7 Things Pro Reefers Don't Care About (That Newbies Do)

[@ReefDorkXtra]

What are your reefing red herrings?

[@fuffoon]

Pretty much the same as you have talked about here. Chasing parameters, unreasonable expectations for the first year or two and throwing cash at a time issue. Its not the Spanish Inquisition!

[@jamesmcfarlandiv3867]

Really I don't have much,there are alot of different methods to running a reef tank that can all be successful if implemented correctly. But since you asked I guess I'll put it out there; I hate these new "negative space aquascapes" with 100's of fish swimming around all frantic n no place for them to call a home.

[@antonyh37]

I learned the last fact the hard way. Chasing pristine water quality lead me to dinoflagellates. What fixed it was getting away from Chemi-pure and just using regular carbon and shutting down the super effective refugium and going without. Since doing those things I have brighter coral coloration, better polyp extension, more coraline algae growth. Seems like spending more money isn't always the best idea in this hobby.

[@jamesmcfarlandiv3867]

I love it. Just setup a nano in the bedroom 4 months ago with a super filtration network and a 5gal bucket fuge. Now I'm dosing a shitload of phosphate daily and a small amount of nitrate every other day. I don't wanna take the fuge offline but it's knocking down .08 every night, now I do dose that much right before i turn it on so the phosphate don't bottom out to 0.00 and cause my acro's to lose their color. But it's happened 5x already now the acros n milli's look like shit now the gmk is closed also I have the fuge light (kessil h80)turned on the lowest possible setting so when I test this morning if they've bottomed out again I don't know what else to do but take it offline.

[@antonyh37]

@@jamesmcfarlandiv3867 I used to trim back the chaeto and it would barely help. The fuge to me was only beneficial if I had an all sps tank. Once the birds nest died, I kept the tank strictly a soft coral and LPS tank. Since I shut down the fuge my lps and soft coral have colored up and has been growing great. My phosphates sit around .04 now on average. Algae is still nuisance but I have slowed it down by keeping the protein skimmer running 24/7. The skimmer not only helps with gas exchange, but removes strands of algae before it gets a chance to grow.

[@jamesmcfarlandiv3867]

@@antonyh37 Yes your right with trimming the chaeto I've found you can control the amount of excess phosphate your fuge removes. With this tank I've found it best to just remove the fuge. Since I removed it,( I believe the day after I talked to you last), I'm back to having pristine water quality on easy street again. Don't get me wrong a refugium has its place it's just not needed on this system.

[@mbtravel7294]

I am in the same boat my friend... Just transferred from freshwater and thought over filtration and weekly water changes were the key to success.

[@simplereef4854]

@@antonyh37 My secret of keeping a tank free of algae is the yellow tang. Everything else will just do more harm than good. I even shut down my protein skimmer once my tank is one year old.

[@rudra7615]

"aww..I remember those days" Got me with that one! Alex is the reefing bro reefers need but don't deserve!

[@dannylegare8150]

subbed right after he said that lol

[@matthewjames7394]

I used to not like you because I thought you were strange.. but you literally give the best advice about the hobby. I’ve become a huge fan of yours!

[@spacecowboy07723]

😂 🤣

[@ArrickthaRed]

This is such a true video. I just set up my new 225 gallon tank. I transplanted fish and some coral from my old system and now just leaving it alone. It looks horrible. But I know from stting up so many tanks over 20 years to just leave it alone. As long as major parameters are in line leave it be. All I can do is mess things up by fiddling with it. Great video.

[@manontoupin1501]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! As a beginner when you see beautiful videos and picture perfect photos, it makes you feel not adequate. Reality is when you stop searching perfection, well actually you tank look good. Control parameters and let it be!

