So let me say from the start that I'm very new to saltwater tank I'm learning everyday (2yrs now) and by no way am I down playing anyone problems or issues so here is my main question for you veteran reefers is it a safe assumption that there's a whole lot of luck involved in being successful setting up and running a reef tank the reason I ask is because of the amount of horror stories I read Dailey about people who seem to have done everything by the book and it ends in disaster it just strikes me a strange how some have success on the first go and others have to do tank break down and start over is there any reason for this or is there a certain amount of beginners luck involved
Doomed from the start!!
- Thread starter Hecsanch
- Start date
RobZilla04
Active member
No luck involved. If you take time, research, and do things right you will have success. :thumbsup:
billdogg
Well-known member
What Rob said. A small measure of luck? Sure. Mostly taking the time to learn and the patience to figure out what is going on so that corrective action (if any is needed) can be taken. All too often the disaster occurs because of a perceived problem and the steps taken to "correct" it. Experience does go a long way with that - what a newer hobbyist will think is a huge problem - be it cyanobacteria, hair algae, various pests, etc I will see as a normal part of a thriving ecosystem. If you go after the cause rather than throw things at the symptoms those same problems will solve themselves.
Thank for the response luckily I haven't had any crazy issues as of yet but like I said it's only been 2 yrs so luck doesn't play apart in a tank setup and most of these disasters stories could've been avoided It kinda insane the amount of things that could go wrong in a tank the thought of the amount of money spent and it can be wiped out at a drop of a hate I can see why people get frustrated
gone fishin
New member
Like anything a bit of luck does come into play. Some of my personal observations.
Lack of planning.
Newer folks have a tendency to over act to small problems making big problems
Rely to much on technology instead of actually learning the basics of how a tanks ecosystem works.
Failure to QT fishes.
Not receptive to advice
lack of patience and plowing full steam ahead.
Again these are just some personal observation from my time on the forum.
Lack of planning.
Newer folks have a tendency to over act to small problems making big problems
Rely to much on technology instead of actually learning the basics of how a tanks ecosystem works.
Failure to QT fishes.
Not receptive to advice
lack of patience and plowing full steam ahead.
Again these are just some personal observation from my time on the forum.
IMHO...Luck does not play much of a role in this hobby. I've only been doing this for about 10 years, but every significant problem I've encountered has been while I'm trying something new OR not following the rules (guidelines). 
As someone already mentioned, treat the problem not the symptoms. And research, research, research... a number of issues will solve themselves by just following the basics.
regular water changes,
monitor chemistry,
control nutrients,
dip everything,
quarantine everything.
I'm sure this list could be expanded to many other basics, but you get the point... Many the problems (algae, pest, stuff dying) that I've encounter or helped other with go back to one of the above.
Happy Reefing
As someone already mentioned, treat the problem not the symptoms. And research, research, research... a number of issues will solve themselves by just following the basics.
regular water changes,
monitor chemistry,
control nutrients,
dip everything,
quarantine everything.
I'm sure this list could be expanded to many other basics, but you get the point... Many the problems (algae, pest, stuff dying) that I've encounter or helped other with go back to one of the above.
Happy Reefing
Well I appreciate all the feed back and I think it's pretty clear that luck plays little to none on the out come of ones tank it's just crazy to see people spend thousand of dollar on a hobbie and it ultimately ends in failure it's amazing how many leave this hobbie due to failure there are so many people selling or getting out of hobbie for crashed tanks ect
rjjr1963
New member
You have to turn failure into success. Learn from the mistakes and become a better more knowledgeable reefer. I've had some big failures recently but they become teachable moments and help me to progress in the hobby.
homer1475
New member
Most of what I read is newbies freaking out because they woke up and some coral(insert name here) doesnt have its polyps open today! OMG the worls is edning and my tank is crashing!!!!!
