beginner beliefs that are subject to change...

Sk8r · 02/28/2008, 10:44 AM

1. you can train fish not to fight each other
2. water conditioner will fix bad tap water
3. corals are harder than fish
4. you don't need a sump
5. you don't need a skimmer
6. you don't need ro/di
7. you can start with a little live rock and add more later
8. you have to start with live sand
9. you need a filter
10. quarantining? I don't need no stinking quarantine.

epstein · 02/28/2008, 10:50 AM

11.Tank remedies are ok, and wont affect other things

Sk8r · 02/28/2008, 10:53 AM

12. if you have a problem growth/bloom of something, buy a critter to eat it.

davew0670 · 02/28/2008, 10:53 AM

4. you don't need a sump

not so sure about this one.

Shooter7 · 02/28/2008, 10:54 AM

13. Flow is an optional luxury that can be added at some point months down the line.

notabun · 02/28/2008, 10:55 AM

Yeah, don't agree with #4. Know lots of sumpless aquariums that thrive.

killagoby · 02/28/2008, 10:57 AM

Sure. These PC lights will support clams and SPS in a tank that deep...

(Because that LFS does not sell MH's or T5's. lol)

slapshot16 · 02/28/2008, 10:59 AM

#11. I doubt I will have any corals.

(Skimmer upgrade and light upgrade follows shortly).

Sk8r · 02/28/2008, 11:00 AM

Beginners who start with nano tanks can live without a sump, and all-in-ones if properly handled can get along quite nicely---by properly handled, I mean 'not pushed' by asking too much of it. But if I had a dollar for every beginner whose first tank ended up BEING the sump in fairly short order, I'd own a yacht.
I've run as large as a 30g salt tank with no sump and no skimmer: algae was rife, but it ran---it looked a lot like a refugium with fish. Larger than that with no sump is an increasing problem, especially with fish, because your tank size outpaces any HOB skimmer, and THAT gets to be a problem.

davew0670 · 02/28/2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by slapshot16
#11. I doubt I will have any corals.

(Skimmer upgrade and light upgrade follows shortly).

ccampo · 02/28/2008, 11:02 AM

15. You can mix all kind of fish in the tank just like in the ocean.

epstein · 02/28/2008, 11:03 AM

16.Hands in my tank arent bad......for me or my tank

gws76 · 02/28/2008, 11:04 AM

15. Everything the LFS tells you is without a doubt accurate, and you should follow it religiously!

davew0670 · 02/28/2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gws76
15. Everything the LFS tells you is without a doubt accurate, and you should follow it religiously!

I wish...then my ich breakout would completely cured...in 21 days

Aquarist007 · 02/28/2008, 11:06 AM

16. bioballs never cause problems--why should I change them

17. I trust my LFS--they have been good to me

dsn112 · 02/28/2008, 11:07 AM

14:I will never spend $500 on one piece of equipment, thats crazy.

gws76 · 02/28/2008, 11:08 AM

Wooo!! Sk8r, you have made it to 13000 posts! The seas will part for you.

rfdoc · 02/28/2008, 11:28 AM

18. If I listen to evertyhing Sk8r says (or any one person in particular - no offense Sk8r) he/she will have all the answers I need.

Sk8r · 02/28/2008, 11:46 AM

Lol, rfdoc, if I personally had all the answers I'd have a tank of the month, and mine is far from that. All I hope to do is get people to THINK about their choices. Seas will part...hmm. Have to try that one.

Cope · 02/28/2008, 11:58 AM

#7you can start with a little live rock and add more later.

I add/ remove rock all the time? I know if you add a lot it will cause a cycle, bet to add it slow is just how I started? I think I had one rock the size of a baseball in my 100. (@Ten years ago) Now it's full of rock.
Did I do something wrong?

