get the quality things later on.

Agreed I would have started with a bigger tank too

 

[GobyWanKenobie]

Cemented or somehow tied my rockscape together. Every time I glue down a frag, it shakes a little. In my larger tank, my urchin squeezes into tight places in the back and causes a landslide.

 

[BiGGiePauls33]

Started with a giant tank

 

[PSU4ME]

I’d buy rock straight from the ocean, airport to airport, add to clean tank, add cuc and let it work for 3 months to sterilize before I added fish. Pyramids are built foundation up!

 

[Drichards]

I would have found this forum first, for livestock, advice and encouragement.

 

[Ptreef]

No anthelia. Constantly putting out fires

 

[scavdog]

I think I just did it: Set up a remote sump and plumb into the wall and have nothing under the tank to cause grief in the event of a flood. Also provide for future expansion.

 

[chadfish]

I would have started with a 48” tank. Probably a 90 or 120 gal. Also would have started with live rock from the ocean.

 

[scavdog]

I would have found this forum first, for livestock, advice and encouragement.

 

[Joker]

Buy the right equipment the first time. I end up spending more money replacing the cheaper sh** I got originally when I get the quality things later on.

I tell this to anyone looking into getting a reef. They always laugh at me and tell me I'm full of it. But when you been in the hobby as long as most of us here we know somethings about this hobby

 

[zajack]

I would get a wider tank. 18 inches wide does not give enough room for aquascape and flow.

 

[buddie]

Probably going to get this .

 

[Zirky]

Pretty much everything. But the biggest right now would be no anemone’s.

 

[Terry Martin]

So many things! Probably number one is no encrusting montis/chalices etc. In a mature tank they become incredibly difficult to keep from overgrowing valuable things and they occupy great rock space.
others: NO GREEN VENUS PALYS; learn something about flow before doing your rock work and where you'll place your power heads as the rockwork constrains this in important ways.
On the other hand, over the past year or two, my son and I have undertaken projects to restructure whole sections of the tank; move corals and rockwork; remove zoas and even 95% of green venus palys so you can do more with a mature crowded tank than I had thought.

 

[afboundguy]

Don't try and cheap out in order to get more overall stuff. Every time it costs more in the long run. Do it right the first time and spend the extra money up front...

 

[FREAKINRICAN69]

All the above mentioned and tons of patience. Nothing good happens fast! Take it slow & steady!

 

[highfive52]

Buy three houses. Collect rent pass go.

 

[pugz508]

Don't "take a break" from the hobby and sell everything just to buy it back three times lol.