White doesn't last long. White rock is dead. Live rock isn't white. Ditto sand. It generally just doesn't stay white, except sand. Sand can do better at it, but face it, life may get there, too.
Did your rock stay where you intended? I've never had a rock-slide. I use eggcrate lighting grid under my rockwork to prevent that. But do I have to move a rock to deal with something? Oh, yes.
Did what I wanted to grow work? Well, up to a point, but tanks differ, and sometimes it's a good idea to throw into the towel and admit THIS build wants to grow something else more than it wants to grow what you intended.
This doesn't mean failure. It means that the complex ecosystem you established is a) alive, we hope and b) has the capability to favor SOMETHING. Now if this turns out to be flatworms or aiptasia, you have to take some action. But generally, don't beat yourself up or declare failure if your tank is taking a different path than you planned. If it's a decent direction, go with it. Admit this isn't a good wrasse tank, or a good sps tank or whatever. It's not failure, but a step along the way; and maturity may send it in yet another direction. Surprise! it's an lps tank, or a great softie tank, or whatever.
In something so complex, it takes experience to aim and hit the exact thing you were going for. Count it 'gaining experience,' and go by the 'numbers' we give you to start, which will hopefully land you a good tank for something you have yet to discover. Research life requirements. Match the fish and corals you buy to the tank you have, not vice versa, for reasons of, yes, having it stay alive. Start simple, work up. 'Rare' isn't precious, it means something that has trouble living in our tanks or that reproduces terribly slowly. But when we say 'invasive'...that means it REALLY grows like mad, and keep it on a rock you can dispose of: keep it from taking a structural rock. But if you have a fish-only, an 'invasive' may actually outgrow predation...so it's not utterly a bad thing.
Ultimately you get the experience that will let you plan a tank that actually works out, but I'll guarantee you the most experienced of reefers STILL gets surprised as a tank develops. Serendipity rules this hobby more than most. Hesitate to destroy unscheduled specimens, but if you get a chance, and it's scary-looking, nab it, put it in a bowl, and photograph it and post it: we'll tell you whether to put it into your tank or down into your sump. Or not.
Did your rock stay where you intended? I've never had a rock-slide. I use eggcrate lighting grid under my rockwork to prevent that. But do I have to move a rock to deal with something? Oh, yes.
Did what I wanted to grow work? Well, up to a point, but tanks differ, and sometimes it's a good idea to throw into the towel and admit THIS build wants to grow something else more than it wants to grow what you intended.
This doesn't mean failure. It means that the complex ecosystem you established is a) alive, we hope and b) has the capability to favor SOMETHING. Now if this turns out to be flatworms or aiptasia, you have to take some action. But generally, don't beat yourself up or declare failure if your tank is taking a different path than you planned. If it's a decent direction, go with it. Admit this isn't a good wrasse tank, or a good sps tank or whatever. It's not failure, but a step along the way; and maturity may send it in yet another direction. Surprise! it's an lps tank, or a great softie tank, or whatever.
In something so complex, it takes experience to aim and hit the exact thing you were going for. Count it 'gaining experience,' and go by the 'numbers' we give you to start, which will hopefully land you a good tank for something you have yet to discover. Research life requirements. Match the fish and corals you buy to the tank you have, not vice versa, for reasons of, yes, having it stay alive. Start simple, work up. 'Rare' isn't precious, it means something that has trouble living in our tanks or that reproduces terribly slowly. But when we say 'invasive'...that means it REALLY grows like mad, and keep it on a rock you can dispose of: keep it from taking a structural rock. But if you have a fish-only, an 'invasive' may actually outgrow predation...so it's not utterly a bad thing.
Ultimately you get the experience that will let you plan a tank that actually works out, but I'll guarantee you the most experienced of reefers STILL gets surprised as a tank develops. Serendipity rules this hobby more than most. Hesitate to destroy unscheduled specimens, but if you get a chance, and it's scary-looking, nab it, put it in a bowl, and photograph it and post it: we'll tell you whether to put it into your tank or down into your sump. Or not.
