Matthew, I know that this video was posted a year ago, I just want to say thank you so much for time you have taken to provide us with all of the great videos and pertinent information. I’ve been keeping salt water fish, off and on since my high school days (1970’s). I have watched the hobby evolve from that “dark age” long ago, when it was basically only fish, no corals, and if any survived past a year if was a wondrous miracle. Thanks again
@@BulkReefSupply I've been out of the reefer world for only a decade or so and so much has changed! I think over the last few weeks I've watched almost all your newbie videos. Agree with jbrowning - just really appreciate you taking the time!
This is a mistake and advice at the same time: don't throw away pieces of old equipment! You never know when you're gonna need a suction cup or a clamp or an impeller for a pump. I save every piece of old equipment whether it works or not. Parts are not easy to find and you never know when you'll need it
Great list! QT is one I was like nahhh I can do this without it. 😒 Now I’m setting up a QT after losing my Powder Blue Tang which was the fish that got me into this hobby.
Same... For 2 years I didn't qt.. Ended up buying a powder blue tang that had velvet... Wiped out my tank.... Im still hurt😢... Now i got a full hospital set up
@@llomax1067 So sorry to hear this. I experienced the exact same thing. managed to say 4 fish. But the rest died. QT is so important i didnt even realise lol
It was decent info. I appreciate your help mate! I have been doing a mistake when salinity goes high i used to add a salter water which is lower than the one i have in the tank. I'm gonna use this trick adding RO/DI instead of saltwater. Appreciate your help (:
use a timer, send your waste water to the washing machine, save the water for the next wash. Have the "waste" hose reach out the window to a bigger tub for gardening, toilet, cleaning, etc :)
Amazing video that anyone considering getting into this hobby should watch - It has greatly helped us start our Reefer 350 :). We are addicted to this hobby now.
They're all good. Thanks for the handwashing tip, too - I'm autistic and haaaaate gloves, so it's nice to know I can mitigate the problem to some extent.
I think the best way to wash your hands, is to do water and soap scrub, then rinse off really good, then take a cup of tank water and scrub your hands in that. The tank water from the cup goes down the drain after.
@bulkreefsupply Hey guys, Professional Chef and decade long reefer here. The best way to wash your hands is exaclty like you would sanitize them in a professional setting. You also use less water and no need for vinegar. First remove any jewelry, including anything on the wrist. You will also need: 100 degree F water (the hottest you can handle for 30 seconds comfortably at a time without pause). Neutral soap made from basic ingredients, no perfumes or lotions: lye, ash and oil, etc. Make sure to trim your nails and make sure not to cut your skin, use a brush for 10 seconds to clean the tips of your fingers. Now grab the soap and lather for 10 seconds. Turn water off, scrub every part of your hands all the way beyond where you would wear a watch. After scrubbing well, turn the water back on and wait for it to get as hot again (100 degrees F) scrub for 20 seconds or until you are completely free of soap, don't forget to rub the tips of your fingers. Check for any possible remaining debris. Restart if necessary. FINALLY, make sure to use clean paper, or air dry, never use a towel as this will riddle your hands with unwanted bacteria. As Ryan from BRS would say, it only takes one drop to introduce unwanted elements or pests into your tank. Once your hands are 100% dry you are good to go for at least an hour or until you touch your face or hair LOL. I have kept tanks for 10 years now and I have never had a problem. Of course, I also use stainless steel tools for my tank and reduce the need to put my hands in, but this proceedure is performed at least once each time I intend to approach the tank. Hope this helps. Happy Reefing.
Beginner Mistake #42 : Buying a low powered heater for the size of your tank to save money. You set 84 degree on a 100 watt heater (which has a digital control) for a 90 gallon fresh water Discus tank, the room temp goes down to 62 overnight. Come back to measure the temp in the morning and and you find its only 75 degree in your tank and fishes are super stressed.
A higher watt heater can also be a mistake bc if the controller fails, your heater cooks the fish. I think we should be recommending 2 smaller heaters that can keep the temp stable overnight and won’t bring the temp too high if one fails.
I always use two Marine Pro heaters rated for the tank size on an Inkbird controller. I set the Inkbird at 80 for the high and the low at 74 Then I set one of the heaters at 76 and the other at 79. I also use high and low audible alarms.
