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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Feb 27, 2014 12:41:10 GMT -5
With all the colors and shapes that everything in our oceans come in, it may sound strange to some people that any of us would ever regret adding a certain coral, fish or invert to our beloved tanks. Think of this thread as a tool for new hobbyists to learn from. If you've ever regretted buying a certain animal for some reason, let us all know.
Here's some of what I've bought over the years and ended up wishing I'd have saved my money for something different. Some for obvious reasons.
Astraea snails, poor choice in snail. I've personally bought close to 500 of these snals over the years and guess what's happens to all of them.
Blue linckia sea stars, they almost always die within a few days to weeks after purchase unless your one of the hobbyists with the magical talent to keep one alive,
Flame scallops. They are filter feeders and most always end up in a small cave where they can't be target fed and die.
Green star polyps, face it they make a beautiful underwater lawn that likes to sting and grow over everything if they aren't controlled.
Byno sleeper and yellow headed sleeper gobies. They always liked to dust all my corals in sand.
Giant elephant ear mushroom. I loved this 12 inch diameter mushroom coral till I started loosing clownfish and chromis a few weeks after I bought it.
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Post by oceangirl2009 on Feb 27, 2014 13:05:16 GMT -5
Not being more careful with the live rock that I purchased at the beginning. I got some really dense pieces that you really can't do much with. I plan on removing these when I upgrade. I wish I had gone with the Marco Rock to begin with.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 27, 2014 13:17:58 GMT -5
Niger trigger- they're a crap shot at best for "reef safe"
Large carpet anemone- they'll eat anything they can grab when they're hungry. Including fish and even your hand if it gets to close! They're just sooooooo sticky it's unbelievable!
Smaller sized tank- I know to some a 75g with a 40g sump is a big tank but I truly wish I would of gotten a 220g or bigger right from the beginning.
Any equipment trying to save money- never skimp on equipment like your skimmer it's just not worth it.do it right in the first place and you'll actually save more money that way! Because 99% of the time if your skimping then the piece of equipment isn't going to do the job good enough and your gonna end up buying the better one anyways!
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Post by gotareef on Feb 27, 2014 13:27:18 GMT -5
for me, its not a regret if you learn from it. ive learned allot over the years  |
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Post by BriMc on Feb 27, 2014 13:44:37 GMT -5
This hobby is about making mistakes and learning. I have been doing salt since 86 and reefs since 88 and I still learn something new everyday. Regrets? We don't have enough storage space |
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Post by n00b- Ryan [Poland] on Feb 27, 2014 15:12:25 GMT -5
..I regret I didn't start this hobby when I was single  |
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Post by Pokahpolice on Feb 27, 2014 16:02:27 GMT -5
First tank, I regret getting some bad advise from a guy in Lewiston (still haven't ran into him since) about putting playground sand under my live sand. Playground sand is loaded with Silica...Diatoms eat Silica. My tank was so loaded with Diatoms that it looked like sewer water.
I regret my first Mandarin. One of my favorite fish and I shouldn't have bought because my tank wasn't established enough to keep him fed.
I regret selling my 65 gallon bullet tank
I regret building an LED fixture on my current set up rather than just buying one. Maybe that will change when I'm done.
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Post by Pokahpolice on Feb 27, 2014 16:05:27 GMT -5
Oh and last one. I regret being part of the problem with SWAM's downfall
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Feb 27, 2014 16:18:54 GMT -5
My biggest regret:xenia.
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Post by Hack157 on Feb 27, 2014 16:29:56 GMT -5
Initially I purchased a 55 gallon tank and stand. We got it all set up with some live rock and let it cycle. At first we added just two fish, a yellow tang and a valentini puffer. We used a hang off the back powered filter while I struggled to come with with a sump that fit in this narrow stand. I ended up cutting all the glass and building the sump inside the stand, which I can assure you is not a pleasant experience. But it all went together and did pass the water test. Then the big moment arrived and we started up the overflow and the sump and it seemed to be cooking. Little did I know how well it was cooking.
Sometimes you read about this subject until you are nearly blind, and then read some more. Well I read all there was about silicone before building my sump. I bought 100% silicone, but unfortunately 100% kitchen and bath is different than 100% door and window. Kitchen and bath has a mildewcide in it, and the next morning the entire tank had been nuked. Ultimately nothing survived, no fish, no corals, and none of the rock or sand could be used again. GE told me that the mildewcide can leech for up to 5 years from the rock. Although they never explained how 100% silicone can be any percent mildewcide.
Live and learn. Saving a couple bucks cost me plenty. Although on the plus side we did as a result end up with a 150 gallon tank and so far no real costly mistakes. Well maybe just one, putting fast growing Paly's on a showcase piece of Pukani rock wouldn't be something I would do twice.
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Post by gotareef on Feb 27, 2014 17:01:31 GMT -5
..I regret I didn't start this hobby when I was single if I would started this hobby when I was single I would still be single lol |
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Post by BriMc on Feb 27, 2014 18:32:35 GMT -5
My biggest regret would have to be, the first few years I started out in this hobby spending tons of money on the latest and greatest equipment and additives only to find out it either didn't work as claimed or was snake oil in a bottle.
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Post by scoobnoob on Feb 27, 2014 18:33:30 GMT -5
Not getting a Nano cube first and setting up a ridiculous 30xh for my first reef.
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Post by jmerr86 on Feb 27, 2014 19:49:51 GMT -5
Some days i regret all of it but what can i say thats all part of having a reef addiction
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Post by oceangirl2009 on Feb 27, 2014 23:29:04 GMT -5
I wish I had plumbed my system from the start. I was too nervous and inexperienced to drill my tank and had no clue about sumps. This is the main driver for my upgrade at this point.
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