Stop Tank Confusion!

March 22, 2010

Here is the most used line in the saltwater tank world and every time I hear it, I cringe:

“there is tons of information online…just google it and you can find the answer you are looking for…”

Ouch.

People are right, there is TONS of information on the internet. And the internet is growing each day. The answer you are looking for is out there buried somewhere between the Elvis sighting last week and the two headed dog that sings Barry Manilow. And there are some forums where you can find your answers somewhat easily.

But I will say that even if you did find ALL the information you needed, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference for you and your tank. Nada, none, zip.

Why is that? Because until you know your tank personality, you’d have no way to know whether or not THATinformation makes sense for you.

Your tank….what?

Tank personality. Without it, you have no way to know if the information is right for you and when you don’t know your tank personality, your tank gets confused.

Your tank personality is looking at your tank in such a way that once you see it through this personality, you will know which direction (fish only, SPS, mixed reef) to go, how much money to spend, and which equipment/fish/corals to buy.

Here’s an analogy: ever seen a old beat up car with 22″ chrome rims on it? People laugh and wonder why someone would spend so more money on rims than the car is worth. I call that a confused car.

Tank confusion is similar.

You can spend lots of money on the top of the line tank, lights and corals, yet you cut corners and buy a cheap protein skimmer. Or you buy a top of the line protein skimmer for a fish only tank when you don’t need it.

HELLO…! Your ferrari, (SPS tank), needs to be looked after properly (get a good skimmer) and your ‘88 Caprice Classic (fish only tank) doesn’t need 22″ rims ($1000+ protein skimmer)!

If that SPS tank owner knew that he was a reef junkie, or at least a reef enthusiast, then he’d know to buy a good skimmer and could stop wondering why his corals are turning brown and he has a nuisance algae issue. Same thing with the fish only tank owner – she could have taken the hundreds of extra dollars she spent on a skimmer and bought some really neat looking fish.

Knowing your tank personality opens up a whole new world of easy decision making around your tank. I’ve only gone into tank personalities a little bit here and I’ve written a whole report on what tank personalities are, why you should know yours, and what you can do once you know your tank personality.

I expect some of you  think I’m nuts. That’s fine. I didn’t write this post or the report to make everyone happy. I wrote it so that you, as a saltwater tank owner, don’t waste hours researching topics that don’t apply to you. I wrote it so that you spend money on the right equipment you actually need.

When I found out I was a reef enthusiast, my tank started thriving…really thriving. My corals were brighter and grew faster. I paid the mortgage one month with equipment that I found out I didn’t need. And here’s the best part, my wife stopped asking why I was buying certain equipment because she understood my tank personality and my purchases.

Ready to avoid tank confusion? Download the Tank Personalities Report here

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