What’s your biggest regret in reefing?

[ReefJCB]

We’ve all been there. Done some bonehead move while setting up, poorly researched impulse buy, didn’t quarantine a fish with a disease, etc. I’m curious to find out what you would have done differently if you had one do over.

I’ve got 2:

1. I should have done way more research and planned my tank out better. Specifically equipment and plumbing in my sump. It’s a disaster that drives me crazy every time I’m doing maintenance.

2. I ordered a bottle of refractometer calibration fluid in the middle of the summer here in Arizona. Apparently it doesn’t ship well in heat and went bad. Took me a solid 4 months of salt way out of whack and things dying to figure it out.

 

[Ron Reefman]

You mean other than getting involved in this seriously addictive hobby?

Too many small screw ups to remember. But I do tend to learn from them.

 

[jstephens24]

buying tank first instead of looking at size requirement for the fish I wanted

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Buying really cheap aquarium equipment, all that money wasted, gone to the trash. Do your homework, homework, homework. ....bummer

 

[ReefJCB]

You mean other than getting involved in this seriously addictive hobby?

Too many small screw ups to remember. But I do tend to learn from them.

Haha that cartoon! Totally wish my stand was even just an inch or 2 shorter. Would make a world of difference for me.

 

[DarthSimon]

That it takes too much time away from my family.

 

[fermentedhiker]

Lack of patience. Planning a schedule of how the build is going to go in terms of livestock/coral additions and trying to fight to stick with that plan when the tank is telling you it needs you to wait :/

 

[windemerejack]

I didn't realise how much of my time it would take to run multiple tanks, that's why im planning a dream build and having it as my only tank and automated as much as possible.

 

[ReeferSteve]

That it takes too much time away from my family.

That sounds more like a job than a hobby. Might want to think about thinning out the tanks?

 

[KenRexford]

Waiting too long to upgrade myself. 17 years of saltwater. Only recently making any sense at all. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that I used a Seaclone protein skimmer! I quit compact fluorescent lighting because no one had bulbs. I remember not too long ago where the best red anywhere near my tank was the nitrate test kit with a gorgeous deep blood red hue. My 2-part was 1 part wondering why the fish were still alive and swimming and 1 part looking up algae on my rocks that no one had ever seen before.

 

[Han]

Not quarantining and losing a lot of fish

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Going cheap on test kits.

 

[AndyR83]

Not sticking to my guns when the wife and kids constantly want to add more and more fish to our various “heavily stocked” tanks.

 

[jordan10]

Rushing my rock work. And not glueing or securing my rocks together so ever now and then I have a tumble. And I have corals glueed and encrusted on them so it be to hard now. So just rushing

 

[PeaBrain]

I will have to spin this because I don't have any major regrets. But one thing I do NOT regret is buying used tank and stand. Very little benefit to a brand new tank unless you go custom.

 

[ReefJCB]

I will have to spin this because I don't have any major regrets. But one thing I do NOT regret is buying used tank and stand. Very little benefit to a brand new tank unless you go custom.

Saving money where you can is always a super good idea. I’ve recently started trading with local reefers for corals. Getting super high quality stuff for free/cheep.

I’m all for supporting local LFS, and even the reputable online vendors, but there’s something great about the relationship with local people in the hobby.

 

[Schnizzle]

Building a stand that doesn’t allow easy access to my refugium.

 

[waywardreefer]

Too fast...and/or buyers remorse on items that you didn't "really" want because it was a "good deal" and you "thought" you might use it later...only to not use it and lose money on a resale....research/save...take your time and buy once/cry once #staysalty