What did you learn in 2014?

[JOKER]

I learned a lot, some hard lessons and some easy ones. The best lesson I learned was stability is the key!!!!! There is never any guarantees in this hobby but hard work pays off.

 

[McAllyn]

1. use the right silicon...

Mac

 

[bknapp]

I learned a lot, some hard lessons and some easy ones. The best lesson I learned was stability is the key!!!!! There is never any guarantees in this hobby but hard work pays off.

This.

Patience is important as well.

 

[fishdoc11]

I learned that after 13 years of reefing I couldn't go more than a year without a tank :)

 

[JOKER]

The wrong silicone definitely BAD!! Patience is good one too. I had a coral I thought was a goner and decided oh well it isn't hurting anything so I left it and it is now coloring up nicely. I will say that LED lights take some knowledge and tuning to get everything happy. Fishdoc I had just about decided I was going to get out of the hobby a few months back but then I realized it wasn't going to be easy.lol. Now I am planning and buying stuff for the LARGE build coming soon!!!! Just got in 56 lbs of brs pukani today and have 52 lbs of the shelf from them as well. Now just a few more orders of rock.lol

 

[Tahoe61]

I learned that after 13 years of reefing I couldn't go more than a year without a tank :)

I went 11 months in 2014, not good. Now I am mucho better with a new build and learning a few new tricks.

 

[Dowtish]

I learned once your tank is set up the way you want it you can get away with only testing 2 times the whole year.

Do I suggest doing this? Absolutely not, but it happened...

 

[NeveSSL]

I learned that after 13 years of reefing I couldn't go more than a year without a tank :)

Haha! That is quite funny, Chris. :)

The wrong silicone definitely BAD!! Patience is good one too. I had a coral I thought was a goner and decided oh well it isn't hurting anything so I left it and it is now coloring up nicely. I will say that LED lights take some knowledge and tuning to get everything happy. Fishdoc I had just about decided I was going to get out of the hobby a few months back but then I realized it wasn't going to be easy.lol. Now I am planning and buying stuff for the LARGE build coming soon!!!! Just got in 56 lbs of brs pukani today and have 52 lbs of the shelf from them as well. Now just a few more orders of rock.lol

Well now you have our attention. :) Any details?

I learned once your tank is set up the way you want it you can get away with only testing 2 times the whole year.

Do I suggest doing this? Absolutely not, but it happened...

Ha! That is funny. But you know, if something was off, you wouldn't have needed a test kit to tell you, anyway.

For me, this year was feeding my biopellets and feed them consistently. I know we have all talked about this, and I've been a big proponent of it, but I didn't know how much I wasn't feeding. Once I got my automatic feeder going (and feeding 3 times a day), my tank has improved drastically in quality. I should have known. :)

Brandon

 

[JOKER]

Haha! That is quite funny, Chris. :)



Well now you have our attention. :) Any details?

I will say it is going to have little over 200# of rock and a 100 gallon sump. 7' long 2' wide and 25" tall, using dry rock pukani and shelf from brs complete custom peninsula style. Large skimmer and ats. Still hadn't decided if going to run pellets or just run a remote dsb. Got the plans and planning a metal stand which I think I will build and just skin it and have a cabinet above and to the side.

 

[Triggreef]

There's not much you really need to dose in terms of trace elements that are so mass marketed. Even in a heavy stocked tank. The bigger worry should be those elements building up over time.

 

[roadrashpaul]

1. Stability is important
2. You need to dose alk and calc even if your test don't show calc being used
3. Water changes are more important than I thought
4. Water changes are a pain in the ***
5. A brittle star will eat soft coral that has fallen on the sand bed
6. ATS work very well after your nitrates get lowered and they grow tons of pods for your mandarin

 

[JOKER]

Paul I made my water change simple with a pump and a hose. I also do small water changes rather than big ones, makes it less trouble and quicker.

 

[NeveSSL]

Haha! That is quite funny, Chris. :)



Well now you have our attention. :) Any details?

I will say it is going to have little over 200# of rock and a 100 gallon sump. 7' long 2' wide and 25" tall, using dry rock pukani and shelf from brs complete custom peninsula style. Large skimmer and ats. Still hadn't decided if going to run pellets or just run a remote dsb. Got the plans and planning a metal stand which I think I will build and just skin it and have a cabinet above and to the side.

Nice! That sounds awesome.

Brandon

 

[pelagic]

I've learned

1. Low Phosphate doesn't mean nitrate is low as well
2. Nitrate can be absorbed by the live rocks, and the nitrate can be released later
3. Algae scrubber is probably the cheapest and the one of the best way to take care of the water.. BUT you need to DIY it! lol
4. don't ever stop water change for 6 months again! lol

 

[6272862829]

I've learned

1. Low Phosphate doesn't mean nitrate is low as well
2. Nitrate can be absorbed by the live rocks, and the nitrate can be released later
3. Algae scrubber is probably the cheapest and the one of the best way to take care of the water.. BUT you need to DIY it! lol
4. don't ever stop water change for 6 months again! lol

You don't have to DIY it I have an L4 turbo aquatics algae scrubber ready for ya.

 

[6272862829]

I learn that the magic number on water changes is 30% each month as per Randy Holmes Farley

 

[ibbennyb]

there is no such thing as a tank that is "big enough" to satisfy me....or my fish.... and never enough room for corals no matter how big you go...

 

[roadrashpaul]

I learn that the magic number on water changes is 30% each month as per Randy Holmes Farley

30% over the month total or 30% single change once a month?

 

[bknapp]

I've learned that developing a plan, sticking to that plan and being patient and consistent with that plan are the best things you can do.

 

[bknapp]

I learn that the magic number on water changes is 30% each month as per Randy Holmes Farley

I personally don't think that there is a "magical" amount of water changes, I think consistency with the size and frequency of water changes is more important. Especially with the advances in filtration (pellets, ATS, better skimmers.)