What is a common mistake you see people make in a hobby that isn't talked about enough?

[Gumbies R Us]

(remember we can all agree to disagree here, lets keep the conversations within TOS). I am curious to see what you as a community think are some common mistakes both new and veterans of the hobby make but aren't talked about enough. Maybe it is a form of testing the water in your tank, or maybe it is the way to acclimate a new inhabitant. Let's see those common mistakes!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Making things more difficult than they are.

 

[Rhetoric]

I'm going to say it:

Upgrading tanks.

If your tank is full of 1 inch frags, let it grow!

Your wallet (and partner) will thank me.

Learn to control the collector-itz

 

[AmateurAlchemist]

Changing too much too quickly, usually while ignoring the basics.

Making changes based on what the internet says vs what the tank says.

Using strong chemicals as a first line of defence.

 

[rtparty]

Recommending no water changes.

Sure, if you’re a vet with vast amounts of experience and understand all the little nuances, go ahead and stop them if you want.

But 99% of the time we have no idea who we are talking to on the other end and telling someone who is 2 months into their tank to stop water changes is extremely dangerous and just poor advice.

Don’t forget, a large amount of people read our replies and never interact. They’ll use advice as confirmation bias when needed.

 

[Featherweight]

Caring too much about what a par meter has to say

 

[mainzerin72]

Changing too much too quickly, usually while ignoring the basics.

Making changes based on what the internet says vs what the tank says.

Treating strong chemicals as a long term fix.

 

[EliMelly]

I think going in without a plan and expecting to somehow beat the system. Water changes work. Find a method that is simple and works and just go with it and stay consistent.

 

[carri10]

When doing the research, mixing opinion with fact. Linked to this is not understanding how complicated tanks are and taking advice from someone who has a completely different tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Believing and buying what an lfs says will solve their problem.

 

[KrisReef]

New folks who see all the pretty pictures but don’t understand photography or how much effort it takes to keep the glass looking spotless.

 

[tigre44]

Danger of electrical fire

 

[santeeeyyy]

Recommending no water changes.

Sure, if you’re a vet with vast amounts of experience and understand all the little nuances, go ahead and stop them if you want.

But 99% of the time we have no idea who we are talking to on the other end and telling someone who is 2 months into their tank to stop water changes is extremely dangerous and just poor advice.

Don’t forget, a large amount of people read our replies and never interact. They’ll use advice as confirmation bias when needed.

I think im gonna stop doing bi weekly water changes, tank is about a year and a half and do a water change once every two weeks

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Asking a question seeking reassurance for your already made decisions and arguing when told it's not a good idea or you shouldn't do that. Small tanks and large fish for example.

 

[JayM]

Drip acclimating shipped livestock.

 

[magallonbuckinbulls]

Not having patience and always looking for the shortcuts. Not planing and doing the sufficient research beforehand , thus killing critters in the process.

 

[PharmrJohn]

I've got two of them. Both related loosely.

1.) Not studying BEFORE you start. I've seen too many times where a tank is started up without even a basic understanding on cycling. I actually did this a few decades ago. I was behind the 8-ball for months. This time I am taking a full 18 months to reacquaint myself before pulling the trigger. Admittedly, 9 of those months are situational, but y'all get the idea.

2.) Not starting out with immediate, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and one year goals. From the beginning, it is helpful to have a plan of action for the tank above and beyond just keeping it alive in the short term.

This is a complicated hobby with complicated issues that come at you suddenly. Not being armed with a decent knowledge base is a recipe for failure.

 

[JonoH]

Checking parameters too much...then panicking and over-reacting when one reads too high.

 

[ejsanchez92399]

Yes, No Patience and Rushing doing things!

 

[smitten with ocean life]

buying premade water from the fish store.