[@kevintwine8443]

I'm 6 months into the hobby and before I got the tank wet I would stay up late researching as much as I could my brain was literally frying lol but I completely agree with not chasing perfection as I have taken things slowly due to money lol and have found this approach so much more stress free (don't get me wrong if I had more spare cash I'd have a full blown reef by now lol) love your videos 👍

[@EIY_Kumar]

I more thing that I've learned and would love to add is obsessing over various dosing methods, is Kalk enough, will 2 parts raise the salinity and kill everything, all these staff, unless every inch of your have a tank filled with coral, and you are skipping water changes for months, nothing to worry.

[@Harolddespui]

That tank at 3:20 just wauw. Do you remember which lights on this?

[@ReefDork]

Pretty sure they ai Hydra 52s

[@zaheer01-abbas]

Alex have watched a lot of your videos and can't thank you enough for all helpfully guides I have been worried about my corals not growing for a few months now but watched this and am now just waiting for the time when grow like crazy

[@stuartmillan9466]

Thanks for the overall theme of this video. Watched your videos as a newbie day one and here am a year and a half in and I couldn’t agree more keeping calm overall key. Sweating your all when it it’s 7.8 and not 8.0 is not the key. Whole video well said and thank you! 👌🏻

[@Colin_Robinson_EV]

Well said! I'm only 4 years in but your sooo right about all the panic we do in the beginning 🤣

[@ilikeweirdfish7106]

It seems to me there are two extremes in reefing. The purists who freak out at every little thing that pops up in their tank and those who like a good bio-diversity (even if that includes some pests). Being part of the latter I can't imagine the stress the former must feel.

[@swamppnus]

Yup, I had a red flatworm infestation. It was starting to bother me but I would siphon most it. Since I just moved recently I decided to upgrade that tank to a slightly larger one and add new sand, I scrubbed the life out of those rocks. For the first week or 2 the new tank had a couple worms on the glass and frag plugs. It’s been 2 months and I never see one anymore, I look in every crook and cranny of my tank. I don’t see them, I guess since there was so little after the move my wrasse was able to eat them all.

[@Heavens-Humanaterian-Army]

quarantine everything in the beginning its worth the wait

[@sunnygoold9449]

So good! So funny! Can't think of any - dosing bacteria maybe LoL

[@aceshadow363]

What's the little wrasse at 5:33 called!? Right-center of the screen

[@ReefDork]

Naoko wrasse probably - it's the fish I get asked about more than any! Cool fish.

[@AnotherZX12R]

Maidenhead Aquatics, Fair Oak at 3:20?

[@ReefDork]

Correct! Nice shop that 👍

[@RedDevilMacha]

Hi, can u share your light spectrum parameter numbers and the timing?

[@karennation3580]

Thats what I found in my tank is a stomatella or however its spelled! it was striped though and looked like a snail but only part of the body had the shell! He moved out so much quicker then a regular snail! Do I not need to worry about finding him again and tossing him out?

[@ReefDork]

Freaky looking things aren't they! Like a toenail on a booger! But yeah, totally cool CUC.

[@karennation3580]

@@ReefDork So glad to know! He was moving out like I have never seen! My snails usually just sit in the same spot all day! Except my conchs! I love my conchs! I think I have read you like them alot as well!

[@aquamind9996]

Good balanced thoughts. Us newbies tend to overreact, which is never good!

[@hanekochan]

I really appreciate all your videos on this kind of topics! I didn't know about the coraline algae, that's a pro tip! ❤️ Thanks

[@artistic_spaz3724]

This was an excellent video! My red herring is to not chase parameters. I have a new tank (not quite 2 months old) I have decided to do weekly water changes, test parameters every 2 weeks and just let it establish itself. Kind of a hands off approach so far. Looks like crap cuz its in the ugly stage and some days I wonder why I am doing this but I am hoping it will get better and I will actually get to enjoy it some day lol

[@Cosigner22]

I don't test anything but salinity and temp. I have a 15 gal mixed reef and do 5 gal water changes every Sunday. I have great color and growth out of everything including my acros. People spend too much time chasing numbers and their corals are never in stable water.

