Don't Do's and things to be aware of

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For the beginners out there here are a few things not to do and to be aware of. I will start with a quick few. Here are a few from me...

1) Don't purchase livestock and leave it in your vehicle or on the floor of the vehicle while driving. The bag/container could overheat causing casualties. Also be careful of placing them directly in the air-con flow stream.

2) Always use aquarium dedicated buckets, water drums, tubing, brushes etc. These items if not dedicated can kill your fish and livestock if they are used for other household chores like mopping floors and siphoning petrol or some other chemical. Simply washing the item with water does not always work.

3) Never leave your salt bag open. Salt quickly absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. This could include aerosol sprays and pesticides.

4) Never add water to salt. Always add salt to water. The salt mixes better and you will not have calcium precipitation.

5) Never add water to calcium and Magnesium powders. Always the powder to the water.

6) Never work on you tank barefoot or with flops on. Always wear shoes when working on you tank. This could save you from electrocution.

7) Always ensure that children cannot get to play in the sump or tank. They could break a heater or put their fingers in an electrical socket.

8) Always wear gloves when working on your tank. Some marine organisms are toxic and it is not uncommon for reefers to get stung affecting you health.

9) Never wipe, scratch or rub your face or eyes with your hands or towel/cloth you are using when working on your tank. Always wash hands thoroughly and wipe face with a clean towel.

10) Never measure additives, medications or shake the food tub over your tank. The bottle could slip or you might get bumped causing an overdose. Always measure away from the tank.
 
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NEVER ever do a water change in front of your wife....its not good for your marriage.

NEVER EVER EVER let her see you wipe up reef tank spillage with a clean dish towel or better bathroom towel!!
 
Don't use tapwater
 
Don't take all the advice received on this forum as the 100% truth.

Don't purcahse fish from a LFS because they look nice, rather tag them, pay for them, but let them sit in the Pet Shop tank until you have done your research on the species.

Don't not take the advise you receive from you LFS as 100% Truth. Google is a friend, however make sure at least 3-4 different experiences by others lead to the same answer to the question you have.

Don't become lazy with this hobby, things go south fast if not taken care of.

Don't stick your hands in your tanks, unless you really have to, if you do make sure you wash your hands before very thoroughly and give them a wash thereafter.

Don't skimp cash out for test kits, if you are serious about keeping living organisms make sure you can test their environment. Don't post an urgent help needed thread unless you have tested your water and have available parameter and nutrient specs of at least the basics:
Magnesium
Calcium
KH
Nitrates
Phosphates
PH

Don't go and buy the most expensive equipment you can find, do research on the items of purchase beforehand.

Don't expect that keeping marines is like having guppies.

Don't take water on the floor too lightly, yes this will be an ongoing experience for most of the DIY'ers in the industry, it usually happens 4-6 occasions until it's 100% especially if you are new to the hobby. Water on the floor may be electrically charged try not walk in it.

Don't try to make any essential items as a DIY, eg: a skimmer, spend the money and buy one, like me and by the time you have created your 5th version of your home made skimmer, it would have been cheaper to buy it new in the first place.

Don't overlook using an algae scrubber, algae grows, anywhere, anyhow; moving it from your display tank into a controlled environment is easier than trying to eradicate it into non-existence.

Don't overlook carbon dosing, vodka dosing, this is a very cheap and a very effective way to control excess nutrient levels. Don't vodka does unless you have done some good reading on the principle.

Don't overfeed your fish.

Don't over-run any parameters. Excess calcium, magnesium or iodine cause bigger issues than too little.

Please don't use clown fish as water parameter "testing" fish. Use your test kits.



Plenty more I can think of
 
Before putting someones advice into practice, take a look at their tank!
 
Some good points Keith. Number five is interesting and possibly overlooooked but can you please explain issue adding water to magnesium. I understand the possible potential problem adding water to calcium but not with magnesium.
 
Some good points Keith. Number five is interesting and possibly overlooooked but can you please explain issue adding water to magnesium. I understand the possible potential problem adding water to calcium but not with magnesium.

Rather have a habit of doing it always the same way. Always add the chemical to the water. Does not matter which chemical and if it is will not be an issue for that one specific chemical. Rather force yourself into a habit. Then you don't have to keep in mind with what chemical you are busy with.
 
Isn't it better to understand what chemical you working with and how it should be mixed?

Why should calcium be added to water and not the other way around?
 
David is correct. Magnesium is basic and not acidic.

But not all Magnesium products are purly Magnesium. Some have Calcium, Sodium and potasium.
 
Calcium isn't acidic either. Dissolving calcium is exothermic so it generates heat, hence it's better to add to excess water.
Magnesium in endothermic so needs heat to dissolve. Adding water to it won't cause any problems.

Maybe top for another day Keith, not all supplements are the same
 
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