We've all been there. Sometimes you learn by making a mistake. Here's mine, that I can remember. There's more I'm sure.
- One time I really got into experimenting on the need for flow in the tank so I purchased a very good powerhead. I was thinking I can position it in such as way that I would get general flow improvements. Wrong!! It looks like a hurricane in there. Even the fish were huddled in a corner wondering what the heck was happening. Into the old aquarium equipment box it went...
- I got really excited with some wonderful stems Tom had in his aquarium. Beautiful plants! I had a new aquarium so I went for it with dreams of a Dutch-inspired wonderland. My wife would be so proud! Yeah, no. Half of them melted right away and the other half grew like weeds in my UNS 90L. If I didn't trim them constantly, they would burst through the top like a volcano. Most of the time, they were either looking beat up because I trimmed them or way overgrown. There were a few days in there that they looked nice. $$$ down the drain.
- I tried my hand at Jack Watley discus many years ago. I still cringe at how poorly they did and ultimately died. Still painful for me. $$$$