Common Misconceptions In the Hobby

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12456077#post12456077 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nalbar
Absolutely a misconception.

I have one:

'Because 'X' never happened to me, that must mean 'X' never happens'


I don't get specific in misconceptions because I consider the most dangerous ones to be blanket statements. You see these comments all the time. A twist on the one above is;

'X' happened to me, that means it happens to everyone.'

nalbar

that's a good one---actually about generalized statements---
IMO there are simple no generalized statements in the reef hobby

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12456580#post12456580 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by D to the P
I couldn't be bothered reading through all 28 pages of this thread, I just don't have that kind of time haha.
But I remember talking to a customer at work who was planning on setting up a monitoring system that would use 3 different probs and they would all connect to something that would transfer the info to his laptop. We were talking about what monitors he should use since he only had room for three. I suggested, because it was a reef tank that he would be dosing calcium in, using a calcium monitor, a pH monitor, and a nitrate monitor. He asked me about temperature and I told him that it needn't be monitored as closely because there will be some fluctuations, and that is actually ok. He could just use a regular thermometer on his sump and check on it every now and then. Some guy then imposed on the conversation and said:
"No you have to keep your temperature constant. You can't have it fluctuate because your stuff will die. My tank got all the way up to 86 one day and it fried my shrimp and all my corals died."
Then I pointed to 24 gallon tank I care for at work and told him how in the summer time, that tank gets to 86 on a regular basis for a few hours a day when its really hot outside. He took a glance at the thriving reef and then still argued that 86 degrees cooked his tank.

Another common misconception: All the fish from finding Nemo would live together happily...
This one is more of a gripe for me because at work I get this all the time. "I want to keep all the fish from finding Nemo".
A Moorish Idol for a beginner, AND a puffer fish that doesn't eat a cleaner shrimp and starfish?

sorry D to the P and any others joining this thread--I did do a recap of the first 25 pages on this page
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1187329&perpage=25&pagenumber=25

so if you are not into reading long threads you might want to follow the link above

 

[Aquarist007]

Another common misconception: All the fish from finding Nemo would live together happily...
This one is more of a gripe for me because at work I get this all the time. "I want to keep all the fish from finding Nemo".
A Moorish Idol for a beginner, AND a puffer fish that doesn't eat a cleaner shrimp and starfish? [/B]

A moorish Idol simply should not be kept in a reef tank period unless you are PaulB and willingly to dive for live sponges regularily to feed it.:eek2:

here is another good thread--by guess who--Peter--that is good to post here on species you should avoid keeping

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1157901

 

[Paul B]

My tank got all the way up to 86 one day and it fried my shrimp and all my corals died."

Actually in the summer my tank rarely gets that cold

 

[D to the P]

I know right. I was blown away by this guy. I couldn't just say well dude you're completely wrong and I'm willing to bet that it was some other aspect of your husbandry that killed your pets...that would just be rude haha.

Thanks capn' for.. another link:lol:
Man you are on top of it with these things. You save people so much time by linking them to pre discussed topics.
Instead of registered member under your name by the avatar, it should be changed to "Link Keeper".

Paul B, do you actually have a Moorish? I heard some of the "older" guys on RC did have experience with them I just never heard which one. I'd love to see pics of it, even though it would be off topic of this thread.

Two more Common Misconception: Aquarium keeping jokes are funny to everyone...
and the animals you spent the most money on in your tank will be the ones your friends find the most interesting/amazing.

 

[tami1024]

margarrrrrrrriiiiittttta on the rocks w/salt would be my choice of beverage!!

 

[Paul B]

Paul B, do you actually have a Moorish? I heard some of the "older" guys on RC did have experience with them I just never heard which one. I'd love to see pics of it, even though it would be off topic of this thread.

Who you calling "older?"

:lol:


I had about a dozen of them and this this guy for about 5 years and lost him with almost all of my other fish due to an accident while I was away on a family emergency.

Sorry
OK back to the topic

 

[Paul B]

Quote
"Thanks capn' for.. another link
Man you are on top of it with these things. You save people so much time by linking them to pre discussed topics.
Instead of registered member under your name by the avatar, it should be changed to "Link Keeper".

He certainly is up on finding these links. I guess it is the teacher in him.
Capt. you must be an excellent teacher.


:beer:

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12457658#post12457658 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
Quote
"Thanks capn' for.. another link
Man you are on top of it with these things. You save people so much time by linking them to pre discussed topics.
Instead of registered member under your name by the avatar, it should be changed to "Link Keeper".

He certainly is up on finding these links. I guess it is the teacher in him.
Capt. you must be an excellent teacher.