Power strips. Keep em off the floor and away from splash prone areas. Almost burnt down my house with one on the floor when my cowfish spat water onto it
I wouldn't recomend buying RODI filter within the first 6-12 months. Everytime you go to the LFS to buy RODI water is an excellent opportunity to talk to the staff, ask questions, check out their products and live stock and buy other things while you are there. It forces you to go to the store more often, which makes the hobby more alive and motivating. You learn something new every time you visit. But after a few months when you have gotten the hang of the basics of reefing, it's just annoying. Then it's time to buy the RODI filter Btw, when buying water, having 4 cans of 2,5 gallon is a lot easier to carry than 2 x 5 gallons, but you have to walk twice
2 big mistakes I did cost me big time patience and not quarantining.... Velvet wiped out my tank...learned an expensive lesson.. Now I have a whole hospital set up
Walking away from water changes... That's so me. I literally walked away from my pond draining earlier today. Totally forgot I was in the middle of a water change. Major Derp.
Call me crazy, call me a heretic, but quarantine tanks just don't work out well for me. I labor over and over again, providing the perfect quarantine tank, and dang it, the fish is always dead in the morning. But acclimating correctly and then plopping new livestock directly into my tank hasn't failed me yet. I know, I'm just waiting for a disaster, so hold the lectures. But 15 years and counting... so far so good... and yes, I cross my fingers each time :)
add damsels they are hard to kill and will live in your tank thats fish i started with as well as clown fish cheaps ofc just incase something went wrong
Point 23 has some errors. Algae doesn't love green light. It doesn't use it, hence the green color. Photosynthetic peaks are the same for algae as they are for coral because chlorophyll is chlorophyll
Great list... my advice is just to sit and enjoy your tank after every cleaning and as much as possible..stop dissecting every tiny thing... Enjoy the tank... you spend a fortune on it, so get your moneys worth.
I want to set up a quarantine but i only have a nano reef tank and so it will have only 3-4 fish which would make the initial investment and upkeep of a QT pointless as there is no livestock to be added in after. If i was to continue buying setups and fish, qt will be my next thing. Tell me if im wrong
That's a fair way to look at things. If you wanted to skip QT in this very specific instance, it likely wouldn't be the end of the world. A little added risk, but not as much risk vs adding an un-QT'd fish to a system with dozens and dozens of other fish.
There used to be a "reef safe" soap company, but unfortunately that no longer exists. Generally speaking, try to use an all natural or organic soap without any heavy scents and you should be ok.
It isn't that I disagree with the lid/mesh advice. But I really don't understand the ubiquitous move to bracelets lidless tanks in the modern hobby, considering almost everyone then uses an ugly mesh cover which completely ruins the aesthetic.
In a previous video, Matthew covered his stock list ideas for a 30 gallon tank. Check it out at the link below 🙂 ua-cam.com/video/2bF-N0EKNI8/v-deo.html
I totally disagree with the point you made about the light. The light is prob one of the most important pieces of the reef. A 1000$ light vs a cheaper light will ABSOLUTELY make a difference.
But the difference between the $300 light and a $1000 light isn't going to be worth it for a beginner IMO. The way I see it, there's usually a bad, better, and best option. I think it's best for beginners to stick with better. An example might be nicrew vs kessil/ai vs radions
@@Rockina2bar he said you won’t see a difference that’s what I don’t agree with. There are many pieces of equipment where that is true but not for lights. If there’s one thing you can choose to spend money on it should be the lights because there is an absolute difference in look and growth between a 100$ light vs a kessil.
Matthew, I know that this video was posted a year ago, I just want to say thank you so much for time you have taken to provide us with all of the great videos and pertinent information. I’ve been keeping salt water fish, off and on since my high school days (1970’s). I have watched the hobby evolve from that “dark age” long ago, when it was basically only fish, no corals, and if any survived past a year if was a wondrous miracle.
Thanks again
That is too kind! Thanks for taking the time to write this. I love what I do and I'm glad you have found the videos useful! Happy Reefing! -Matthew
@@BulkReefSupply I've been out of the reefer world for only a decade or so and so much has changed! I think over the last few weeks I've watched almost all your newbie videos. Agree with jbrowning - just really appreciate you taking the time!
This is a mistake and advice at the same time: don't throw away pieces of old equipment! You never know when you're gonna need a suction cup or a clamp or an impeller for a pump. I save every piece of old equipment whether it works or not. Parts are not easy to find and you never know when you'll need it
I have actually used old suction cups multiple times and old outputs from old filters
Yup. Sometimes I'm like hmm, this is old and I should pitch it, but then I end up finding a use for it weeks or months later.
Hoarding for the win. Finally ...lol.
Great list! QT is one I was like nahhh I can do this without it. 😒 Now I’m setting up a QT after losing my Powder Blue Tang which was the fish that got me into this hobby.
Same... For 2 years I didn't qt..
