What was your biggest mistake with your aquarium?

Discussion in '3reef Site Polls' started by Matt Rogers, Aug 16, 2009.

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What was your biggest mistake with your aquarium?

  1. Aquarium Size

    31 vote(s)
    18.6%

  2. Lighting

    33 vote(s)
    19.8%

  3. Filtration

    23 vote(s)
    13.8%

  4. Overstocking

    9 vote(s)
    5.4%

  5. Overfeeding

    14 vote(s)
    8.4%

  6. Other

    57 vote(s)
    34.1%
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  1. Sharkbate

    Sharkbate Coral Banded Shrimp

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2009
    Messages:
    359
    Location:
    West Palm Beach, Florida
    My biggest Mistake was jumping in head first 3 years ago with 0% knowledge or understanding .....and getting too many different opinions from 7 different LFS. Research, research research
     
    Sharkbate, Aug 17, 2009
    Sharkbate, Aug 17, 2009
    #51

    2. Click Here!

  2. JJK

    JJK Teardrop Maxima Clam

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2009
    Messages:
    845
    1) Basing my original buying decisions on a book that was written in 2002....stated that the latest and best lights to buy were PCs! All the money I wasted on PC bulbs and then upgrading....

    2) Not quarantining new arrivals - paying for it now.
     
    JJK, Aug 17, 2009
    JJK, Aug 17, 2009
    #52
  3. TritonsGarden

    TritonsGarden 3reef Sponsor

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2008
    Messages:
    541
    Location:
    Lawrenceburg, TN
    I put water in my aquarium and been broke ever since.

    Jack
     
    TritonsGarden, Aug 17, 2009
    TritonsGarden, Aug 17, 2009
    #53
  4. Iraf

    Iraf Snowflake Eel

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2008
    Messages:
    2,389
    Location:
    Tulsa, Ok
    My biggest mistake was buying a reef tank for home instead of just enjoying other peoples
     
    Iraf, Aug 17, 2009
    Iraf, Aug 17, 2009
    #54
  5. Willieo101587

    Willieo101587 Flamingo Tongue

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2006
    Messages:
    114
    Location:
    Chicago
    Thinking a $200 chiller rated for 30 gallons would impact the temperature of my 55 gallon tank. It didn't, and partially flooded my basement instead when a poorly-placed hose came loose.

    I didn't even need a chiller in the first place. Now it's just chillin' on a shelf somewhere.
     
    Willieo101587, Aug 17, 2009
    Willieo101587, Aug 17, 2009
    #55
  6. Dr.Fragenstein

    Dr.Fragenstein Panda Puffer

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    2,108
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    Green star polyps... Took over and already killed one of my favorite SPS colonies I grew from a .75" stick to a baseball in less than a year.
    Now I need to find a way to kill it...
     
    Dr.Fragenstein, Aug 17, 2009
    Dr.Fragenstein, Aug 17, 2009
    #56

    7. Click Here!

  7. salsalito25

    salsalito25 Stylophora

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2008
    Messages:
    979
    Location:
    Marengo, Ohio
    I did 2 NEWB wtf was i thinking problems.... First over stocked a 30gal tank with tangs... Yes tangs..... OMG....... How dumb was I.. Then the Next was once in my 70gal.. I had the stocking down like a champ.. But doseing Biionic.. was a new one to me... I did a calcium test.. it was low so i tried to keep doseing till my calcium was up to normal but... My tank turned cloudy white and the bionic stuck to the glass like glue....and made it worse....
     
    salsalito25, Aug 17, 2009
    salsalito25, Aug 17, 2009
    #57
  8. GuitarMan89

    GuitarMan89 Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2008
    Messages:
    5,736
    Location:
    Wilmington, DE
    My biggest mistake was buying cheap equipment first, I would have saved some money. My second biggest mistake was starting off with tap water.
     
    GuitarMan89, Aug 17, 2009
    GuitarMan89, Aug 17, 2009
    #58
  9. Dr.Fragenstein

    Dr.Fragenstein Panda Puffer

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    2,108
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    +1 I think I had 6 various PC fixtures around the house at one time!
     
    Dr.Fragenstein, Aug 17, 2009
    Dr.Fragenstein, Aug 17, 2009
    #59
  10. dorian

    dorian Feather Duster

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2009
    Messages:
    228
    Location:
    Le Micelles
    At my LFS the RO/DI H2O is DIY (...so at least I know what's going in, since I turn it off/on...) though I still take a SG sample before I do add salt or add to DT...

    What kills me since I work in research (molecular biology) is all the stinkin ddH2O (double DI) we have, I think in my lab we have over 100L+ in different quantity carboys of it. And the buffers...
     
    dorian, Aug 17, 2009
    dorian, Aug 17, 2009
    #60
    2 people like this.
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