Why I envy the newbies...

Ya I am regretting sand at this time. I think I am still early enough that I may pull it out still. I think we need to create a Post with just things you would change or do differently that way new people coming into the hobby can look at it for a reference. It would actually be an all around good source for anyone actually

 

one thing i would change....not letting the wife buy just anything she thinks is "pretty" for the tank. most of her things haven't live and her stupid purple lobster has ate quite a few fish i think. she has spent more money than me just cause its "pretty"

and if you plan on fragging in the future, fragging Zoa's out of a 2ft deep tank is very hard. be sure to place your frag disks or plugs so they can be removed easily. that leaves some polys too on your rocks incase things dont work out haha

 

JB, I am sure you have been spying on me.. (did I set up a webcam???) My current tank build is my barebottom 185 (5'x2'x2.5') with a flex pvc infused closed loop and back streams pointed down that took 4 months for the cemented live rock structure to cure and is only allowed really pretty SPS, and none of that common plague.. I mean softie stuff (other than the slightly more trendy and fashionable crowd of Rics and pretty zoos)

should I file restraining orders??? /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif


seriously, sometimes you have to feel pain to really get better and appreciate the simple stuff. I had to have a tank crash to start over like I always dreamed... I got to think of my list for two years, and you see it in action now..
Keep your best colonies, sell the rest- and start drawing out your next project /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

I hope you can find ways to keep the hobby exciting.    maybe you just need a make over of your tank, or a new challange to get the energy up.
I like the list idea.  Not to Hijack... but I want to hear more /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif AJ has gotten me hooked...  
My random and grammatically incorrected list of things I want, or did and am happy for... I take full credit for stealing every single idea on here /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/biggrin.gif

cement rocks together before buying the tank.   aquascape dictates tank size.
leave 5" between rock and tank walls
epoxy sucks.    drill hundreds of holes in your rock that fit the rigid airline tubing, mount corals to that..  easy to move if they don't like the flow, light, neighbor, or is just in a crabby mood
you *think* you next upgrade will have infinite room.   i really only feel I have ... maybe 20% more room going from a 75 to a 185... (was my 75 too tightly packed??)   
big refugiums
even bigger tank rooms
don't leave mag floats in the tank when not in use..    encrusting worms like to make the scraper pad their home.
Not QTing is like playing Russian roulette, everyone looses, some just play longer than others.
ditch the hermits
don't use any algae that has any chance of anytime possibly going sexual...
use zones.   no ricordea near SPS.  If doing a mixed tank segregate like crazy
plan placement for what the coral will look like in 2-3 years,
plan a place for frags (both intentional and accidental..)  too many die by hitting the others rolling around on the bottom, or being blown under the rocks. 
                                          *I need to get on to this
A water line connected directly to a tank is as tempting to Mr. Murphy as candy is to a kid.
make everything redundant so no one device, drain, or heater failing can crash a tank.
don't rely too heavily on ORP, it is snake oil anyways.
suction cups always fail.   always always always
return "rip" currents are more important than direct " out of the nozzle" current if using limited powerheads.
The only thing rarer than a LE, ULTRA RARE, Awesomed named coral..... is a common named one.
Self aquaculture is a great way to reduce the higher prices at the LFS to levels you want to pay.

Finally,
wear rubber soled shoes when you hands are in your tank..