Ended up buying a powder blue tang that had velvet... Wiped out my tank.... Im still hurt😢... Now i got a full hospital set up
@@llomax1067 So sorry to hear this. I experienced the exact same thing. managed to say 4 fish. But the rest died. QT is so important i didnt even realise lol
It was decent info. I appreciate your help mate! I have been doing a mistake when salinity goes high i used to add a salter water which is lower than the one i have in the tank. I'm gonna use this trick adding RO/DI instead of saltwater. Appreciate your help (:
I try and run my rodi into a giant tub sitting in my bathtub - that way there’s no mess when I forget it at that 8th hour 🤣
use a timer, send your waste water to the washing machine, save the water for the next wash. Have the "waste" hose reach out the window to a bigger tub for gardening, toilet, cleaning, etc :)
Amazing video that anyone considering getting into this hobby should watch - It has greatly helped us start our Reefer 350 :). We are addicted to this hobby now.
Agree with all minus the weekly water changes.. As a general rule I guess for beginners then I could definitely see how it would apply.
You seem very humble and honest.
31. Use rubbing alcohol instead of vinegar. It has no odor, it will evaporate quickly, no rinse needed. Got this one from a discus keeper.
They're all good. Thanks for the handwashing tip, too - I'm autistic and haaaaate gloves, so it's nice to know I can mitigate the problem to some extent.
I agree with doing research, I always research a coral before I buy it and it always pays off
Great video as I'm new into keeping a saltwater aquarium and my aquarium is now 5 months old. Great advice
I think the best way to wash your hands, is to do water and soap scrub, then rinse off really good, then take a cup of tank water and scrub your hands in that. The tank water from the cup goes down the drain after.
Thank you for all the help. I’m very new to saltwater fish. This was a lot of help and insight.
Such a great video! So many true things. Thanks for this awesome video! ❤️
Solving some small problems prevents a lot of big problems ;)
Great advice as always Matt!!
Hos hands were really limp walking into this hahaha, great video regardless
@bulkreefsupply Hey guys, Professional Chef and decade long reefer here. The best way to wash your hands is exaclty like you would sanitize them in a professional setting. You also use less water and no need for vinegar. First remove any jewelry, including anything on the wrist. You will also need: 100 degree F water (the hottest you can handle for 30 seconds comfortably at a time without pause). Neutral soap made from basic ingredients, no perfumes or lotions: lye, ash and oil, etc. Make sure to trim your nails and make sure not to cut your skin, use a brush for 10 seconds to clean the tips of your fingers. Now grab the soap and lather for 10 seconds. Turn water off, scrub every part of your hands all the way beyond where you would wear a watch. After scrubbing well, turn the water back on and wait for it to get as hot again (100 degrees F) scrub for 20 seconds or until you are completely free of soap, don't forget to rub the tips of your fingers. Check for any possible remaining debris. Restart if necessary.
FINALLY, make sure to use clean paper, or air dry, never use a towel as this will riddle your hands with unwanted bacteria. As Ryan from BRS would say, it only takes one drop to introduce unwanted elements or pests into your tank. Once your hands are 100% dry you are good to go for at least an hour or until you touch your face or hair LOL. I have kept tanks for 10 years now and I have never had a problem. Of course, I also use stainless steel tools for my tank and reduce the need to put my hands in, but this proceedure is performed at least once each time I intend to approach the tank. Hope this helps. Happy Reefing.
Beginner Mistake #42 : Buying a low powered heater for the size of your tank to save money. You set 84 degree on a 100 watt heater (which has a digital control) for a 90 gallon fresh water Discus tank, the room temp goes down to 62 overnight. Come back to measure the temp in the morning and and you find its only 75 degree in your tank and fishes are super stressed.
A higher watt heater can also be a mistake bc if the controller fails, your heater cooks the fish. I think we should be recommending 2 smaller heaters that can keep the temp stable overnight and won’t bring the temp too high if one fails.
I always use two Marine Pro heaters rated for the tank size on an Inkbird controller. I set the Inkbird at 80 for the high and the low at 74 Then I set one of the heaters at 76 and the other at 79. I also use high and low audible alarms.
Great Video!
Thank you!
Great video. Very informative ✊🏽
Love your vids man
Power strips. Keep em off the floor and away from splash prone areas. Almost burnt down my house with one on the floor when my cowfish spat water onto it
I wouldn't recomend buying RODI filter within the first 6-12 months.
Everytime you go to the LFS to buy RODI water is an excellent opportunity to
talk to the staff,
ask questions,
check out their products and live stock
and buy other things while you are there.
