Lessons Learned Board?

[Fosty]

1: Don't fill a aquarium that you found in someone elses trash.

Especially on the second story of your house without checking for leaks. 3 hours after you go to sleep you will be woken up be a fire alarm that the water leaking through the floor set off. Its amazing how long 10 gallons of water can stay between the gap between the floor and the ceiling.

2: Don't buy fish online or through aquabid when you agree to pay the shipping charges (unless you're rich).

I ended up getting charged $85 shipping for for five angelfish that cost $15. Airborne Express's deal was that if it didn't get there by 10:30 the next morning that it would be free. It got there at 10:27. Needless to say I was not happy to get a bill for $85 (especially as a high school student without a job). THe worst part was the next week our LFS got new angelfish in that were nicer that the one's I got and only $3 each.

[Shay]

Always use a check valve and don't unhook your DIY co2 bottle and forget to put it back on or decide to do it in the morning. If your lucky someone will notice that your fish are flashing emergency help signs as the water slowly siphons out onto the floor.

[glass-gardens.com]

amazing how fast that little hose will drain a tank

[Shay]

LOL. Your not kidding. I'm now shopping for new flooring to get the stench out of the room. Carpets and fishtanks don't mix.

[Tres]

If you consider the fish in your aquarium to be valuable... whether because they are rare South American Dwarf Cichlids or because your wife thinks the pink guppies are cute, buy 2 heaters of the appropriate size for your aquarium and use them both. At the same time.
You would be surprised how fast the temperature in an aquarium can drop in an air conditioned environment. Having a backup heater in place WHEN your heater goes out is a lifesaver for your fish.
Lets face it.. the temperature in your aquairum has been the same exact temperature since the day after you put the heater in it... how often do you check the temperature now? Since the mercury hasnt moved in months, even years, are you even sure the thermometer works?
8^)~

[amanda huggenkiss]

Originally Posted by Shay

Always use a check valve and don't unhook your DIY co2 bottle and forget to put it back on or decide to do it in the morning. If your lucky someone will notice that your fish are flashing emergency help signs as the water slowly siphons out onto the floor.

Now you tell me!

Alternatively, if you know for a fact that aquarium water started to siphon into the CO2 bottle even before you unhooked it, don't assume that the hose will be safe just balancing on top of the aquarium and then walk away. Next time you look, there will be water all over the floor.

[anonapersona]

I just learned that you can get 4'x8'styrofoam boards, 1/2 inch thick that are blue on one side. It is a nice blue, sort of shimmery. I've had each of these cut to fit the back of my largest aquariums to help maintain the temps in the tanks that are usually heated above room temp. For me here in Houston, that is only the discus tanks, but most of you probably work to keep tanks warm in the winter. Even one side with insulation makes a huge difference in temp stability I can really see the effect on the tall, thin 55 gallon.

[secretagent]

I dont want to talk about IT! I had the WORST stench in My sisters and my room for a LONG time becasue of a co2 Accident and a damaged leaking tank!

[pphx459]

Couple things learned the hard way:

1) Couldn't resist the temptation. Added TOO many fishes at once - bought 30 fish at the same time while tank wasn't even cycled. Luckily the fishes didn't die but Algae was everywhere.. This brings up number 2.

2) Because the majority of the LFS's do not carry certain fish, I went ahead and got a whole bunch from one LFS thinking I might never find them again. One month later, the same LFS had many more...

3) Use a QUARANTINE tank! I am now paying the price for it. Since the fish are full of Ich. I don't know which batch of fish introduced the disease..

[Poohbee]

Lesson just learned:

If you notice your output flow of water is going down and you clean the canister filter and the outflow is still down check the damn co2 external reactor =P...

Took me a few hours of trying to trouble shoot the canister filter only to notice that the damn external co2 reactor was clogged up with built up plant matter.

[lamthuyduong]

This is great guys. I love reading your posts. I started a 10 gallon planted tank a month ago. No algae, plants are growing very fast. I do have one suggestion:

If you're buying plants online, look around and plan ahead on what you're going to buy, then order it from one "Single" store. So that you don't have to pay for separate shippings that might add up to hundreds of dollars.

[fedge]

wELLL>...

Even the best plans can be layed to ruins... if your water is too hard or whatever to not support the plants well enough (something I and many have run into). Or the place you buy the plants that you so pain-stakingly researched out, replaces them with "other" plants...like what happend to me. Those "other" plants just do not grow well in my setup!! I wish I would have gotten what i ordered.

[russdesnoyer]

Just a couple thoughts after several years of running high light, high nutrient tanks: too much potassium is very bad for plants and aquascaping goes right out the window at 5wpg!

Russ

[Laith]

Never walk into a well run, well stocked LFS unless you either:

- need something specific
- don't have any money!



I don't know how many times I wander into a good lfs and then end up buying some gadget or test or food or widget or tank or...

For me its like a good bookstore: I get stuck inside and then come out with a bag of stuff!

[mpb]

Not all lessons should be about mistakes.
This is a lesson learned not from a mistake but from researching and trying it myself.

If you are setting up a planted tank, start adding the plants first and give some time for the plants to establish themselves. Only after you notice growth and roots developing that you should add fish. You will see that there will be no ammonia problems and cycling period.