Dumb things I have done

I have seen several posts where a new reefer (or sometimes even an experienced reefer) did something and they just wanted to kick themselves.

I thought it would be useful if we all opened up our hearts and told new people of some of the crazy mistakes we have made. I remember exactly how I felt when I first started. I was desperate to keep my pH at 450 and my Calcium level at 8.3. No wait, my pH should be 9-12 dKH and my calcium should be at......AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

I just wanted the new people to know that there is a LOT to learn when getting into this hobby and we have ALL been there.

Okay, here are some of the dumb things I've done:

I trusted the LFS implicitly and didn't do my own research prior to making several purchases.

I read that most critters cannot see when you shine a red light into the tank at night. I thought it would be cool to use a red light as a moon light because then I could see everything at night and they wouldn't even know it. Unfortunately, this color spectrum of light being on all night (combined with my overfeeding) created a huge batch of cyanobacteria.

I bought a Skilter because I didn't want to overskim my tank. I realized it wasn't working well so I made some modifications to it involving an air pump and and airstone and felt pretty clever.....then I found out that there were plans all over the internet and the exact same modification I made had been thought of before by lots of other people.

I researched the proper products to buy. After researching this product, I decided to buy something that my research indicated wasn't ideal but it was cheaper. Then after a few months, I went and bought what my research indicated I should have purchased in the first place. (I guess I decided I wanted to make this expensive hobby even more expensive).

Okay everyone.....you know you have stories. Sharing your war stories will help others greatly so open up.

 

Well the list would be to long if I sat down and thought about it.

When creating a FW fish only tank the water quality here is not great but not the worse stuff around I would use the over the counter additives to try and solve water issues and the more I added the worse the tank got and lets just say many fish later I USE NOT additives of any kind in my fresh water tanks. I use RO/DI water and since then I have had not problems and no deaths.

The fish and fry I have are very healthy now.
Try not to use to many additives in the FW tank.

 

OK there has been many but I will choose my Fav.
During a Tank leaking episode, I had pulled all my fish out of the tank and had all 7 in a 10G. That would be a tang, 3 Chromis, 2 Percs, and a Bicoloured Blenny.
I had been fighting an Ick outbreak and had been trying to get my fish out so I thought it would be an Ideal time to treat the fish with copper.
So I was smart in some aspects. I 1/2 dosed the 10G with copper. Then my Blenny jumped out of the tank. I stuck him back and he jumped again. I put him back and covered the tank.
The next morning the blenny was on the bottom gasping for air. So I quickly Posted on 3Reef and Craig came though. Blennies can not be treated with copper. So I had a 10G nano running at the time and I stuck him in there. With in minutes he was racing around and eating.
So I guess my Bad was not researching Copper treatments enough.
The good of this story. I have not had an Ick outbreak since. All the fish that were in that 10G are still doing very well.

 

I didn't have a clue blenny's couldn't be treated with copper. I'm glad your critters are doing good and I'm glad I found out this little tidbit of info on an internet board.

 

Great thread!

Most recently...

- getting these little black snails from G man that I didn't know anything about - start with 4 or 5, now I have about 200 - seriously! So I have started removing them, but I'll be amazed if I ever get them all.

- leaving my I.V. to drip fast to catch up on some previous slowness only to forget about it and over compensating big time and over filling the tank.

- knocked over my bottle of Joe's Juice causing a toxic mess around my computer and electric cords.

 

When firstsetting up my tank i tried to be clever and mount the outside overflow bow down below on top of the wet/dry so i could push the tank as far back next to the wall as possible.Didnt quite work as the flow comming down was too great and it would spill over.
I had to drain the 135 g of water and do it correcly. :-[
Glad it wasnt RO/DI ;D

 

:-[ :-[ :-[

Think I admitted this here quite a while ago...

When setting up 55 gal - filled tank, started cycle, but did not leave enough room between tank and wall for backpak skimmer...

of course, had to drain about everything out to move tank forward about an inch...

1st night with new tank, tied filter bag too close to top of sump...of course it overflowed and drained quite more then a few gallons on living room floor...should have heard "noise" from wife when she walked accross the soggy carpet that morning... (if you don't have a "screamer" - get one)

Lots more, but better left to the dustbin of history...

OmarD

 

A "Must" have for those of us inclined to the "dumber" side of existence...





The Screamer is a simple safety device that is great for use with aquariums or anywhere a water leak may occur. Strategically locating the prongs of the sensor in an area where water is most likely to puddle allows The Screamer to sound a loud warning signal when water is first detected.

Think it was Jason who first brought this device to my attention...

Has twice saved me much "unhappiness" in house.. :-[

Am sure can be found many places...$17.99 here:

https://www.aquatichouse.com/cart/8791.html

FWIW

OmarD

 

RE:

[quote author=Vektor link=board=Newbie;num=1086025721;start=0#0 date=05/31/04 at 10:48:40]I received my live rock yesterday. And while aquascaping I took out the power heads and heater. After I finally finished, I put the power heads back in and powered them up. I decided to sit back and enjoy the first major step my reef setup when I smelled something. Thinking I had plugged in both power heads I soon came to notice that the plug I thought was the power head was the heater. The heater melted the top of my Emperor 400. I pulled off the heater and threw in in the kitchen sink. My room filled with smoke. Now living in an apartment with a centralized fire system I was panicing. I ran so fast that Jessie Owens would be impressed to open all the windows. Luckily the alarm didn't go off. However, I am still trying to get that smell out of my room.

Any other stories out that that made you feel stupid so I can feel better about myself?[/quote]


OK Vector here is a list...yours is a good one!!! - :-[


Don't feel too bad, as you can see, we have all had similar "mishaps" - just add to your list of "Reef Adventures" -

"list" will grow over time - as it does for us all... ;D

(while can be kind of, "embarrasing" to some - :-[ - reporting such, a big help to keep others from repeating)...

Did you get your rock from Gulf View? - would love to see pic.

Good Luck & best wishes..

OmarD

 

Welp, never trust the weather. I had my tank on a 3rd floor room with a window air conditioner. It had not been turned on yet for the season - went on a 3 day camping trip....it got unseasonably hot....and with no a/c on, my entire tank got to well over 90 F. [smiley=anxious.gif]
All the inhabitants were dead or died soon thereafter.
[smiley=shocked2.gif] [smiley=stars.gif]
[smiley=cry2.gif] [smiley=bigcry.gif] [smiley=bigcry.gif]
That was about 6-7 years ago. I am just now, getting started again......**sigh***
Keep the air on when on vacation.......