The Ten Most Common Nano Reefing Mistakes

[steelhealr]

No one likes to hear it. Everyone will fight it. Some think they can power thru it. Here ya go...the top ten boo boos new nano reefers make:

One

They don't read enough in advance and ruthlessly plunge into the hobby. Plan, plan, plan.
Two

Stocking your tank with animals you barely know anything about
Three

Impatience. Everyone wants/needs to have an instant reef. Understand what a mature tank is and why it is important.
Four

Incompatibility. Corals will battle each other to the death and release nasty invisible stuff into the water you can't see. And don't forget...big fish eat smaller fish. Same fishes = dead fishes.
Five

Dumping stuff into your tank that you don't test for. YES...Iodine can kill fish and invertebrates.
Six

Bad water. Aquafina, Evian, Poland Spring and the water off your roof or the seawater washing ashore near the doody diapers and Cheese Doodles.....no good.
Seven

Tank maintenance. Pumps clog. Fans fail. Be prepared.
Eight

Overstocking. Too many fish=lots of food=lots of poop=lots of nitrates. If you like lots of colorful fish, get a larger tank. Nano means just that.
Nine

Inadequate circulation. Corals need FLOW FLOW FLOW.
And last but not least.....
TEN

....throwing experience to the wind. Listen to experienced nano reefers. Wait before you put the clam or dendronephthya into the tank.

SH

 

[TigerIssey]

Trusting a Hydromer to read acurately resulting in way too high SG.

 

[Little Fish]

I guess this is somewhat related to #10: trying to stock a nano like a 55G+.

Put too much lighting, thus heat than the nano can handle.

 

[scott133]

hi

when i had my nano i didnt test it enought so every now and again i would have a nitrite so test test test

thanks scott

 

[-Nemo-]

16 hours of light a day

 

[Trod]

Great words of wisdom

If only people would listen

 

[Truck]

not much of a mistake but expect the unexpected.

 

[ben1987]

i havent actually had a nano, but i can't resist a nice fish. Im terrible for it. Now when i walk into the LFS he gets a bag ready.

 

[seffieuk]

Put the word rare into the sentence and i'm getting my credit cards out thinking, well one more water change a week wont hurt eeeekkkkkk

Now, i'm staying away from lfs unless it is to get food, then I just take in my purse and not my credit cards

Seffie x



ps

and I'm staying away from Rare Ocean (although that isn't difficult at the moment as their web site is down - anyone know why?)

 

[TigerIssey]

and I'm staying away from Rare Ocean (although that isn't difficult at the moment as their web site is down - anyone know why?

I was wondering about that, they have not gone bump or anything have they. They had some nice wrasses that I was looking at that were not too expensive. As soon as tank is actually cycled, I cannot get onto web site

 

[bagu]

love it!

 

[ben1987]

i thought rare ocean were moving premises, so sold off what they had lest at discount and were opening up with fresh stock later

 

[seffieuk]

i thought rare ocean were moving premises, so sold off what they had lest at discount and were opening up with fresh stock later

Ah, that explains it

Seffie x

 

[TigerIssey]

Thanks Ben, that does explain it.

 

[steelhealr]

Good responses. It's temping to go on that waiting list for the most colorful $100 fish and then find it dead 3 weeks later. Nano's are great tanks and can be quite beautiful. ANYONE can get a fish or coral to live 3 weeks. Remember, these animals live for YEARS, so, keeping something alive in your tank for 11 months is NOT success.

However, a nano IS a work of art in progress. I have a euphyllia ancora alive now for over 3 years and my clown is over 4 years old. It's just basic principles that work.

Keep on nano'ing.

SH