Let's list all the things that can go wrong

[mpoletti]

In a recent thread asking if SPS are easy to keep or not, it reminded me of the many different obstacles we have to work through in keeping a successful SPS reef.

I'll start... Power.

Without power, our tanks are doomed. Power outages a reefer's nightmare and just another reason why we have back up power sources and controllers that notify us if the power does go out.

Who's next?

 

[Btortorelli]

Money haha!

 

[Znut Reefer]

TEST TEST TEST, make sure all water parameters are in line.

 

[SDguy]

Funky kits. Always buy a new kit before running out of your old one, so you can compare the two side by side.

 

[KJAhp098]

Heater can get stuck on.

Good to have it electronically controlled.

 

[mpoletti]

Bad test kits...thanks for the reminder

Temperature...definitely!

Cracked bulbs. No bueno.

 

[Apisto]

I wouldn't complain if I never had to deal with another pest again. Keeping sps long-term is tough enough without having annoying little bugs making things harder:uzi:

 

[Alex T.]

My largest obstacle would be if my wife were to ever find out what all this stuff really costs.

Then again...I've heard that it's always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

 

[mpoletti]

Pests! Yep. They suck

How about clogged tubing on a CA reactor or dosing pump? I suppose that would not be good.

 

[29reef]

Write down your maintenance schedule, I use a calendar to write my wc and other items down. That keeps me stable and on track. Too many times I've gotten off track from doing too much too fast to make up for my own busy schedule.

 

[badmotorfinger7]

Making sure your Ph probe is calibrated if you use a controller for your reactor.

 

[mpoletti]

What about when a sea hare gets chewed up in your vortech?

 

[customdusty]

Pests by far. I think being too hands and tinkering too much also can be problematic.

 

[kduen]

how about keeping any and all supplements away from "little Helpers" that see daddy putting this into the tank so it must be ok to put it all in.....iodide.:sad1:

 

[mpoletti]

how about keeping any and all supplements away from "little Helpers" that see daddy putting this into the tank so it must be ok to put it all in.....iodide.:sad1:

Sippy cups of milk have been known to create a problem as well :crazy1:

 

[kduen]

Now that you say that i remember reading a FAQ on wetwebmedia where a person actually was pouring milk into their tank to give the corals all the calcium they need...

 

[lucidheights]

temp prob on controller somehow getting out of water

skimmer overflowing and entire fresh water reservoir getting dumped into tank

calcium reactor / doser incorrect setup or tampering

refractometer incorrectly calibrated

lack of failsafes for all automated equipment

 

[Frick]

-Forgetting to wash the sunblock off your arms before you do some fragging.
-Malfunctioning top-off, bringing you reef to 62* freshwater overnight.
-Roommate not paying powerbill, (covered in the OP).
-Glass tank set-up on a still settling floor.
-Buying an Odysea fixture, and not having a fire extinguisher by it.

This can be a fun thread.

 

[Apisto]

how about keeping any and all supplements away from "little Helpers" that see daddy putting this into the tank so it must be ok to put it all in.....iodide.:sad1:

This (and "sippy cups") reminds me of when I had a fishroom years ago and had plenty of help!! Here is an article that I wrote:

 

[90ct]

Use GFI outlets to prevent electrocuted.
Snowstorm if using Kalkwasser reactor.