What would you do differently next time

[459b]

Many of us often lack patience and take shortcut to get a build finished. Often this can cause mildly frustrating things like untidy plumbing/wiring, noisy overflow, tank that is a few litres to small etc etc.
Then there are "mistakes" that you learn as you progress in the hobby, like a pile of rocks will tumble, damsel fish ARE evil, etc.

So if you could change anything, perhaps something that just isnt right on your current system or a feature you'd definitely have on a future build, what would it be.

 

[459b]

One thing my next tank will have is to be positioned where it can receive sunlight

 

[viper357]

I would be more selective about the corals I put in my tank, right now I have a forest of Kenya trees spreading all over the tank substrate.

 

[ScubaLover22]

leave rock pool fish in rock pools.

 

[MistaOrange]

Be more hands on & make the tank look neater for one & more regular water changes yes I said it more water changes. lol

 

[ascheff]

Rince my subtrate before adding it to the tank

 

[RiaanP]

My cabinet got 2 doors on the left, 2 on the right. Solid centre piece of about 800mm.
Sump position is such that the return pump is directly behind that solid part. Working on the return pump is a nightmare as I have to crawl in from the right. Should have had another door in the centre.

 

[Linxie]

Build a longer sump with more partitions... my skimmer is currently infront of the filter sock which makes removing the filter sock a nightmare.
Build the overflow box higher and drilled holes higher. Water level about 5cm below bracing and doesn't look great.

Also, like Viper mentioned, be more selective with coral... got a kenya tree and it has attached itself to my live rock... I now cannot move/remove it without fear of hurting it.

 

[459b]

Build the overflow box higher

Can you post a pic in your tank thread...depending on how it looks, that might be fixable

Kenya tree can be moved. It might sulk for a day or two but will be fine.

 

[Linxie]

Can you post a pic in your tank thread...depending on how it looks, that might be fixable

Kenya tree can be moved. It might sulk for a day or two but will be fine.

A portion of its foot is completely attached, do I just pull it off?

I'll take one this weekend

 

[459b]

do I just pull it off?

Scrape/peel it off, gently. First prize would be scraping off with something sharp and actually removing a bit of rock at the same time. Any pieces left on the rock will grow into another coral.

 

[tekkengal]

If I ever restart my 250, I am going to:
1. Use less rock
2. Make sure that I rockscape how I want it to look
3. Not buy every new coral food/additive etc that hits the market
4. Install an auto topup.

 

[viper357]

4. Install an auto topup.

Too much money spent on fancy shmancy corals and not the important stuff

 

[oliver]

Build my stand higher to make it less of s nightmare to work in my sump,build a larger sump than the one i build.

 

[tekkengal]

Too much money spent on fancy shmancy corals and not the important stuff

An auto topup is important but fancy smancy corals are importanter

 

[Tropicalboy]

Reduce the amount of doors in cabinet.Actually remove cabinet completely lol

 

[TaahirS]

Well, for my next setup I'll have a sump. Also want the stand to be high to make it easier to work underneath. Also want a bigger auto top up reservoir, so cabinet might be a bit bigger than the tank.

 

[safwaan]

For my next build I'd like to have lots more patience. And a mock up of what I want before I start. Like those fancy architects have a actual model so that I know what must be done and not change it a thousand times before its done.

 

[tekkengal]

Reduce the amount of doors in cabinet.Actually remove cabinet completely lol

Lol, I am the opposite of you. I want more cabinets to hide all the equipment I have

Why do you want to remove the cabinets, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[RiaanP]

No cabinet, easier to get to things, More airflow around sump, easier to cool down with a fan.
My 750L tank had no cabinet. My current system does have a cabinet. To work on it, no cabinet is soo much better. But for non reefing community, no cabinet does not do it. Us reefers who want to see under the bonnet, do not mind.