[@jeffwirth6356]

Switch it around and do testing more often. If you're doing a water change without testing, what's the purpose of the water change?

[@rafwhitcher679]

Alex I’ve been trying to find the video you done where you show your water storage containers and after the link to the containers you have purchased.

[@ReefDork]

Hmm, I've had a few over the years. The good ones are from tanksdirect.co.uk (made by wydale plastics) and the anti glug containers I got from amazon (just search that). Are they what you have in mind?

[@rafwhitcher679]

@@ReefDork cheers Alex thank you yes the tanksdirct was what I was after 👍

[@pauldeacon8764]

Great video as always Alex, You know that fish that dives, have u got a new one or is it an old clip?? 😀👍👍

[@ReefDork]

Old clip! My last 3 fairy wrasses all got bullied so no more unfortunately!

[@kevin916587]

i am sorry, can i ask, if planted tank pro LED is usable on marine tank?

[@ReefDork]

I'm afraid not - totally different light spectrum

[@ReefandDive]

Always love your insights and agree with ALL on this video!

[@les959]

i was craving some sort of algae in my reefer 350! 6 months later just coraline alage and growing acropora.

[@jennanation6992]

I see you have afighting conch! What do oyu think about him as a good clean up crew member? My two are th eonly snails that I really think make a difference. I only had astra and nassarisus in my small tank and full of algea until I removed one of two of my fighting conchs and he ate all the algae off every frag plug I placed on the sand bed!

[@glennanderson7795]

Thank you Alex! There is so much to consider before I take the 'plunge' Being in a wheelchair, I'm going to need the entire kit & kaboodle to be as automated as possible, if you have any details on how a wheelchair-bound person can get into the hobby as easily as 'current ' tech allows, please advise! I don't wish to spend £1000's on a tank and giving it up for being too difficult VBW x

[@ReefDork]

Can't think of any tech in particular that will help, I'd just say make everything at an accessible height including being able to get your hands in the tank if at all possible

[@glennanderson7795]

Thank you v.much! Had to ask as I'm sure you understand, would it be sensible to have the cabinet on wheels? Finally, does the mural wallpaper behind the tank you feature come via Graham and Brown? It looks great on the one wall, and at their prices the cost of covering a room would cost you many corals! VBW x

[@ReefDork]

@@glennanderson7795 I'm not sure having a tank on wheels is a good idea... Dont know where it's from - came with the house!

[@glennanderson7795]

Thank you for the kind reply, I hope you and the family have a great weekend (if you like sunbathing) I have another (1000) questions which I will get the majority of answers by your super site! I have one regarding exterior temps, but will save that for another day. VBW & goodnight! x

[@AVGJoeyBoi]

@Glenn Anderson if you wish to have a successful and easily accessible tank I would recommend a nano. Something like a lagoon style 20 gallon or in that size range would be cheap enough for you not to have to spend £1000’s and it would be accessible for you to get your hands in the tank since it is a lagoon style. I would also look into getting a lower table or cabinet for it. If you get an all in one aquarium you don’t need a tall cabinet for a sump, allowing it to be easily accessible and you can have the tank as low as you need. Also having an auto top off, pumps for water changes, and a solution to lugging buckets around would make it more accessible for you to take care of your tank and enjoy the hobby. Happy reefing 🪸

[@DZ-cm5xw]

Wonderful! Right on point

[@victornicolau9131]

Ahh the haircut joke is spot on…ohh the days…maybe the only reason I love Gha is the memory of days gone.

[@iancosford7060]

100% agree on growth. Some just take time

[@ramblingbadger]

You are the Finnbarr Saunders of the reefkeeping world.

