Community Help for New Aquarists: Input Needed!

i could not agree more.. people just want to have what they see on TV and then they question themselves why things keep dying on them. this one is very important.. i guess it falls into Research. a specific research topic that is.

magfloat
scraper
a CUC
thermometer
activated carbon ( mechanical filtration).
make sure to research the fish ( from tank size to compatibility to food, for example tangs 29G tanks).

 

Now the latest is:

Protein Skimmer
RO/DI Water
1-2 lbs Live Rock/Gallon
Sand Bed
Sump w/ 6-10x Tank Turnover/Hour
Flow Rate in Tank
Patience - No Impulse Buys, Take it Slow
Research and Ask Questions
Auto Top Off
Water Changes
Kalkwasser/Additive Drip
Strong Lighting (Reef Only)
Hydrometer/Refractometer
Quarantine Tank
Liquid Test Kits/Periodic Testing
Refugium
Clean Up Crew (CUC)
Quality Heater
Grounding Probe
Thermometer
Battery Operated Air Pump (for emergencies)
Validate Aquarium Doesn't Overflow During Power Outage
Good Acclimation Procedures
Appropriate Aquarium Cleaner (Mag-Float, Scraper - differs for Acrylic vs Glass)
Activated Carbon

 

I just started using a notebook. I never remember when i last replaced anything or how old any of my livestock is.

 

So the first set of results are in! We had 18 people respond to the list developed here.

Here is how the scoring works:

- Each person submitted their top 10 in priority order.
- I took each submitted top 10 list and gave the top priority item 10 points, the second 9 points, etc.
- I totalled up the points for each item and sorted them on that number

The results are below:




Note that there seem to be some fairly clear tiers.

- The top tier (most important) is made up of Research and Ask Questions, Patience, Live Rock and Protein Skimmer

- The second tier consists of related items, interestingly: Good Hydrometer/Refractometer, using RO/DI water, and doing water changes.

- The third tier is flow rate, lighting and good liquid test kits.

- The fourth tier is having a sand bed, good heater and clean up crew.

The rest seems to be basically noise, though you could argue for a fifth tier.

 

Thanks for posting this. Seems to be some trends. Hopefully this will help some newcomers.

 

More results are coming in so the chart will get updated again - likely tomorrow. Then over the weekend I'll do the overall write up and post as a new thread in the New to Hobby forum.

 

Here is the problem the way I see it.... I have been a member of various hobbies on various enthusiast forums over time. I have asked all the newbie questions... answered all the newbie questions... then tried to offer my hard earned experience to others.

In "my" experience... the common theme among all this is for new people to get on line and become experience members by asking a basic question and taking the first basic answer they get as gospel. Sorry, that is just the way I see it.

What can't be given away on line is that all those answers by experienced enthusiasts have years of experience and knowledge behind them. Mixed into that is personal preferences and special circumstances. It is incredibly hard to give a list of items to a newbie with a set schedule and a turn key operation and have standard good results come from it.

I'm not down on this thread at all... in fact this is another great example of an enthusiast taking time to help out the community. Bravo.

What I am saying is that information that you get on line without researching it and finding out why those answers are what they are. And after all that researching... years of it after all is said and done.... the only truth you will find is after you have tried and messed up on all of it you will earn your own experience of what actually works for you and your circumstances.

The web is an invaluable source of information.... there simply is no substitute for time and wisdom.

Research, research, research. Understand, then form your own opinion on what you want to do and why you are doing it. That is the only way I can guarantee good results from any endeavor.

 

1: Water stability- first and foremost, note: the key here is STABILITY, water changes help with this, but smaller tanks can be destroyed by a 50% water change- have care with water changes- no matter the tank size, more often then not, water changes simply create an avenue for even more problems- rememer, the ocean rarely changes- stability- it's a system of filtration and temperature, maintain your tank correctly- think about this- see line 3.

2: Lighting- depending upon the critters you decide to keep, it's the second most important quality to consider- and the most expensive, overall. Think about it- our sun allows for all the life we know upon our planet- this includes our oceans. Consider this when making a lighting purchase- it really is that important.

3: Skimmer/Filtration- very important- your critters live and die by this, and this is what allows for correct water quality- see line one. Temperature's- hot or cold- it must be kept stable- this greatly effects water quality, and critter health. Keep it stabel - keep them healthy.

Time and patience- time heals many things. Far to often instant results are desired, if you expect this, then your in the wrong hobi. Try to learn patience, learn from your hobbie, and then pass it on to others.

Tank size- no newbie should start with a small tank in saltwater aquaria, while this may be the present trend, it is not advisable - large tanks allow for minor mistakes- small tanks do not. (I advise a min. of 29 gallons to start out- and even that is small- IMHO)

Start with fish only at first (Fowlr) - learn about these first, then move on to coral, in this order:

Soft coral/LPS, then SPS, when you understand what it takes to keep them- you can graduate on to the rest.

Anemone's are for experienced reefers only, as are Elegance corals, by pass these until your tank is mature, lest I mention- clams: clam's can be hit and miss, but remebmer to choose accordinly, clams can be difficult to care for and have lighting requirements. (all of these require at least 6 months of stability) While the most desired- they can also be the most demanding. These critters require a little skill and considerable experience to keep correctly- this only comes with time and with experience.

Most of all- knowledge - understand the critters you are going to keep before hand, and even then, ask questions- in SW aquaria, nothing is set in stone.

 

^^^^^Yeah! What they said.8)



but I cant believe how protein skimming was voted top 3!
I mean its great! but its not of the top 3 most essential on THAT particular list. Actually it could be considered not essential because some people run a sucessful tank without a skimmer at all.


put it like this. If somone said you had to go without one of these 2 items for 5 days, which would it be? Skimmer or Heater? and heater isnt even top 5. Or even just leave a low quality heater in and leave on vaction for 5 days.
Or go without lighting for 20 days or no skimmer for 20 days? use tap water for 30 days or no skimmer for 30 days?

all those things are more important than skimming. imo
I dont know thats just me. I guess that why there called opinions.

 

I sent in 2 lists...one for general SW and one for Reefs. My list differed a lot between the two.