One thing would would give as advice

[NYreefNoob]

if you could give advise for a successful reef what would it be

 

[ECFENCING]

Read a lot. Patience and more patience. Quarantine. Buy livestock from someone you trust and who is not just in it for the money.

 

[steveo32]

seriously consider taking on the hobby.

 

[duke62]

time,dedication and read and dont listen to chief ... :lol2: only kiddin buddy

 

[nanoreefer22]

KEep your hand out of the Tank!!!!!!!!!!

 

[QUESTIONMARC]

lol.. how bout 10 things?

1. Patience

2. Patience

3. Patience

4. Patience

5. Don't ever think you can have a reef overnight. It doesnt work. It takes years to establish.

6. Much like a carpenter.. Measure a 100 times. Cut Once. Meaning.. Stop switching a hundred different lights.. a hundred different skimmers. Do your homework even if it takes months before you start.. Make your decisions wisely.. learn from others mistakes.. you can save yourself alot of timea nd headaches from reading.. Then get what you need.. set it up.. and leave it be.

7. Ask as much as you can. and ONLY listen to the ones who can show you the tank that backs it up!!! If someone cant show you a successful tank.. chances are.. they cant show you successful advice either. Oh yea and successful tank isnt a tank with a tomato clown and anenome.. a successful tank can be found in the tank of the month page on reef central... THOSE.. are successful tanks. nothing else.

8. Dont complicate it anymore than it is. Tank. Water. Salt. Rock. Sand. Fish. Coral. Lights. Skimmer. Refuge. Flow. Time. Patience. Simple.

9. it is an investment of time and money. if you dont have the time or the money. it wont work half fast.

10. the day you think you have it all covered.. is the day your tank crashes... you never stop learning!

 

[skene]

Get out while you can!!!!!

 

[grknyer]

Get out while you can!!!!!

Man you beat me to it!!!!!!!!!:lol2: Seriously listen to "skene" and everyone else who tell you to get out before you go

 

[Pinkheine]

Believe next to nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see.

 

[prattreef]

Get out while you can!!!!!

1st I tell them that. Then I tell them to read this:

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-magazine/46182-did-i-say.html

 

[rookie07]

Dont start one

 

[Dj Orion]

Get a second job.

 

[BOBBY BOLIVIA]

Start working on the divorce papers before you start working on setting up a tank. right also try to make it to the MR frag swap early enough, specially if you are part of the cleaning crew.:tongue1:

 

[Dive STX]

NEVER TRY TO ADD UP WHAT YOU HAVE INVESTED.AND IF YOU DO, DO NOT LOOK. BECAUSE U NEED ANOTHER WATER OR MEDIA CHANGE THIS MONTH.k: MORE MONEY

 

[Salty Dog]

Its not about the money or time or the wait. Its about your dedication to such a wonderful life scape that is controlled by the reefer. I started to purchase pieces for my reef set up a year before I was ready to add water. The parts are very pricey but are accentual for success. You will soon find that you are addicted to this awesome hobby as all of us here are.

 

[fernandokng]

You could have bought a new [FILL IN THE BLANK] by now.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

When buying things buy the best equipment you can afford, when selling things people don't care how much you paid for something when you bought it.

 

[jerl77]

find a new hobby dont do it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Paul B]

I would tell a Noob, don't get crazy. Don't buy everything that people tell you is needed, Don't go nuts if you see a spot on something or a little algae or cyano. Don't think a tank has to be sterile. Don't look at too many TOTMs and say, why doesen't my tank look like that. (most of them are not that old)
Your tank should look like you want it to look. It doesen't even have to look good, it is a hobby and should be geared to please you.
Pay for your mortgage before you buy a new coral. Make sure your spouse understands the expense and commitment before you get that 300 gallon corner acrylic tank.
And especially, don't take everyone's advice too literally. This is not an exact science and you will get dozens of ways to do things. I disagree with probably half of the stuff written but that doesen't necessarily mean it is wrong. I could be mis interpreting it or it could have worked for that person but not me. There are too many variables, it is not stamp collecting.
Don't take test results as a harbinger of doom or a reason to dump chemicals in the water.
Have fun :tongue1:
Paul and enjoy

PS Bobbie Bolivia has seen my tank and he can tell you it is no TOTM, it is not sterile and does not have corals growing up the walls but it is what I like and I am proud of it

 

[Dive STX]

I would tell a Noob, don't get crazy. Don't buy everything that people tell you is needed, Don't go nuts if you see a spot on something or a little algae or cyano. Don't think a tank has to be sterile. Don't look at too many TOTMs and say, why doesen't my tank look like that. (most of them are not that old)
Your tank should look like you want it to look. It doesen't even have to look good, it is a hobby and should be geared to please you.
Pay for your mortgage before you buy a new coral. Make sure your spouse understands the expense and commitment before you get that 300 gallon corner acrylic tank.
And especially, don't take everyone's advice too literally. This is not an exact science and you will get dozens of ways to do things. I disagree with probably half of the stuff written but that doesen't necessarily mean it is wrong. I could be mis interpreting it or it could have worked for that person but not me. There are too many variables, it is not stamp collecting.
Don't take test results as a harbinger of doom or a reason to dump chemicals in the water.
Have fun :tongue1:
Paul and enjoy

PS Bobbie Bolivia has seen my tank and he can tell you it is no TOTM, it is not sterile and does not have corals growing up the walls but it is what I like and I am proud of it

ALSO ALL SET UP ARE NOT THE SAME . WHAT WORKS IN ONE REEFER HOME SET UP MAY NOT WORK IN YOURS.YOU MAY NEED TO FINE TUNE THE SET UP TO GET THE DESIRED RESULTS.