It's typically the freak out that causes more harm then does any good. Just like my sig line says "nothing happens fast in this hobby". Any "fix" to a problem doesn't happen overnight, and thats what some people expect. We live in an instant gratification world, and if it's not instant, then throw some more stuff at it till it does happen in an instant, an instant failure.
It's typically the freak out that causes more harm then does any good. Just like my sig line says "nothing happens fast in this hobby". Any "fix" to a problem doesn't happen overnight, and thats what some people expect. We live in an instant gratification world, and if it's not instant, then throw some more stuff at it till it does happen in an instant, an instant failure.
heathlindner25
New member
I think when you're new to this hobby, you tend to Tinker around a lot. That will go away and experience will replace it
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And be careful that you read the 'book' on the topic and not the carton copy on various potions and such which claim things that ain't so. We've got some pretty good startup info up top on the stickies, kind of the condensed info and experience of a lot of people compressed into one file. Take advantage of it! Most important thing to learn is the very basic chemistry of the ocean: salt, calcium, buffer, and magnesium. Get those in balance and keep them there, under good lighting, and you'll do fine.
monkeysee1
Member
HECSANCH-
1. GO SLOWLY with introducing corals to your tank. DON'T add too many too quickly!
2. DO be realistic on how much TIME and MONEY you are willing to or CAN spend on their care and maintenance.
3. Your LIGHTING and FLOW should be taken into account when you select corals for your reef.
4. EXPECT to have to dose EXTRA ALKALINITY and CALCIUM for LPS and SPS corals!! And monitor your pH, Calcium and Alkalinity closely and carefully.
5. And as mentioned, QUARANTINE all corals just as you would fish, and treat with them with coral dip!
6. And as mentioned, treating coral stress (i.e., shrinking, closing up, fading coloration, polyp loss, etc) is dependent on treating the UNDERLYING CAUSE! (i.e. - lighting, flow, calcium and alkalinity dosing, proximity to aggressive corals, etc)
7. Remember, PROBLEMS can come on quickly, but they usually go away SLOWLY.
Just my .02!
1. GO SLOWLY with introducing corals to your tank. DON'T add too many too quickly!
2. DO be realistic on how much TIME and MONEY you are willing to or CAN spend on their care and maintenance.
3. Your LIGHTING and FLOW should be taken into account when you select corals for your reef.
4. EXPECT to have to dose EXTRA ALKALINITY and CALCIUM for LPS and SPS corals!! And monitor your pH, Calcium and Alkalinity closely and carefully.
5. And as mentioned, QUARANTINE all corals just as you would fish, and treat with them with coral dip!
6. And as mentioned, treating coral stress (i.e., shrinking, closing up, fading coloration, polyp loss, etc) is dependent on treating the UNDERLYING CAUSE! (i.e. - lighting, flow, calcium and alkalinity dosing, proximity to aggressive corals, etc)
7. Remember, PROBLEMS can come on quickly, but they usually go away SLOWLY.
Just my .02!
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Jah2707
Member
How boring would this forum be if we only saw posts that people said. Hey guess what everything is going great. Just wanted to check in.
That isn't how most people react. Instead the casual reefer will only post when they have problems. So I doubt that the majority of new reefs have major problems. But many of the new posters have found this site because they need help.
A good example of this is all of the auto forums you can find. I have registers and posted on 3 or 4 different forums over the past 5 years but each one was a post of a problem I had with my car and asking for help. Never posted again.
That isn't how most people react. Instead the casual reefer will only post when they have problems. So I doubt that the majority of new reefs have major problems. But many of the new posters have found this site because they need help.
A good example of this is all of the auto forums you can find. I have registers and posted on 3 or 4 different forums over the past 5 years but each one was a post of a problem I had with my car and asking for help. Never posted again.
pscusimano
New member
What luck? Most of us in the reef hobby experience problems along the way, we take these experiences and learn from them. This being said, if you take the time to plan everything out from the get go you'll experience a much more pleasant adventure. You simply can't just throw a reef aquarium together. IMHO
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