Hello guys what is a purchase you regret?

[Craigsin]

So far, my biggest regret would be a calcium reactor system. I purchased everything I needed for an automated system before I had the cabinet and tank, and did not realize how much space everything took up. There was no way I was going to be able to fit all the needed equipment, so I had to scrap the idea after I had already sunk over a grand into the equipment!

 

[HumuhumuFan]

Years ago I bought a very small triggerfish. I didn't know they needed to eat 5x a day at that size and it did not survive.

 

[Razorbacks]

We have a tuxedo in our tank! It has definitely cut down on some of our algae issues!

Maybe add a second one? One juvenile (captive bred) kept up with my 20 gallon almost entirely on his own. Only things he wouldn't eat were bubble algae, cyano, and dinos.

 

[EuphyllinOHk]

I regret a “yellow chromis” which is a real but uncommon fish. What happened is the supplier said they had them, the store ordered yellow chromis, they came in, and I bought one.

A few weeks later I notice this guy is not acting like a yellow chromis, and the colors are changing and it doesn’t look like one anymore.

I call the store and they realized it also, and said the supplier ran out and substituted yellow damsel on the order and forgot to let them know.

Needless to say he’s a nightmare anytime I attempt to add a fish…here he is chasing and attacking a new tomini, and the damage he caused

That entire family of fish is as interesting as they are angry

My regret is every piece of shapeshifting rock I ever got that changed as soon as I was happy with it. I took numerous pictures and it's almost like some goblin swapped out rocks when I wasn't looking, leaving me confused and dissatisfied

 

[rtparty]

Anything Red Sea. Shiny packaging but horrible execution. So much better stuff for the same or less

 

[Jasonak]

Green disco mushrooms. There were 2 or 3 that were on some live rock I bought for my 120.
I should have removed then. It was one of the reasons I took the 120 down. They would release and kill whatever they touched.
They are just above the middle rock on the bottom. Zoom to see.

Love the tang!

 

[jabberwock]

Oh why is that ? I love my little guys

I named them Mickey and Mallory after their 3rd kill. I barely saved the Yellow Watchman Goby. Once they get at a breeding stage, the aggression goes through the roof. If you don't have any other fish, probably ok. Of course, all dependent on tank size, water quality and 600 other variables.

 

[Reeftronics]

Things I regret the most:

1. Nonstandard tank that wasn't reef ready. It was a gift so I didn't want to hurt feelings, but too late realized it made everything more difficult, expensive, or less enjoyable.
   1. Didn't want to drill, so I bought a HOB overflow, but didn't like the extra noise or salt creep outside the tank.
   2. Used the hoses that came with the HOB overflow instead of plumbing and they rotted, having to be replaced, but not before they ruined the original stand.
   3. Because it was 30" long, 25" tall, and had black plastic eurobracing, it made finding lights more difficult and expensive.
   4. Odd size of tank and stand also meant I couldn't really do everything I wanted with the sump.
2. Orbit Marine Current Loop System. I thought this budget system was the way to go, but replacing parts cost more money than just buying what I wanted.
   1. Worst part were the wave makers. These things would get stuck or go bad quickly. I was cleaning them constantly trying to get them to work, sometimes they'd stop working after just a few weeks.
   2. Lights just weren't very powerful, especially for my odd size tank.
   3. Remotes and controllers would quit working.
3. AI Prime 16 HD Reef. These lights were a massive upgrade over the Current Loop System, but still had issues.
   1. Bought 2 at once, but still couldn't get the par I wanted on my tank.
   2. One quit working altogether after 2 months.
   3. Replacement burned a hole in lens, bought a replacement lens, but the red and green LEDs had stopped working and I couldn't run the light over 60% without it overheating and shutting off.
   4. Replaced that one and the original that was still working randomly dropped 2 screws out of the lens into my tank. I found one sitting on top of my rockwork. The other took days to find with a magnet. If you ever have that problem, know that the screws are not strongly affected by magnets due to the material.
4. My live rock. I don't know what kind it is. It looks like SPS Coral skeletons. It looked really cool when I started, but all the spaces between those branches make it hard to remove pests like Aiptasia, algae, and unwanted worms or crabs. Also made it hard to remove inverts that had passed.

Best value purchases:

1. Sicce Pumps and Wavemakers. Great value and performance. They just work and last forever.
2. Roleadro LED Grow Light. I found this UFO light on Amazon for like $30 marketed for plants that had the perfect spectrum. It has lasted 6 years so far and grows macroalgae in a refugium better than any other light I've tried and without ever having to spend hundreds on one branded for a reef tank.
3. Vortech MP10QD. I love the ability to hide as much equipment as possible and not have cords coming out of the water. This thing is probably too powerful my tank. I run it on fairly low power because it blows sand around even halfway up the tank. After my experience with Orbit Marine, I was afraid to try something like this, but it's been running great over a year now.

 

[ricecry]

my interior designer

 

[Featherweight]

Vortech MP10s, AI Primes, Noopsyche K7 Pro V3s, industry built ATO containers, and anything else still gathering dust in my closet of misfit toys.

So you have an mp10 or 2 to get rid of?

 

[Connor At CoralVue]

I now own a Hydros system
Kraken, Launch, 10X
ATO
leak detectors
Flow meters
Probes
No clue as to how this goes together!

That's what support is for! Put us to the test at support.coralvue.com. We can remote in to answer questions, diagnose, confirm configuration, schedule a phone call, and recommend videos....customer service is THE HIGHEST PRIORITY!

 

[Sawacoral]

Vortech MP10s, AI Primes, Noopsyche K7 Pro V3s, industry built ATO containers, and anything else still gathering dust in my closet of misfit toys.

Curious what your issue was with the Mp10

 

[Bruttall]

I regret buying pre made sumps and needle-wheel skimmers.
Currently I am having doubts about the submersible mag drive return pumps I am using, seriously thinking about swapping to an external pump, about same price ($500) but 5yr warranty on the external Reeflo Pump. The Vectra L1 lasted 5 years. I read reviews of the reeflo running for 20, so I'm considering it.

 

[Usarmy227]

So far being new to the hobby. I regret buying The bottled Coraline algae..lol

 

[Sento]

So far being new to the hobby. I regret buying The bottled Coraline algae..lol

How so did it not work?

 

[Kooma]

Vortech MP10s, AI Primes, Noopsyche K7 Pro V3s, industry built ATO containers, and anything else still gathering dust in my closet of misfit toys.

Want to sell those MP10s?

 

[EastCoastJon]

Sooo i am in the Reefing hobby for more then half a Year and i am getting kinda curious what is a purchase you regret the most and why ? For me it is a pair of babylonia/nassarius snails i just dislike the slimey strings they leave behind in my nano ...
LFS said they are great sandsifters welp

Would love to hear y'alls regret stories

getting into the hobby LOL i have spent over 1000$ bucks so far and about to upgrade equipment so that number is going to skyrocket... all well worth it tho I love all my fish shrimp and snails

 

[Sento]

getting into the hobby LOL i have spent over 1000$ bucks so far and about to upgrade equipment so that number is going to skyrocket... all well worth it tho I love all my fish shrimp and snails

I feel that i actually just came from the LFS with new Equipment and fish and inverts lol i just notice i bought in the beginning only the minimum stuff now i buy Equipment that could be put even in bigger tanks xD

 

[Usarmy227]

How so did it not work?

Didn’t work what so ever and my parameters were on point.

 

[Sento]

I would have said now that i regret buying my Sexy shrimp but i just came from the Local fish store with 2 rock flower ananome rare little things in these parts and one of the shrimp already sits down on one lets see when the other 4 find the flowers