Don't Make These Common Mistakes!

Mistake:  Rushing to set up a saltwater aquarium and then being unhappy with the results.

Solution:  Slow down! Take as much time as necessary to read and study up on the hobby BEFORE getting started or making any purchases.

Mistake:  Overloading the system with too much livestock, live rock, and decorations before the tank has fully cycled.
 
Solution:  Introducing too many new additions into a tank can cause “new tank syndrome.”  This is a condition in which ammonia and nitrite levels rise to dangerous quantities before being converted into relatively harmless nitrate.

Mistake:  Misdiagnosing diseases or giving the wrong treatment.

Solution:  In many saltwater aquariums, Ich is the biggest problem, but it can be easily confused with Marine Velvet Disease or White Spot Disease. Each condition is very different and each responds to different types of treatment. It’s best to leave the diagnosis to your local saltwater aquarium expert who can provide you with the proper treatment solutions.

Mistake:  Overmedicating your fish.

Solution:  Very often, one or more remedies are given to a sick fish without really knowing what the problem is. Medications should only be given when necessary and, if possible, in a quarantine tank. It’s important to use the correct medicine in the correct dosage to target the specific disease you are dealing with.

Mistake:  Purchasing fish or other marine life without knowing anything about your selections.

Solution:  Many people select new additions for their aquarium without having the foggiest notion of how to care for them or feed them. Take the time to learn about a particular fish BEFORE making a purchase, and don’t buy on impulse just because a fish has pretty colors or appears to be cute. An informed salesperson should be able to answer any questions you may have regarding how to care for a particular type of fish or invertebrate.

Mistake:  Mixing different varieties of sea life without knowing which ones are compatible.

Solution:  Putting various types of fish in an aquarium without knowing if they will peacefully cohabitate is a common mistake. It’s best to learn about the compatibility of various types of fish before mixing them all together in an aquarium.

Mistake:  Lack of proper tank maintenance

Solution:  Saltwater systems that are well maintained seldom experience bacterial outbreaks, high nitrate levels, or other water quality issues. To avoid problems in this area, establish and follow a regular maintenance routine.

Mistake:  Using a poor quality water source

Solution:  Using tap water or unpurified water in saltwater solutions or to top off a tank can lead to many water quality issues. Using a water purification filter, buying clean natural sea water, or filling a tank with prefiltered RO/DI (reverse osmosis/de-ionized) water from a reliable supplier is an investment that will pay for itself in the long run.