It forces you to go to the store more often, which makes the hobby more alive and motivating.
You learn something new every time you visit.
But after a few months when you have gotten the hang of the basics of reefing,
it's just annoying. Then it's time to buy the RODI filter
Btw, when buying water, having 4 cans of 2,5 gallon is a lot easier to carry than 2 x 5 gallons, but you have to walk twice
Consider buying a basic Apex Neptune monitoring system.
I’m not exactly rich and I’m not poor, but #6 has bitten my ass a thousand times 😂
"And don't even believe the things I say" -Matthew, from My First Fish Tank
2 big mistakes I did cost me big time patience and not quarantining.... Velvet wiped out my tank...learned an expensive lesson..
Now I have a whole hospital set up
Walking away from water changes... That's so me. I literally walked away from my pond draining earlier today. Totally forgot I was in the middle of a water change. Major Derp.
Call me crazy, call me a heretic, but quarantine tanks just don't work out well for me. I labor over and over again, providing the perfect quarantine tank, and dang it, the fish is always dead in the morning. But acclimating correctly and then plopping new livestock directly into my tank hasn't failed me yet. I know, I'm just waiting for a disaster, so hold the lectures. But 15 years and counting... so far so good... and yes, I cross my fingers each time :)
add damsels they are hard to kill and will live in your tank thats fish i started with as well as clown fish cheaps ofc just incase something went wrong
This sounds more like lessons to life then keep a marine tank. Well done
please add subtitles. my friend cant understand. he need subtitle translate
Hey Matthew , do you still live in the Mercer Island area? Love you're videos and keep up the amazing videos
Point 23 has some errors. Algae doesn't love green light. It doesn't use it, hence the green color. Photosynthetic peaks are the same for algae as they are for coral because chlorophyll is chlorophyll
Ah yes, excellent point! Thanks for pointing that out!
Great list... my advice is just to sit and enjoy your tank after every cleaning and as much as possible..stop dissecting every tiny thing... Enjoy the tank... you spend a fortune on it, so get your moneys worth.
SOAPS.. DOnt use liquid soap.. I personally recommend a BAR soap with no perfumes.. one comes to mind right away and that is Ivory Soap.
You shouldn’t be using ANY soap at all ever lol
@@truereefkeeping6022 Then you would always be stinky..
Always use gloves, beleive me you don't want to find out what some of the organisms in a saltwater tank can do to you!
Dumb question time: What does PAR mean? I probsbly should know this, but I don't. Thanks, John J in SC
I want to set up a quarantine but i only have a nano reef tank and so it will have only 3-4 fish which would make the initial investment and upkeep of a QT pointless as there is no livestock to be added in after. If i was to continue buying setups and fish, qt will be my next thing. Tell me if im wrong
That's a fair way to look at things. If you wanted to skip QT in this very specific instance, it likely wouldn't be the end of the world. A little added risk, but not as much risk vs adding an un-QT'd fish to a system with dozens and dozens of other fish.
😂something must be wrong 🤔 so me 😂🤦♂️
What's a good way or product to wash my hands since I'm a full time mechanic I work work with grease oils and tons of chemicals all day
There used to be a "reef safe" soap company, but unfortunately that no longer exists. Generally speaking, try to use an all natural or organic soap without any heavy scents and you should be ok.
Wow 60 gallons a week? How much is your water bill?
Lol the water is a small fraction of the cost of the salt
It isn't that I disagree with the lid/mesh advice. But I really don't understand the ubiquitous move to bracelets lidless tanks in the modern hobby, considering almost everyone then uses an ugly mesh cover which completely ruins the aesthetic.
what would your perfect stocking list for a standard 29 gal. be?
In a previous video, Matthew covered his stock list ideas for a 30 gallon tank. Check it out at the link below 🙂
ua-cam.com/video/2bF-N0EKNI8/v-deo.html
Like!
My nitrate is on the 25~ level too, wondering if i should attempt to lower it, everything seems fine in tank
I totally disagree with the point you made about the light. The light is prob one of the most important pieces of the reef. A 1000$ light vs a cheaper light will ABSOLUTELY make a difference.
But the difference between the $300 light and a $1000 light isn't going to be worth it for a beginner IMO. The way I see it, there's usually a bad, better, and best option. I think it's best for beginners to stick with better. An example might be nicrew vs kessil/ai vs radions
@@Rockina2bar he said you won’t see a difference that’s what I don’t agree with. There are many pieces of equipment where that is true but not for lights. If there’s one thing you can choose to spend money on it should be the lights because there is an absolute difference in look and growth between a 100$ light vs a kessil.
No more guid? 🤔