Saltwater question

[kufan]

I'm thinking about getting a saltwater tank. I've purchased the saltwater aquarium for dummies book, and was wondering if there were any other recommended readings. Also are there any good recommended starter tank sizes. I'm thinking about starting out around a 75 gallon, but wanted to see what everyone recommended.

Thanks.

[Abbeys_Mom]

I know that the larger the tank, the easier to keep. If you go for a bigger tank, you have a greater initial cost, but if you can afford, go for it :)

[kufan]

I know that the larger the tank, the easier to keep. If you go for a bigger tank, you have a greater initial cost, but if you can afford, go for it :)
So what size would you recommend, 100, 150? Cost won't be an issue, as I'm graduating college in May and it is going to be my gift to me.

[Abbeys_Mom]

I think 75g is fine, I haven't owned a saltwater tank yet. I can afford the initial setup cost.
Here's a great page on saltwater setup. They talk about tank size.
http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/saltwater_tank_system.php

[Fishguy2727]

Bigger is better, and it really depends on what type of fish you want to keep. Other costs will be more than the tank setup. That will be filtration and the big one will be live rock. Live rock will really help out any saltwater setup, so it should be included. And depending on the type of fish you may be looking at up to 2 pounds per gallon, and at about $4-9 per pound, that gets expensive fast.

[jeffs99dime]

Bigger is better, and it really depends on what type of fish you want to keep. Other costs will be more than the tank setup. That will be filtration and the big one will be live rock. Live rock will really help out any saltwater setup, so it should be included. And depending on the type of fish you may be looking at up to 2 pounds per gallon, and at about $4-9 per pound, that gets expensive fast.

reptileguy! how worthwhile is live sand? just wondering is all.

[Fishguy2727]

Good for quickly cycling a tank, but if you are new take it nice and slow. It will become 'live' eventually. Three important things: read as much as possible that will help you out, be patient, and do not cut corners. If you cannot decide between this protein skimmer or that one, go with the bigger/better one. If you are not sure if you are ready to add the next fish, give it another week.

[kufan]

Good for quickly cycling a tank, but if you are new Three important things: read as much as possible that will help you out, be patient, and do not cut corners. If you cannot decide between this protein skimmer or that one, go with the bigger/better one. If you are not sure if you are ready to add the next fish, give it another week.

Thats pretty much what the book I had said. They basically said its better to spend money on a better filter/protein skimmer, than to constantly be rebuying fish.

Is there any good information on the web about saltwater tanks? I'm gonna read my book I bought but just want to get as much info before I go and make decisions/purchases.

KU

[Fishguy2727]

There is nowhere online that I woudl really send you to. Too many people who think they are good, or people who think you better give a 100 gallon to an occelaris clownfish. I read The complete Idiot's Guide to Saltwater Aquariums and it was really good, but hopefully the Dummies version si just as good. I would stick mainly with books. Get TFH's PocketExpert book on Marine Fish, and the Marine Invertebrates one too if you are considering those. Do you have any idea what kind of fish you may like?

[kufan]

I haven't got to the fish portion of the book yet, but was going to try and go along the lines of a clownfish and anything else that would go well with them

KU

[Severus]

If you go to amazon and search for the saltwater for dummies book (which i know you already have) it will give you options for other recommended reading materials. The books they recommend also seem very informative.

[Fishguy2727]

Which species of clown? I like the perculas, they will leave a lot of options for other fish and are easily available as captive bred. If interested at all in clownfish get TFH's Clownfishes, it has a green anemone on the front with either one or two clowns swimming in it. Great book. Will really help you get an understanding of these little guys. Any ideas on filtration yet?

[Lady Hobbs]

Saltwater tanks are so beautiful and the fish are just gorgeous. If cost and space is not an issue, I would go with the largest tank possibly.

Just this morning my son told me he sold his saltwater tank (200 gallon) several years ago to this guy for $200.......and never got the money, either. He paid $100 just for one piece of coral he had in it. It would be nice to run into a real deal on one.

[kufan]

Which species of clown? I like the perculas, they will leave a lot of options for other fish and are easily available as captive bred.

Most likely the common ones (Amphiprion ocellaris), i.e. one from Nemo.


Any ideas on filtration yet?

Not yet. Still haven't got that far in the book. Are there any recommendations that you would give?

Thanks,

KU

[Fishguy2727]

If you are doing fish only you don't need a protein skimmer, but it would still be helpful. And if you plan on any inverts I would definitely include a good protein skimmer. If you use live rock (which I highly suggest) that will really help. In addition to these a decent HOB should be fine. I wouldn't start with inverts, but once you have been doing fine for a while you could get some that will help keep the tank clean. These would be small snails and hermit crabs, small crabs, and maybe a couple other things. Do you plan on going with captive bred fish whenever you can?

[kufan]

If you are doing fish only you don't need a protein skimmer, but it would still be helpful. And if you plan on any inverts I would definitely include a good protein skimmer. If you use live rock (which I highly suggest) that will really help. In addition to these a decent HOB should be fine. I wouldn't start with inverts, but once you have been doing fine for a while you could get some that will help keep the tank clean. These would be small snails and hermit crabs, small crabs, and maybe a couple other things. Do you plan on going with captive bred fish whenever you can?
Well here was what I was planning on as far as the tank goes:

HOB filter
Protein Skimmer
Live Rock

I was just going with these since most the things I have read all recommended them.

As far as inverts, I was wanting to get a couple of hermit crabs and haven't thought about the captive bred fish yet, would you recommend going with them?

KU

[Fishguy2727]

Definitely, if you read that clownfishes book I suggested she makes a very strong case for them. Mainly: healthier fish, more willing to eat, lower demand on wild stocks, and encourages the captive breeding of these fish.

[kufan]

Thanks for the info. Are there any other fish that you would recommend with them or that you know goes well with them?

KU

[Fishguy2727]

If I were setting up a 75 and included ocellaris or perculas I would include the following: one or two pairs of clown/coral gobies, one or a group of purple firefish (regular firefish are okay in groups as well, I think), a coral beauty or flame angel, a lawnmower blenny, maybe a couple small cleaner gobies, some hermit crabs, some snails, (hermit crabs and snails must be of a small species or they could knock over rockwork in the tank), maybe a sand-sifting goby, that's all I can think of right now.