Learn From Matthew's Mistakes

[MatthewN]

Here is my setup. With all this gear, surely I would have a great reef aquarium. Stay tuned because I've made some amazing blunders.

 

• Tank: 32 gallon Reef Octopus Lux 60 Aquarium with OS-20B Sump
• Protein Skimmer: Reef Octopus Classic 150-INT
• Return Pump: Reef Octopus VarioS-2 Controllable DC Pump (792 GPH)
• Lighting: Kessil AP9X LED Lighting Panel with Mounting Arm
• Flow: 4 x EcoTech Marine VorTech MP10QD
• Media: MarinePure Ceramic Biomedia Cubes, MarinePure Plate Ceramic Biomedia, Brightwell Aquatics Xport-NO3 Biological Filtration Plate
• Controller: Neptune Systems Apex Controller System

 

[MatthewN]

• Lesson #1: Never dump baking soda into your tank. Mix it in a separate container first.
• Lesson #2: Never put LifeRock directly into your tank without cleaning and scrubbing first.
• Lesson #3: Never buy fish before you've really completed your nitrogen cycle.
• Lesson #4: Always use hose clamps on unsecured connections.
• Lesson #5: To quote Bulk Reef Supply, "There are two kinds of people that use RODI: those that have an auto-shutoff float and those that have a flooded room that then buy an auto-shutoff float.

[MatthewN]

Lesson #6: Don't buy a Ritteri Anemone.

Lesson #7: If you do buy a Ritteri Anemone, also buy Cipro.

Lesson #8: If you don't want to flood your living room, don't put your aquarium in your living room.

Lesson #9: If you want one marine aquarium, you actually need two - especially if you have a sick anemone. See lesson #6.

Lesson #10: Don't buy the Reef Octopus Lux 60 Aquarium unless you really love easily scratched glass.

 

[DevilDuck]

A ritteri anemone was high on my list! How is yours doing?

[MatthewN]

7 hours ago, DevilDuck said:

A ritteri anemone was high on my list! How is yours doing?

Surprisingly well. Just after he arrived, things were not going well. Ritteri expelled some kind of cloudy goo (zooxanthellae?) so I put him in quarantine with Cipro for a couple of days. I was pretty sure he was dead but one morning he rebounded somehow. For now, he seems pretty happy. Definitely high maintenance, requiring excellent water quality. I would not recommend to beginners.

[MatthewN]

Some new additions to the tank...

• Maxima Clam
• 3x Red & Green War Coral
• Small Saddle Valentini Puffer
• Grape Cristata Coral
• 3x Blue Tuxedo Urchin
• Bubble Coral
• Tiny Blue Tang

[Ratvan]

Beautiful bubble coral 😍

[MatthewN]

Lesson #11 If you like invertebrates and corals, you don't want a Valenti Puffer. It will eat shrimp, snails, corals, etc. It seems to prefer hard corals.

Lesson #12 Because of lesson #10, I bought a new aquarium: the Aquaforest OceanGuard 435 (82gal Aquarium).

Lesson #13 Try to apply your lessons learned if you decide to buy a new aquarium.