What have you learned? The experience thread!

[ometh]

I've learned that patients is key to this hobby. Can't rush anything :P Also if it's doing ok don't **** with it!

[wesleydnunder]

1. Lazy people shouldn't keep aquaria. Keeping them healthy requires work. Period.
2. The solution to pollution is dilution.
3. The only thing that happens fast in an aquarium is a disaster.
4. There's always more to learn. Stay receptive and you'll be amazed at how much you can soak up from even the most unlikely source.
5. There are few hard and fast rules for fishkeeping. Some of the most beautiful tanks I've seen housed species of fish that people said, "You can't keep those together!"
6. Don't get so caught up in the minutae of fishkeeping that you don't take time to sit back and ENJOY your fish from time to time.

Mark

[aquabee]

2. The solution to pollution is dilution.

that's awesome Mark!

[Totenkampf]

* bigger aquaria are better for beginners than small ones, bad things happen more quickly with less water volume
* electric heaters are the devil and good for nothing save making soup. its worth it to buy two undersized heaters so that WHEN one fails then it doesnt have the juice to boil your fish.
* cypress knees will shoot out of an aquarium like a rocket unless you silicone them to the bottom of your tank, this is bad for your expensive lighting
* most DIY solutions that your read about on teh interwebs will likely cost you more cash in the long run when they dont work out right. spend the cash up front
* if you dont think that critter "A" can/will eat critter "B", you are wrong

[Totenkampf]

* nature is a scientific wonder of balance and is hard to replicate. i am still learning this actually. for instance when i super purify water for WC and then try to add the nutrients back into it that "I" think should be there which results in poor plant growth. the elixir to this is usually just pouring some plain old dechlorinated tap water into the tank to provide whatever little thing it is that i missed. i hate you valisneria

[SteveCGG]

The cheaper you try to do something, the more it costs in the long run! You get what you pay for....

[DaiMasters]

I've learned that there are a lot of rules for aquarium keeping. I've also learned, to paraphrase the Doctor(who), "Good aquarium keepers need no rules."