:beer:

Paul- this platitude coming from you has made my day--you are and will always be my esteemed mentor to the reef hobby
:thumbsup:

 

[Aquarist007]

other misconception or not
It is perfectly "fine" to keep black mollies in a refugium due to the fact that they are a brackish fish and can easily adapt to full salt water parameters.

"fine" aka not stressful to the fish

 

[buckeyegirl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12457423#post12457423 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by D to the P
Two more Common Misconception: Aquarium keeping jokes are funny to everyone...
and the animals you spent the most money on in your tank will be the ones your friends find the most interesting/amazing.

That is so true! Also it is a misconception that your friends will give a crap when you show them the new skimmer you bought or that your anemone split. They are not impressed :mixed:

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12459953#post12459953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by buckeyegirl
That is so true! Also it is a misconception that your friends will give a crap when you show them the new skimmer you bought or that your anemone split. They are not impressed :mixed:

I hate company that have no interest in the reef hobby--as far as I am concerned they have no interest in me:eek2: so other then the free beer and goodies my wife has prepared what the heck di they drop in for

I love this site==you can say your true feelings without getting in poop with your mate

 

[Paul B]

It is perfectly "fine" to keep black mollies in a refugium due to the fact that they are a brackish fish and can easily adapt to full salt water parameters.

If you like black mollies you certainly can put them in there. You can also put in plastic divers, sunken chests, little Asian villages with mountains, "no Swimming" signs, sunken ships and anything else you like including "God Forbid" a beer can.
This is a hobby and as such not important to the scheme of the world. It is a pass time, an enjoyment, an obsession, a money pit, or anything else you would like to call it.
There can be no Experts here because there are no colleges for hobbies, no degrees for it. We may think we border on Marine Biology but it is a stretch. :dance:

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12461229#post12461229 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
If you like black mollies you certainly can put them in there. You can also put in plastic divers, sunken chests, little Asian villages with mountains, "no Swimming" signs, sunken ships and anything else you like including "God Forbid" a beer can.
This is a hobby and as such not important to the scheme of the world. It is a pass time, an enjoyment, an obsession, a money pit, or anything else you would like to call it.
There can be no Experts here because there are no colleges for hobbies, no degrees for it. We may think we border on Marine Biology but it is a stretch. :dance:

Have you been talking to my wife---I had a constant battle at first to keep that plastic crap out of my tank:lol:

re mollies
the intent was to have them supply a constant source of live young to feed the main tank since they multiply so fast and quickly, I have read no where, that they were to be put in the display tank to look cool swimming through the fake plastic plants:lol:
or in your case the bricks and beer cans

 

[Paul B]

Mollies only have about 15 babies at a time (If I remember from all of them that I bred) You would need quite a few to feed anything. Grass shrimp are probably better for that. They have many more babies and are free (if you live near the sea)
They live forever in saltwater as they are caught there.
Aluminum cans look better than plastic plants

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12461837#post12461837 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Paul B
Mollies only have about 15 babies at a time (If I remember from all of them that I bred) You would need quite a few to feed anything. Grass shrimp are probably better for that. They have many more babies and are free (if you live near the sea)
They live forever in saltwater as they are caught there.
Aluminum cans look better than plastic plants

okay I'll stick with plain old tried and true copopods

 

[Paul B]

Copepods are nice, I also hatch brine shrimp every day to feed to all of my small gobies, and I have a bunch of them

 

[Aquarist007]

here is a great discussion on the misconception that it is possible to over skim
IMO it deserves a place on this thread

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=12465201#post12465201

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12465218#post12465218 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
here is a great discussion on the misconception that it is possible to over skim
IMO it deserves a place on this thread

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=12465201#post12465201

I'm not sure, nor is anyone else that it isn't possible to overskim. In fact I would argue that it is possible to have a protein skimmer so efficient that it would be harmful to certain organisms in our aquarium. Or at least less beneficial than a less efficient skimmer would be. When it comes down to it we know so little about what a protein skimmer is removing and how those things that it's removing effect our corals that there's really no way to make a particularly strong argument one way or another.

 

[Aquarist007]

how do you feel in light of the current discussion here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=12465411#post12465411



"For the most part this would be true.We want the lowest over all numbers,and the for most one being phosphate.The point of macros is to match the export of phosphate with the additions,ie foods,of phosphate.It's when the algae slows down,at least in My experience,that export of phosphate is brought to a halt.Allowing the bacteria to thrive off of the now extra available phosphate.
With a little nitrate additions I can keep the algae growing at a fast enough pace to limit how much the cyano can feed off of.Cyano,as stated above, can thrive in conditions where algae/plants cannot.By having 5ppm N03 available,the algae has the upper hand."