Sk8r · 02/28/2008, 12:12 PM

No, re the rock, cope. The problem lies in thinking that you can get adequate filtration from a few little rocks. I add and subtract rocks, keep extras in my fuge, all ok. The main thing is---start with enough. You didn't push your tank hard, or there were other factors that kept you alive. Plus---you can start with one live rock and a bunch of dead rock, and after about 8 weeks you'll have a lot of live rock, if you treat your tank nicely.

an411 · 02/28/2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by epstein
16.Hands in my tank arent bad......for me or my tank

What is wrong with putting your hands in the tank?

Pulp Fishin · 02/28/2008, 12:16 PM

I love this list!

NewFish3 · 02/28/2008, 12:23 PM

OH MY GOD...... Iam new at this.....but I have been through all of these things & all so true...........LMAO

Please STOP...............I gotta pee.......lol lol lol

davew0670 · 02/28/2008, 12:25 PM

yeah...

and so much for my fish training school I was about to start.

02/28/2008, 10:50 AM	#2
epstein Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC transplant now in CT Posts: 1,501	11.Tank remedies are ok, and wont affect other things __________________ I'd Rather be a failure at something I love , Than a sucess at something I hate . George Burns Current Tank Info: 150 DD Cube / 100 Gal Sump(basement) 30gal cube frag tank plumb Panworld 250ps return/ Reef Octopus SRO3000 Skimmer/ Bubble Magus Doser/Lumenmax reflector with 400 watt Radium bulb Ice Cap Ballast Apex Controller 2 MP40wes 2 gyre 150

02/28/2008, 10:53 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	12. if you have a problem growth/bloom of something, buy a critter to eat it. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/28/2008, 10:54 AM	#5
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	13. Flow is an optional luxury that can be added at some point months down the line. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

02/28/2008, 11:00 AM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Beginners who start with nano tanks can live without a sump, and all-in-ones if properly handled can get along quite nicely---by properly handled, I mean 'not pushed' by asking too much of it. But if I had a dollar for every beginner whose first tank ended up BEING the sump in fairly short order, I'd own a yacht. I've run as large as a 30g salt tank with no sump and no skimmer: algae was rife, but it ran---it looked a lot like a refugium with fish. Larger than that with no sump is an increasing problem, especially with fish, because your tank size outpaces any HOB skimmer, and THAT gets to be a problem. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/28/2008, 11:03 AM	#12
epstein Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NYC transplant now in CT Posts: 1,501	16.Hands in my tank arent bad......for me or my tank __________________ I'd Rather be a failure at something I love , Than a sucess at something I hate . George Burns Current Tank Info: 150 DD Cube / 100 Gal Sump(basement) 30gal cube frag tank plumb Panworld 250ps return/ Reef Octopus SRO3000 Skimmer/ Bubble Magus Doser/Lumenmax reflector with 400 watt Radium bulb Ice Cap Ballast Apex Controller 2 MP40wes 2 gyre 150

02/28/2008, 10:44 AM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	beginner beliefs that are subject to change... 1. you can train fish not to fight each other 2. water conditioner will fix bad tap water 3. corals are harder than fish 4. you don't need a sump 5. you don't need a skimmer 6. you don't need ro/di 7. you can start with a little live rock and add more later 8. you have to start with live sand 9. you need a filter 10. quarantining? I don't need no stinking quarantine. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/28/2008, 10:53 AM	#4
davew0670 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 309	4. you don't need a sump not so sure about this one.

02/28/2008, 10:55 AM	#6
notabun Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MI Posts: 131	Yeah, don't agree with #4. Know lots of sumpless aquariums that thrive.

02/28/2008, 10:57 AM	#7
killagoby Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Monroe, NJ Posts: 2,150	Sure. These PC lights will support clams and SPS in a tank that deep... (Because that LFS does not sell MH's or T5's. lol) __________________ How much money did you spend on that rock again?

02/28/2008, 10:59 AM	#8
slapshot16 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 341	#11. I doubt I will have any corals. (Skimmer upgrade and light upgrade follows shortly).

