My biggest Tip

[edmondspl]

Hello everyone I just thought that it would be a good idea to do a post about what everyone wished they had learned at the beginning of their reef tank journey.
And not patience that is vital, but such a cop out answer.

For me it was to buy quality equipment from the start so I wouldn't have to buy it over again.

[Live Rock Ricky]

never use copper even if you have FO w/ LR cuz some day you will want corals and it will take FOREVER to remove it...

[scubadude]

Plan your whole system in detail before you spend one penny, sorry but it all boils down to patience :P

[Lucid]

don't use tap water, EVER.

[harris51]

A great tread idea!

For me it is a tie:

1) ONLY use RO/DI (The Deionized being the most important part of the RO/DI) water for top off and mixing saltwater.
2) The larger and more effective the protein skimmer is the better.

[underseaworld]

They are all good ideas. Never go cheap. It only hurts in the long run. Buy the best equipment you can. Do not trust your LFS unless you check with the fine folks at reefland for references. This site has helped me out a lot.

[FireEater]

Never ever go cheap and use crushed coral for a substrate.

[CMOS]

don't use tap water, EVER.

Coming from a noob - please tell all WHY you suggest your advice (all of you).


Nitrates & phosphates?



CMOS

[Lucid]

Tap water contains many minerals, impurities, etc that nuisance algae thrive off of. My water for example, contains a lot of silicate which diatoms feed/grow. I believe most city (treated water) contains high levels of phosphates too.

[charlie]

Learn your system well enough so that your corals, fish, etc., will tell you what they need. You don't have to have your hands in the tank everyday to have a system that will flourish.

Make sure the test kits you have can be trusted, cheap test kits lead to dumb moves.

Sit back and think things through before making any drastic changes to your tank. Even deciding to drip kalkwasser for your top off water requires a thought process, what will the long run results be???????

And although you seem to think that patience is a cop out answer, it is the single most important thing regarding your system, nothing good ever happens fast in mother nature's scheme of things. I have had my signature line for at least 7 years, and I believe in it!!!!!