Chenko
Community Member
These are in no particular order:
- If you want to enjoy the hobby, be prepared to spent almost every free (and not free) moment researching and learning. There are a lot of great resources. I usually spend at least 20-30 hours a week on it. In the first 6 months, it was probably around 40-60 hours a week. And there is still SOOOO much to learn.
- Very glad I went with a 5 foot aquarium right away.. no buyers remorse and no upgrade needs ... yet
- Love the CADE.. quality is outstanding!
- Only take photos with Orphek Extra Wide Coral Orange Lens, or everything comes out blue
- Not quiet at all - due to my plumbing to Fleece roller. But I got used to the noise, even though my number 1 priority originally was for it to be quiet... Go figure
- Don't go too big with heaters - circuit breakers/UPS might not be able to take it. Started with 2x600 .. Ended up with single 300 .. Another 300 for backup
- Get UV right away - don’t skimp on it… oversize it and don’t worry if you are getting lower flow ... no ich and no algae
- Bigger return pump is better .. Can always dial it down (started with Sicce SDC 7.0, switched to 9.0)
- Bigger protein skimmer - less often cup changes as well as MUCH higher PH (started with Tunze 9410, switched to 9430)
- Just assume you will need to dose .. And All-For-Reef is a lifesaver. I started out with BRS 2 part along with Tropic Marin A, C, K trace elements. I still use individual additives during weekly tests after water changes and only if needed. Usually only KH and Trace elements additions, because my salt Tropic Marin Pro has only 7 KH in it. However, Calcium and Magnensium are usually spot on!
- GFO in a reactor to keep phosphates down. And not any GFO … currently using HC BRS one
- Chemi-Pure Blue to keep water clean and help with phosphates ... like magic!
- Seachem PhoGuard is also great way to combat phosphates
- LARGE Brightwell Aquatics Xport NO3 bricks and PolyLab Genesis Rocks to keep bacteria, copepods AND not be dirty!!!! They also supposed to help fight nitrates. I started with 9 baskets of small media .. And am currently replacing it. Only 3 baskets left. A LOT cleaner and hence less nitrates/phosphates.
- Polyplab Genesis bacteria is a MUST for seeding the bricks… even later in the process. Wish I knew about it right away.
- Use Brightwell Aquatics ChaetoGro to combat the Tunze Algae Reactor stop growing chaeto effectively after a month or two.
- When you get magnetic frag racks, make sure the magnets are powerful.. Not all racks are created equal. So far my favorite are from Reefing Art! Can't recommend enough. I bought two other brands and stopped using them.
- When you get coral cutters, get different sizes, you will need them. Including 8" ones for ORA plugs … uggh!
- Have a plan for when you lose power. IT WILL HAPPEN!
- Have a mesh lid on… the one that came with CADE was very basic and I didn’t like it or use. After I lost some fish who jumped out, I ordered an awesome from Top Lid (HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM). Of course I lost my favorite McCosker's Wrasse before I got it.
- I overfeed. That’s not the best.. However, I pay with it with a LOTS of filtration and then then still fighting high phosphates and nitrates. I finally got the phosphates down (took me like 4-5 months to figure everything out). I am still fighting nitrates, but getting closer (finally in the 20s-30s).
- Mandarin is beautiful… but you need LOTS of copepods and they in turn in need phytos (Magikocean). Totally worth it though!
- Introducing multiple tangs from same family (yellow, sailfin and gem) was tough… especially when some were bigger and meaner… an acclimation box within the tank is a must. Highly recommend The SHU from Octo Aquatics!
- Even though I "chase" numbers, I ultimately do it more out of curiosity of trying to get there.. But don't go completely insane. The most important thing (as everyone says) is consistency and stability.
- No matter what anyone says, this is NOT a cheap hobby! Not even close. But very satisfying! When all the fish and corals are thriving, its an amazing feeling. Love waking up and seeing the tank and its inhabitants. I love talking to them and they don't talk back… better than a girlfriend/wife from that perspective Of course, when you make a mistake and a fish/coral/clam dies … it's sad.. But just gotta learn from it. Why did this happen (usually water quality/parameter)? And do better next time. Love it!
- REALLY REALLY REALLY need a frozen food autofeeder. Only one company who does it inD aquatics with their aF4 and they just got it shipping 6 months ago and it's hard to get one (I am waiting for next shipment).
- Love, love, love my Hydros controllers. I am very glad I went them. Great company and service. They are constantly introducing new "toys". Waiting for Maven for auto testing now.
- Thinking about doing Auto Water Change (AWC) … but dreading running water lines between my study with aquarium and the closet with water change station… but sure would be nice.
- Be patient … something I am learning in spades and I am not by nature a patient person. However, with aquarium you really don't have a choice. Starting with anything growing to ordering anything
- I probably would not go with Fiji Pink Sand now. It's too fine and easily gets on corals. And would go with real live sand to speed up the nitrogen cycle. Even though it was easy and painless with Nitrocycle and Turbostart 900 from AlgaeBarn.
- Use live Coralline Algae from AlgaeBarn early!!! Regret I waited almost a year.
- As you can tell I like AlgaeBarn. Good products and excellent service!
- And lastly, but definitely not least, a HUGE shout out to Adam at Petco in Needham, MA. He is a one man force of all knowledge for reef aquarium. Yes, Petco, and yes I put him against any other experts. I did a lot of cross-referencing from a lot of experts over the last year and he is a real deal. So if you are in the area and need help, he is your guy. I am happy to call him friend
