Ever ask yourself "Why didn't I do that to start with"?

[Akwarius]

Where to begin...

Why didn't I get a quality light fixture from the start

Why didn't I buy a larger skimmer from the start

Why didn't I give away frags of my Scripps Rose Mille at some point so I could have gotten a frag back of it instead of being gone forever :(

As water drips to the floor... Why didn't I drill a safety drain

The list goes on and on and on... And for some reason I don't think it will ever end. Still wouldn't give it up though.

Im hearing a lot of this. People new to the hobby often fail to understand the importance of getting the right equipment.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

Im hearing a lot of this. People new to the hobby often fail to understand the importance of getting the right equipment.

I think it mostly the importance of being at sites like this where they can learn before they get started...Wish i would have done that!

 

[Akwarius]

I think it mostly the importance of being at sites like this where they can learn before they get started...Wish i would have done that!

I was one of the lucky ones. I lurked on the forums for three months before buying anything. Most of all I was just scared that i would screw something up.

 

[fergi138]

I also bought a cheap fixture when I first started. Bad move. Also check valves are a good idea on return lines as well so they don't back siphon into the sump and all over the floor. Did that also.

 

[Akwarius]

I also bought a cheap fixture when I first started. Bad move. Also check valves are a good idea on return lines as well so they don't back siphon into the sump and all over the floor. Did that also.

Or just make sure the sump can accomodate the water volume of the overflow and pipes. Water on the floor is no picnic.

 

[beaslbob]

I also bought a cheap fixture when I first started. Bad move. Also check valves are a good idea on return lines as well so they don't back siphon into the sump and all over the floor. Did that also.

even better drill anti-siphon holes above the water line to break the siphon. And throw away the check valves.

 

[Akwarius]

even better drill anti-siphon holes above the water line to break the siphon. And throw away the check valves.

Im not familiar with that trick. Could you post a link or post some pics?

 

[cdness]

Im hearing a lot of this. People new to the hobby often fail to understand the importance of getting the right equipment.

Unfortunately though no matter how much reading you do, there is always something you wish you would have done different... My largest DOH! moment though is not giving away frags when I had the chance :(

Check valves fail... drill the hole ;)

 

[beaslbob]

Im not familiar with that trick. Could you post a link or post some pics?

Actually therre are two things (at least ) you could do.

One is to simply have the ends of the return lines above the water line.

another is to drill small holes on the bottom of the return lines (best with rigid) pointing down so that when power goes out the lines sucks in air breaking the siphon.

 

[Akwarius]

Oh, I get it now. So when the tank is operating normally, does some of the water drip out of the small hole?

 

[beaslbob]

Oh, I get it now. So when the tank is operating normally, does some of the water drip out of the small hole?

Yep. Actually a little stream. Of course you have to clean them out each week because of salt creep.

 

[Akwarius]

Yep. Actually a little stream. Of course you have to clean them out each week because of salt creep.

What if you actually want your drain pipe to siphon. I have a "beananimal" setup. I dont know if youre familiar with it, but it requires one pipe to be a siphon.

 

[beaslbob]

What if you actually want your drain pipe to siphon. I have a "beananimal" setup. I dont know if youre familiar with it, but it requires one pipe to be a siphon.

This was for the return lines not the overflow/drain. With the return lines you want the power out siphon to be broken as fast as possible.

 

[Akwarius]

This was for the return lines not the overflow/drain. With the return lines you want the power out siphon to be broken as fast as possible.

lol that makes more sense.