Big 5 rules to live by

[scooter86]

Though everyone will have their own "big 5" (or more) rules to live by for a successful reef tank, these are mine. Most have been learned the hard way. Please list your "big 5" so that I can learn from YOUR mistakes.
1.Research-make sure you learn as much as possible about a new purchase, whether it is livestock or dry goods. Then act on what you have learned, and not on emotion.
2.Plan- make, record and implement a maintenance schedule on ALL of your equipment. I've had a total tank wipeout by not doing this.
3. Quarantine-I know that this will stir up some controversy, but I also know that this is the right thing to do. I have lost a tank by not quarantining.
4.Education- The best way to do something today may not be the best way to do it 5 years from now. Have an open mind, and pursue continuing education.
5. Restraint and Redundancy- If you already know that something you are about to do is wrong, don't do it! Also have back up systems, equipment,and backup protocols in case of disaster.

Please understand that I am not pontificating. I have adopted these rules for myself because of my own blunders. Now , let me hear yours!

[Sk8r]

6. keep a test logbook: don't trust your memory. Decimal point numbers get confusing. Dose into a trend, not after a disaster.
7. establish when you got your lights and what the replacement date should be, and put THAT at the front of your logbook. Marine lights don't burn out, they burn down, and change spectrum, meaning bad algae etc.
8. use your Tds meter on your rodi output at least once a month.

[scooter86]

Those are great, more specific rules, THANKS!

[LobsterOfJustice]

Good suggestions.

I'm not sure I could come up with a coherent list of five, but my signature line is pretty much my contribution. It's mostly there for ME to see after every time I post, because I have a problem with this. Basically, dont half-*** a job. Yeah, it's annoying to run over to the bathroom and rinse your arm off before flipping that snail over, but it takes 10 seconds and doesnt cost anything, and the risks aren't worth it. Don't hang onto equipment that is still "kinda" working, but not really. Just do it right. Find some successful people and try to emulate their setups. If you are thinking of doing something differently than everyone else... there is probably a reason no one else is doing it that way (there are exceptions of course). Example... Skimmerless setups can be successful if setup, stocked, and maintained properly, but most people who ask about skimmerless tanks are usually just interested in saving money or finding an "easy" way out.

[scooter86]

There will always be a subset of people who will do things against conventional wisdom. Some are pioneers, and some are naysayers. We need both to evolve.

[bill-fit]

This could be a really good thread. I'm following the rules allready posted so I would like to add something specific.

One of the ways tanks are being taken out, a skimmer, not in the sump, overflows then the auto topoff kicks in and the salinity falls till everything is dead.

This doesn't cost anything to prevent use a seperate skimate collection cup and hang it over your sump. Run a piece of half inch tubing from the collection cup on your skimmer to the one hanging over your sump. When the skimmer overflows nothing happens the overflow goes into the sump.

Just about any plastic container could be made to work you just have to figure out a way to hang it.

[scooter86]

Just so happens that I have had this happen to me. I'm going to see if it is feasible for me to set up your fix on my sump. Thanks! This is what I was hoping for from this thread.

[billdogg]

i'm big on rule #4 - education. I remember when putting a powehead on your undergravel filter was the pinnacle of high tech! wow - a skimmer??? a sump???? huh??? you mean things change???


READ READ READ and then READ SOME MORE!!!

[scooter86]

Anyone else have any of their own golden rules?

[LobsterOfJustice]

Alright, I've got one. Never let ANYONE touch the mag float other than you. Nobody. Ever.

Your little niece, grandkids, neighbors kids, etc won't like this rule. They might cry. Kids might have their parents ask you for them. Don't give in. This rule could save the life of your starfish, keep that acro you've been growing out for 3 years in one piece, and keep the front glass of your tank free of horrendous scars.

[Moonstream]

NO IMPULSE BUYS! always have a rough idea of the fish you like, and what can fit in your tank and get along in it. make sure that everything is compatible!

[scooter86]

How about: Never change or add a piece of equipment within 2 weeks of going on vacation,

[otrlynn]

Believe it that fish can jump, even fish that you don't think likely to jump (like a clownfish). Really believe it for known jumpers like wrasses and firefish. Be prepared for fish losses if you choose to ignore it.

[limitdown]

$1,000+ worth of dead fish taught me the importance of QT'ing

[EllieSuz]

Take advice from your LFS with a grain of salt. Many mean well, and simply are misinformed. Others are there to make a buck at any cost. Even when you've established a good relationship with your LFS, double check their information. Nobody knows everything all the time.

[scooter86]

Originally posted by EllieSuz
Take advice from your LFS with a grain of salt. Many mean well, and simply are misinformed. Others are there to make a buck at any cost. Even when you've established a good relationship with your LFS, double check their information. Nobody knows everything all the time.

Absolutely correct. In the early days I was once told that a twinspot wrasse was a great fish for a 20 gallon tank. Good thing I did my own research!

[scooter86]

Originally posted by limitdown
$1,000+ worth of dead fish taught me the importance of QT'ing

Three years ago I got impetuous and added a Scott's Fairy wrasse to my 180 without QT. Out of 10 fish in the tank, only my blue jaw trigger survived. Velvet took the rest.

[scooter86]

Noone else's tank crashes have spurred on rules to live by?

[Sk8r]

Certain things should only be undertaken by expert reefers (and most of them will refuse to): e.g., putting an anemone in a reef; keeping large fleshy inverts like sea apples; keeping seriously venomous creatures. Plus delicates like basket stars, sea pens, moorish idols, etc, are not for novices.

[chimmike]

Originally posted by EllieSuz
Take advice from your LFS with a grain of salt. Many mean well, and simply are misinformed. Others are there to make a buck at any cost. Even when you've established a good relationship with your LFS, double check their information. Nobody knows everything all the time.

same goes for here. Take advice from here with a grain of salt as well.

[BigJay]

Always remember to turn off your RO unit before you go to bed.

Letting it run all night and overflow the 40 gallon brute....is disastrous.

[scooter86]

True enough. The information that you get anywhere must be independently researched.You can however ,over time, develop a sense of whose information is based on fact, and whose information is based on personal opinion.

[jhildebrand]

Ditto on everything else.

Plus:

Don't skimp on safeguards and redundancy and test your system's backups so there won't be any surprises when something fails.

Don't cave to temptation at the LFS - do research and come back after thinking it through. Put a fish on hold.

Don't believe with certainty when an LFS employee says "Oh yeah, that's reef safe/compatible with everything".

Get second opinions on everything - one wrong bit of advice can spell disaster.

Remember that there's no such thing as a shortcut in this hobby...

[scooter86]

Big Jay reminds me of the issue of never connecting your automatic topoff to an endless water supply.

[limitdown]

Originally posted by scooter86
Big Jay reminds me of the issue of never connecting your automatic topoff to an endless water supply.

Great point. I also learned this the hard way.