If you had it to do all over again......

[FL Knifemaker]

After almost a year in since setting up my 36, I've realized a few things.

1. OK, I can now successfully keep anemones. This is something that I could never do years ago. In the past 6 months I've had two grow to the point where I had to give them away. In the future my focus will be on corals, forget the amemones.

2. LR. Living close to TBS is cool but I will no longer pick the most wild looking, critter encrusted LR for my tanks. After 9 mos, the LR looks nothing like it did when I got it. Most everything that was there originally died off and other stuff took it's place. Go for barren LR it's much easier to deal with in the long run. Your better off choosing your own critters once everything is up and running.

3. From now on, I will do a much more thorough search for hitchhikers. Ocotos, Mantis Shrimp, Urchins and other pain in the butt critters have cost me alot in both time and money.

4. The tank..........Next one will be no expense spared. Starphire glass, built in overflows, etc, etc, etc. The cost of the tank itself is nothing compared to everything else in the system. Next time, no skimping

5. My nano............Never again will I go with acrylic. I don't know how you guy keep yours clean and scratch free but mine looks like CRAP after only 4 months. I will probably be swapping out my acrylic 18 for glass one ASAP. The tank is doing great, I just can't see what's going on inside!!

6. Buy good powerheads right from the begining. As far as I'm concerned there is only one power head and thats' Tunze.

7. Don't over stuff the tank. Things grow........slowly but they grow. It's better to have extra room than to need more room.

Lastly........Go with a tank double the size you are considering!! :dance:

Anyone else feel like sharing their reflections on this hobby of ours?????

 

[OrionGirl]

I'll expand point 4--same applies to a variety of equipment. I skimped on my first tank--lights, heaters, etc. No more!

Second: Plan the tank! All of the occupants! Nothing more annoying that realizing yes, you really will need better XXX to support that new coral, or that the fish you absolutely had to have won't work with your second most favorite pick. I didn't research enough initially, had to get a second tank for the non-reef safe fish. Not a problem, just takes up more space and money.

 

[Pterois2004]

Do over...

If I had a do-over, which is what I'm doing now the the 125g, I'd not pay $10/lb for live rock! In the new tank, I'm going with part non-live and part live.

I'm not buying "live sand" either.

I'm in complete agreement with Tunze and a good external pump (Iwaki is my new pump).

I will be patient and take my time buying equipment, because it will be cheaper in the long run.

 

[Mako]

1) Cycle the tank bare (glass and saltwater) with homemade PCV/powerhead/lavarock biofilter and ammonium chloride. Provides an incredible charge of bacteria, much higher than the "rotten shrimp" or live fish method.

2) Add live rock once cycled (leaving in filter, slowly removing media to keep the rock seeded with bacteria). This prevents any ammonia-sensitive rock critter from dying. Lots of things pop up that normally wouldn't. Filter eventually removed or reused in another tank.

3) Add inverts slower! No anemones for at least 6 months- they seem to like the infauna of a well established tank.

4) Keep a nice supply of dechlorinated/dechloramineanater(sp?). Don't do a water change with no pre-mixed water and then find out the hard way you have no Amquel+ and the lfs is closed.

 

[Rsquared333]

what is the cycling method you describe how does it work?