Need someone to talk to...

[Eienna]

I'm feeling pretty down and need someone to talk to. I would have thought at this point I'd be past most coral-killing mistakes, but in the last two weeks I've killed one and possibly another (not sure yet) - and if I hadn't tested tonight I might have gone on vacation with 40ppm nitrate and have lost everything by the time I got back. I've been in the aquarium hobby for about three years...most of that time was freshwater, but seriously...I'm ashamed of myself and really upset about losing those corals.

 

[Dtech07]

I understand how your feeling i was like a serial killer to my corals and live stock for awhile and i have to say 5 key things or views that really helped me see things clearer and in the right light.
1) keep my hands out the tank unless totally necessary (was the hardest for me)
2) have High Water Quality
3) Stability
4) Husbandry
5) Listen to your tank and pay attention to whats its saying (meaning) certain corals or livestock will ALWAYS tell you FIRST and FASTEST that somethings not right. are we paying attention or just adding and glancing.

Once i put these 5 things into full practice my tank thrives and when there are signs that something is starting to happen i can always catch and be proactive and not reactive and i haven't lost something unless i wanted it to die (not arrogant just learned).
Hope this helps you some it was pearls of wisdom from a VERY established reefer here in the NW. Take care

 

[Eienna]

Thanks...
What bothers me most is that I basically know these things and still manage to screw it up somehow.

Should I be reefing at all? I looked at this little group of corals and said, okay, I'm done with the stupid mistakes, and these are going to do well. Now....I'm having some serious doubts.

 

[Dtech07]

i do understand i just lost a chalice that RTN over night that was 6x7" i don't know why but i was able to frag to 1x1" frags that are doing well but i have other chalices that are worth 1k and their fine. I just know that in our tanks there are always the unseen things that happen between corals and this can lead to death or damage and we have no clue. Thats why im a firm believer in fragging and have at lease two other people hold frags for me and placing frags in different locations in my tank. This is my backup A,B,and C plan and its works for two running. but im not the only person does this.
Also we are trying to keep a small piece of the ocean in our homes and to this day not even the worlds BEST scientist truly understand how it all truly works, then he we come without a PhD and try our best on figuring it all out in a 8-400 gallon tank. I think if you can keep your tank pretty clean and over 95% of everything alive you deserve a pat on the back and a Hi-Five.

 

[Eienna]

Yeah...maybe I should give myself a break. It just hurts when you try so hard to get things right and still are having to watch things die.

Thinking back, I never had a tank smaller than 29g, even for fresh water. Maybe this one's just too small for me. It's a 20 and things just happen too freaking fast.

 

[Eienna]

It's just now occurring to me that I still have a perfectly good 50g on the back porch....
Should I do it? Should I switch everything to the 50g? Maybe I can keep that more stable.

 

[Dtech07]

I had a good friend that got me started with a 75 main display and a 55 refugium and its has saved me more than I can say. So when I added a 34 solana to my collection it was easy because I had learned the 5 key very well.
But I learned that we can't be like Capt Ahab hunting the White Whale but more like Capt Kirk and enjoy the uncharted territory and stay away from the green women and men haha.

 

[Dtech07]

Plus you can use the 20gallon (of you choose to) as a sump or a 30gallon and have a 80 gallon. I just got a free 60gallon and I need a frag tank so I'm going to plumb it into my main system to increase total water volume. I figure that it will take a week or so to stabilize the complete system with little damage.
But in this hobby bigger is better.

 

[Eienna]

Apparently we also need Kirk's knack for getting back out of whatever trouble he's gotten himself into. And a fair bit of courage.

 

[Eienna]

Plus you can use the 20gallon (of you choose to) as a sump or a 30gallon and have a 80 gallon. I just got a free 60gallon and I need a frag tank so I'm going to plumb it into my main system to increase total water volume. I figure that it will take a week or so to stabilize the complete system with little damage.
But in this hobby bigger is better.

Hey, that's a great idea!
...I'd have to get a return pump...but that'd be nice! :D

 

[Dtech07]

That's what it takes plus not losing your joy and happiness for the hobby. It's found when we try and discover regardless of how long.

 

[Dtech07]

I use this on low price but its been running as my return pump for three years and no issues and very quite. Around $34-$45 on Amazon.

 

[Eienna]

I use this on low price but its been running as my return pump for three years and no issues and very quite. Around $34-$45 on Amazon.

Thanks!!

Umm....I'll need more sand...and a lid...I have some rock stashed away...

 

[Eienna]

Mom's gonna have a fit.

 

[Dtech07]

Oh oh it wasn't me haha

 

[Dtech07]

Oh yea and you can **** the rock for about 3-4 weeks to turn them from dead to live rock. That pump I showed you runs at 1000 GPH +\- the height. A good skimmer is a plus. Mine is rated for 300gallon but I have a very heavy stocked system. I just posted a video here on the site check it out. I will bump it real quick.

 

[Eienna]

I can what the rock?

Can't afford a skimmer...right now anyway...so I'll stuff the 20 with algae.

 

[Dtech07]

Cook the rock sorry about that spell check using tapatalk.

 

[Eienna]

Lol.
I'm trying really hard to save up for a 125 acrylic but so far nothing doing. That's frustrating too.

 

[Dtech07]

Well I know here where I'm at the best deals are always at summer beginning and summer end. Vacations and school start you can find the best deals.