Noob Mistake

[PapaDragon]

So I was lucky enough to have all weekend to spend at Reefa-Palooza so I did. I’ve been out of the hobby for about three years and I started cycling my new 180g in January just so I would be ready for Reefa-Palooza. I even setup a coral QT tank for all the loot I was going to bring home. I created a spreadsheet with my must-haves so I could stay on track, and I printed the vendor map to make sure I hit all the booths. Everything went just as I planned, except for the raffle, until I got home.

The first thing I do when I get home is start temperature acclimating the corals. Then I get the salinity right. All that is left is to dip them and then in the QT. So I put all of them in the same dip bath together and set the timer.

I needed to take care of that awesome clown fish pair I picked up too so off I go.

I totally forget about the timer or the fact I put leathers in that bath with everything else. I get the fish going, and when I finally get back to the corals I notice the water is super cloudy. I know something bad happened. I immediately start rinsing the corals, but I can see that three of them don’t look so good. My pavona, pectinia, and frogspawn got nuked! The zoas took it on the chin no problem. The favia is a little dazed. The leathers are slimy and look fine.

That was Sunday night. Today I’m pretty sure the pectinia isn’t going to make it. The frogspawn and pavona may bounce back. I think the favia will be alright. I learned another lesson the hard way.

1. I should have never put them all in the same dip.
   
2. I should have paid attention to the timer
3. I should have planned the dipping process better

Such a noob mistake!

 

[Brad Miller]

Sorry to hear this brother....but.....
You’re right on all three learning points:)

 

[PapaDragon]

Sorry to hear this brother....but.....
You’re right on all three learning points:)

I spent two full days looking for that pectinia frag. That little guy is expensive. :(

 

[Salty Lemon]

I did the same thing when I dipped my corals for the first time. Sometimes the best way to learn is by making mistakes. I'm so sorry about your corals. I bet they were lovely. On a side note...I'm jealous you made it to RAP. :-)

 

[PapaDragon]

I did the same thing when I dipped my corals for the first time. Sometimes the best way to learn is by making mistakes. I'm so sorry about your corals. I bet they were lovely. On a side note...I'm jealous you made it to RAP. :)

It was crazy crowded, but so many corals it was hard to decide who to buy from. All the corals started looking the same. If you get the opportunity to go I highly recommend it.