Probably the most important thing that you can do, to ensure that you are making the "correct" decision about anything to do with the reef aquarium. Then do some more research, read a few websites, buy a good book or two, then do some more research.
A great place to get a feel for the type of set up that is possible, look through the Tank Journals forum on RTAW Forums.
By doing research, you expose yourself to a significant amount of information from different resources. Then you are able to take that information on board, start to understand what is going on, then make your own logical conclusion.
Ask Questions
Don't be afraid to ask a lot questions on RTAW Forums. The only stupid question is the one that you leave unasked.
Before doing so though, always a good idea to do a little bit of research, see if you can find (by searching RTAW Forums or even using Google) some information to start with.
Patience
Nothing good happens fast in this hobby. Resist the urge to get things done right now, a fully operational and stocked reef tank within a short time period. In most cases you will end up causing huge problems, including death of your livestock be rushing things. Plus it will cost you money, since you will be spending the next year replacing equipment that simply is not suitiable for the tank you want to end up. And then there is all the stress involved due to causing un-necessary livestock deaths.
Time
The reefing hobby will take up more time than you expect, so take that into consideration when getting into it. This includes time researching, reading and asking questions. Time setting up the tank and allowing things to establish. Time maintaining the system (which does end up decreasing with time). Time watching and enjoying the system that you have created.
Grain of Salt
Be very careful not to take anything that anyone tells you about the hobby at face value. The advice may be totally wrong, inappropriate for your situation, or have nothing to do with what you are looking to achieve. As noted above, research is the key here, as you then get an idea yourself what is actually more in line with what you are looking for. And a bit of research after have recieved advice will indicate whether it is applicable for your situation.
Quarantine Tank
An invaluable way or avoiding adding a diseased fish to your system. If a disease is discovered while the fish is in the quarantine tank the options and ability to treat the disease is much greater. Additionally, any fish already in the tank are not exposed to the disease. It does not have to be anything fancy, just a small tank, pump, heater and some biological filtration.
Join Local MAS
Your local marine aquarium society is an invaluable resource of information and experience. There is nothing better than being able to speak to others face to face, see their tanks, show off your own tank, and get advice. A links to all of the current marine aquarium societies in Australia can be found in the LH Menu of the MASA Home Page
Plan
Plan everything to do with the tank will save a lot of problems, time and money in the long term. Simply taking the time to actually decide the goal of the tank, livestock, restrictions due to space and budget, and doing all that in as much detail is invaluable. Then share your plans with others in the hobby. Then you vastly increase the chance of success and ensure that you actually end up with what you want, and the livestock that you keep are suitably looked after.
Impulse Purchases
Never impulse buy. That applies to equipment and, especially, livestock. You have to first be sure that you actually have the ability to keep the livestock happy and healthy. Getting because you like it or it looks good without any consideration of it's requirements is a recipie for disaster.
Damsels
If you cycle your tank with damsels, which in itself is a bad idea since you can cycle a system without stressing any livestock, then be sure that you want them for the long term. Many of the common damsel species available at your local aquarium store will be aggressive towards other tank mates, to the point where they will kill other fish. And once a fish is in a tank, they are difficult to get out again.
Do It Right First Time
From the outset of setting up the reef system, use the appropriate and quality equipment. Do not buy something that is substandard and then plan down the track to upgrade it. That will cost you more in the end and in some cases you wont actually upgrade it as you should. Take the time and money to purchase the correct equipment for the tank that you want to establish, taking short cuts and rushing things does not help.
Tank Depth
Ensure that you consider when deciding on the depth of the tank and the stand height, that you can actually reach the bottom of the tank. There is nothing worse then not being able to reach all parts of the tank, for maintenence or recovering something from the tank that shouldn't be there.
Involve Others
Encourage your partner and family to choose livestock and plan the system. May be allow them to assist in the day to day maintenence and routine. That gets them more involved and so they wont begrudge you with the time and money that you spend on it. With young children a reef tank is a great thing of wonder, get them involved and enjoying the little things. Such as the weird and wonderful life that emerges from your sand bed or liverock.
Disaster Plan
You may not think it will happen, but eventually there will be some disaster that happens with the tank that you will have to deal with. Plan ahead to minimise the impact of such occurances. Be aware of the problems that may arise with it and have the equipment and plan availalbe to deal with it if it does happen. What happens if there is a power outage? Will your system be able to handle it, both in the short and long term? What about equipment failure? It is always a good idea to have a supply of saltwater available to perform a water change, enough to do a large percentage water change.
Compassion for Livestock
Have some compassion for the livestock that are in your care. The ecosystem in the reef aquarium is dependent on you and the decisions that you make. Impulse purchases, no consideration of the requirements to keep something, or buying something and saying "well I will just try, it is only $50 gone if it dies". If you truly love animals, nature and wildlife then dont sacrifice some poor "cheap" fish because you can't be bothered doing it right or being a little more patient. Just because a damsel or a chromis isnt that expensive doesnt give you the right to murder it.
Large Fish
Do not try to justify purchasing a fish that will outgrow the current tank by saying that you will get a larger tank some day. Or sell it when it does get too large. Are you sure that you will get the larger tank? Who will actually purchase the fish afterwards? Especially with sharks, it is extremely difficult to find people to take them off your hands when they get too large for your tank. Best idea, either get a suitable system to keep them, or don't get them. It is as simple as that.
Stability
Stability is king. Stable temperature and other various water parameters make a huge different to the health and growth of livestock. Automatic evaporation top up systems are invaluable to keep salinity / specific gravity stable. Try to avoid doing manual top ups, but if you do do it every day. Get some good quality heaters (better to have two smaller heaters than one large one) and ensure have the ability to cool the system in the summer. Maintain alkalinity and calcium levels consistently, not just by dumping some additive in every couple of weeks.
Don't make sudden large changes to your tank. If suddenly you find the pH is really low or specific gravity / salinity significanly away from what it should be, make only gradual changes so that the livestock can acclimatise.
Mature Tank
A tank that goes into the class of being mature is not one that has just completed the initial cycling process (of developing a sufficient bacterial population to process ammoina and nitrite to nitrate). There are a large number of other similar types of cycles that continue to happen in a reef system. Once those various cycles have settled down, then it is mature. Typically you are looking at around 12 months or more before it even starts to get close.
Advice from Others
Do take on the advice from those that have been in the hobby for a longer time. They will have been in a similar position to you and have the experience under their belt. Fools learn from their own mistakes, wise people learn from the mistakes of others. Do not assume that you know better than someone else and don't discount advice given straight way.
