What is the most dangerous thing you can do to your tank?

[Sk8r]

Add a fish.

Even if you've taken every precaution.

I say this because there's a heckuva temptation as a newbie to this hobby to go into must-have mode and visit the fish store every weekend and 'get something.'

These fish should live a decade or more. The littlest guys, less, and since they're caught as adults, you don't know how old they are when they arrive; but in general---they're like a dog or cat: they're with you for a good long while. Please consider that when you go shopping. Plan your tank in terms of adult sizes and do it and be done. Take a deep long breath after you've got all your fish in.
If money is burning a hole in your pocket, I can recommend some good purchases:
A qt tank, and rig
An autotopoff
a sump
a ro/di unit with medium for changes
test kits for alkalinity, calcium, magnesium
better lights
a cone skimmer (for tanks above 30 gallons)
a backup pump should yours ever die
a lifting pump for water changes and mixing saltwater
additional buckets
replenishing your CUC (as time passes)
a generator (if you're ever prone to outages)
reference books on marine stuff
and...mmm...down the road, likely another or a bigger tank.

 

[billdogg]

I would suggest something that is at least as dangerous - Reacting to a perceived "problem" without first understand just what that problem is. That oftentimes leads to an over reaction to what can be a simple, normal part of the ecosystem you are trying to create/maintain. That, in turn, can cause an even worse problem, and then it all begins to snowball until there is another thread titled "My tank crashed and I don't know why".

jm.02

 

[Sk8r]

Yep, I'll agree to that one. The 'I've made up my mind what must be the matter and I'm going to [take x action] immediately' has been the doom of many a tank.

I see a lot of posts from people who have their mind made up about what the cause is and who are starting to ask questions at the level of "How do I kill all my bristleworms?" rather than saying. "MY fish died and there's a bristleworm there. What happened?' ---to which anybody experienced in tanks will say, "The worm is there BECAUSE it died---that's what they do for your tank. Now what does a water test say your levels are? How long has the fish been in your tank? What are the other inhabitants of your tank?" etc. Don't head for drastic action until you consult.

 

[scooters reef]

Wait! I'm almost 50 and been in this hobby in one way or another for as long as I can recall. Made my mistakes, cut some corners I regretted. I'm jumping back in and plan to not just QT fish (As I have for some time anyway), but also go full anal QT for anything wet. I thought I'd be covered. NOW you tell me fish are dangerous Now I don't know what to do

Sorry for the sarcasm, I love seeing your FYI posts. Always spot on! Thanks for all the help you provide. Great info for those just starting, but ALSO great reminders for those who have been out of the hobby a bit and jumping back in!

 

[Sk8r]

Lol---wishing you luck---and a good supplier. The fish we get nowadays do seem to have more variety of problems than they did back in the day when we thought bristleworms were a horrendous threat. [They're good guys, for those looking over our shoulders, here.] Equipment's changed. The cone skimmers are a real improvement, above all.

I thought once I'd left this hobby back in 2000---and moved in down the street from a fish store. Ah, me.

 

[scooters reef]

We tore down a 200g in-wall with a fish room behind it when we sold our house and moved from WI to FL. Tore the tank down early 2013. Wife couldn't even watch when the tank got moved out. I SWORE I was also done, so sold everything, right down to the last spare bulkhead or airstone. Wife ALSO never got an engagement ring, since we were both "post kids" and she decided the TBS rock was her rock. LOL, she got ****ed when I sold all the rock and didn't save one. In any event, all it took was moving my parents down and Dad insisting on a 29g freshwater and I was right back on Reef Central, custom Miracles tank ordered, and went crazy on Black Friday sales. It all started by asking the wife if she would be ok with a 75 or 90 in the breakfast room. She said "Oh, I thought you were done, but works for me if I can have a blue tang". I told her "No, it would be too small". So SHE pointed out the 12 feet of wall space in the living room. Hehe, I should run for office

Funny on the bristle worms though. On the other side of the coin I recall back around 1980 or so and the LFS having a little live rock and seeing aptaisia the first time and saying "WOW, look at that, we got an anemone! How cool is that?".

Anyway, thanks again SK8r, you put a lot of work into helping everyone here and I know I keep an eye out for anything you may post so I can also keep learning! We can discuss everything else once my tank finally arrives and I start a build thread after using the pile of stuff I got in Black Friday sales and made a mess of our spare room

 

[Desert Sea]

Most dangerous thing you can do to your tank.......

Most dangerous thing you can do to your tank.......

.......is run it without surge and GFI protection.

Its good practice to shut down any electrical equipment that is in contact with the water before sticking your hands into the tank or sump. You don't want to find out the hard way that you have stray voltage in your system.