02/28/2008, 11:02 AM	#11
ccampo ORCA Web***** Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 588	15. You can mix all kind of fish in the tank just like in the ocean. __________________ good luck, Cesar ---------------------------------------------------- 210g tank 72x24x29, sump with Refuge, Mixed fish and corals reef tank Current Tank Info: 210g SW mixed reef, 30g SW

02/28/2008, 11:04 AM	#13
gws76 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: El Reno, OK Posts: 1,691 Blog Entries: 2	15. Everything the LFS tells you is without a doubt accurate, and you should follow it religiously! __________________ "Let there be Rock!" ~ Bon Scott 2010-2011 COMAS POTM Chairman Current Tank Info: 150 gal. Starphire Mixed Reef

02/28/2008, 11:06 AM	#15
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	16. bioballs never cause problems--why should I change them 17. I trust my LFS--they have been good to me __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

02/28/2008, 11:07 AM	#16
dsn112 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,139	14:I will never spend $500 on one piece of equipment, thats crazy. __________________ I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I got it all!! Current Tank Info: Fluval Edge w LED freshwater. Looking at doing a 20-40g long penninsula fowlr soon

02/28/2008, 11:08 AM	#17
gws76 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: El Reno, OK Posts: 1,691 Blog Entries: 2	Wooo!! Sk8r, you have made it to 13000 posts! The seas will part for you. __________________ "Let there be Rock!" ~ Bon Scott 2010-2011 COMAS POTM Chairman Current Tank Info: 150 gal. Starphire Mixed Reef

02/28/2008, 11:28 AM	#18
rfdoc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cape May County NJ Posts: 349	18. If I listen to evertyhing Sk8r says (or any one person in particular - no offense Sk8r) he/she will have all the answers I need. __________________ ~It's not the size of your rod that counts, it's how you wiggle your worm~

02/28/2008, 11:46 AM	#19
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Lol, rfdoc, if I personally had all the answers I'd have a tank of the month, and mine is far from that. All I hope to do is get people to THINK about their choices. Seas will part...hmm. Have to try that one. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/28/2008, 11:58 AM	#20
Cope Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In deep water (SLT CA) Posts: 595	#7you can start with a little live rock and add more later. I add/ remove rock all the time? I know if you add a lot it will cause a cycle, bet to add it slow is just how I started? I think I had one rock the size of a baseball in my 100. (@Ten years ago) Now it's full of rock. Did I do something wrong? __________________ I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. Current Tank Info: Soon to be 500 gallon mixed reef!

02/28/2008, 12:12 PM	#21
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	No, re the rock, cope. The problem lies in thinking that you can get adequate filtration from a few little rocks. I add and subtract rocks, keep extras in my fuge, all ok. The main thing is---start with enough. You didn't push your tank hard, or there were other factors that kept you alive. Plus---you can start with one live rock and a bunch of dead rock, and after about 8 weeks you'll have a lot of live rock, if you treat your tank nicely. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/28/2008, 12:16 PM	#23
Pulp Fishin Were all mad here. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London Ontario Canada Posts: 608	I love this list! __________________ Reef Central Corner Club Aquarium Dumpster Diver Extraordinaire Money talks, mine says "Good-Bye" Current Tank Info: RIP:60g Pentagon Reef 100lbs LR 20g Sump Deltec Mce 600 Mag 750 250W Metal Halide & 2x39W T5's Phosban ReactorX2 5gal refugium 36xTO RIP:135G FOWLER /Agressive

02/28/2008, 12:23 PM	#24
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	OH MY GOD...... Iam new at this.....but I have been through all of these things & all so true...........LMAO Please STOP...............I gotta pee.......lol lol lol __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

02/28/2008, 12:25 PM	#25
davew0670 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 309	yeah... and so much for my fish training school I was about to start. __________________ 70 gallon tank