[@mbcoralreefing9025]

I have a 32 gallon bio cube that i bought for $600 but with all the upgrades I put into it it's worth $1500, I don't like the sand at all it gets into the fliters and my corals just take to long to grow with the sand , so I removed the sand and I noticed a huge growth on my green star pollyps and my blue spotted red mushrooms they just started to blow massively also all of my hammer corals have grown smaller heads, all levels have been so good since the sand has been removed I haven't even checked them in 2 months... I also have a 55 gallon red sea with sand that does just great so I think sand in certain tanks with certain filtering could and could not be a problem I have ups and downs with ph in my red sea but it's never to concerning. All I dose my tank with is iodine fuel and mircroverts and my corals just blow up Really good video

[@lazyreefer8749]

literally make me laugh out loud. Always good content. 👍🇬🇧

[@dusk1947]

Yes, Fantastic video. Too many, including myself at the start, set our expectations to the super curated social media posts. However, those aren't the every-day reality of the majority of Reef tanks. The Reality is a far less glamourous or idealized system that does in-fact grow corals and support reef life, but with far far more blemishes. Or needless fixations that people should ease into, rather than rush. For instances, I was fixated on needing "the best" light's and so I had Radion's before even putting fish in the system.... Instead, I could have saved stress on my initial budget and easily started with compact fluorescent bulbs at the start given the sparse biology in the tank; and then moved into higher end lighting as I acquired more demanding corals. I'm not saying that should be the order of things, but I am suggesting the systems don't not need to be 100% before you start it. You can build it over time, if you do your homework. But, when we're new, we rush. I personally adore that Lighting debate however, but that's a fragment of studying and working with photosynthetic organisms professionally. There are subjects we gravitate to, and I'll probably be one to sweat and debate lighting minutia indefinitely. Part of the fun, can be in debating other reefers. So long as we all understand that most lights will grow corals, and what we're debating are small or minor differences.

[@theurbanartist775]

I recently switched over to marine after having cichlids for 5 years. I’ve spent so much money over the two months of setting it up. I’ve bought three lights thus far🥵 I currently have a Kessil a80 on a bubble 25 gallon Aquavision c25 aquarium. It’s absolutely beautiful, but being consumed by lighting was my worst mistake.

[@ParkersReef]

Great video, well done (Y)

[@stockdama]

"Leave it the f alone" basically. Thank you, i needed to hear this. :D

[@burtminshew4812]

Absolutely spot on! 👍

[@johnpoulson384]

Excellent. Thanks

[@paulukreefer5012]

Great vid, agree with every part 🙌

[@insectkiller2005]

Its a good feeling when you come out the other end and stop worrying.

[@leequigley2077]

Great video.

[@jlenngren]

”I remember those says”😂😂

[@knorrautocare]

I subscribed because the bald joke made me laugh👍👍

[@reefaddictsmerch7026]

Bristleworms give me the creeps but try not to worry about them

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

i love saltwater tanks. just dont have space for more bigger tanks

[@simplereef4854]

Sorry, but you can add soft coral on day one of your aquarium, no problem at all.

[@TwoScottishReefers]

Love the puns 😂

[@spacecowboy07723]

Expensive Automatic top off electronics. My bucket, gravity and float valve does all that for $10

[@clentcoralreef]

Now I finally shaved my head... so do I Alex ;)

[@ReefDork]

😁

[@EIY_Kumar]

At 3.10 mark I was assuming I'd see a Butt image like you used to in old videos.. do that kind of editings more often

[@ReefDork]

😂 I almost did that!

[@lokeyacolyte2145]

My tank is about 3-6 months months old and I am starting to get a bit of brown algae (not diatoms as far as I can tell) all over my tank and I couldn't be happier. Free food for my CUC (not that they seem to do anything really) and as far as I am concerned, an ecosystem shouldn't look immaculate. A lot of reefers will disagree with that, but in my opinion if it isn't doing any harm and is helping my livestock and keeping nitrates and phosphates in check.... I just don't see an issue. I am a new reefer but have been in freshwater for about 6 years now, just my two cents.

[@ReefDork]

👍

[@lunes-1]

👍

[@kylefriend6391]

What I don’t care about: HOB anything

[@lesthelegendofficial]

I remember haircuts

[@ReefDork]

🤣