Salt Water Fish Tank

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Me and teh gf are looking into getting a salt water fish tank for her apartment. We talked to some folks and have a good idea about what we want

~24G Tank

Halide lighting

"live" sand

"live" rocks

fish

heater

We only want two or three fish, a couple various corals, etc.

Has anyone had any experience sourcing these items online? Good eGay sellers, etc.

We really liked the all-in-one tanks that come with the filtration system and stuff.

Post pics of yours if you got one.

Click to read more...

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Here is what we are looking at:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3730+13976&pcatid=13976

 

[pitbull12887 10+ year member]

get you some clownfish and some saltwater damsels or something startign out. Somethin easy to take care of. Also get a anenome or 2 for the clown fish.

 

[pitbull12887 10+ year member]

Here is what we are looking at:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3730+13976&pcatid=13976

fu ckkkkk $300 for that...search on craigslist. Can prolly find a 30 gallon for $100 with everything

 

[GabeC 10+ year member]

my buddy has a 150g tank custom built with a stand and everything for like 3 grand. 1 thing he said was get your "living" rocks online. They are alot cheaper online. Not sure which site he got his stuff from though. gl

 

[danz24 10+ year member]

what kind of fish you want? You cant just throw in fish they have different requirements.

Damsels are hardy and sometimes used for the break in period (time you start the aquarium). CLownfish and anemone form a symbiotic relationship so they go together and can be had in a reef tank. Anemone are usually placed in an already established tank.

 

[rollingthunder 10+ year member]

Be prepared in power outtage situations, a lot of money and time can be wasted if the power is out and you have no backups in the winter. Those all in ones can be absolutely beautiful if done properly. Best thing to do is find an expert at a non-chain pet store and let them start you off, once it is up and running it is a low level upkeep hobby. Starting off is a pain and can get verrry expensive, but im sure you dont need help managing your money.

 

[Flashardy 10+ year member]

I had a Reef Tank for 6plus yrs got rid of due to maintance was a *****. Talk about a money pit. Spent more then 25K in the last 4yrs in it. ( when I did have it.) I had a Custom Reef tank with all the bells and whistles. All I have to say is plan on having a Sump. Protein Skimmer, MH, Clean it once every 1-2weeks when it has broken in to. The cycle takes awhile. U have to be very very carefull in what the hell you are doing. If you need any help I am more then willing to help u out on what to find. I would say buy a Euro Reef Skimmer they run from 300 on up. Sump make your self, There is no need for a Filter unit for a Reef/Salt tank!

If need any help hardyflash@comcast.net

 

[Brian Owens 10+ year member]

I have a 24G deluxe nano cube. Live rock, live sand, two clown fish, one cleaner shrimp, and cleanup crew.

Damsels don't get along with other fish in a small tank.

For a pair of clown fish, you normally need to get very young or a matched pair if you get two. I learned the hard way.

Cleaner shrimp are cool. . . there are other types of shrimp too, but some are harder to care for than others. And some eat corals, feather tubes, etc. I had 2 pepermint shrimp that ate all but two of my feather tubes. . .

Get ready. No fish for at least a month or two. I used a chemical bio additive and a pair of damsels (after two weeks) to cycle my tank. Took about 6 weeks and at least there was something to look at. Tank requires a lot of work for the first three months, after that, clean the sand and 10-20% water change every two weeks. I am fighting red slime in my tank right now. My lights were out for 6 days and my tank went nuts. . .

 

[danz24 10+ year member]

O ya check it regularly...One disaster and all your sealife is done..

 

[Flashardy 10+ year member]

For Red slime get Red Slime Remover the best. Is about 20bucks online. Will solve all red slime in about 1week. Clean out tank every 2-3days and it will help out alot. about 15-20% of the water.

 

[Brian Owens 10+ year member]

For Red slime get Red Slime Remover the best. Is about 20bucks online. Will solve all red slime in about 1week. Clean out tank every 2-3days and it will help out alot. about 15-20% of the water.

That is what I am using. 2 weeks now, still got it. . . //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[Flashardy 10+ year member]

Do you have a Good skimmer? Or what about you No3 and No2 are then ok? If not u may need to do like a 40% wc every 3days for about 3weeks. Make sure your Sal is 1.023 I had it usually about 1.026 like the Ocean. Many people bag to differ on the Sal. Well good luck on the tank. Wish I had pics of my tank put I cleaned the whole computer/started new and did not get pics over.

 

[crunktimes.com 5,000+ posts]

I have never had a saltwater tank but got a 30 gal for xmas and started a tropical freshwater tank and while fun I have learned the fish world is sometimes. I got dalmation mollys beating the shit out of some dannos and then eating them.

Some skanky *** silver molly got knocked up by another so now I have three bastard baby fish floating around in the tank (they made it 4 weeks so far) then the bitch had the never to die while giving birth and the daddy got killed by one of the silver dollar fish I think.

All was cool for a few weeks and I went to petco and got one of those alge eathing fish and the fucker gave everyone else crabs (ich) so I need to go take care of that with some medicine today.

Remember to cycle correctly (as already mentioned) and when adding new fish quarantine them for a few weeks before putting them in with the others, I am going to get a cheap 10gallon just for that.

Then also remember to make sure they are compatible, the dummies book was a good read for me to get the basics.

Thinking about buying a nice fat chichlid to toss in there and take them all out so I only have to deal with one fish.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I have a 24G deluxe nano cube. Live rock, live sand, two clown fish, one cleaner shrimp, and cleanup crew.
Damsels don't get along with other fish in a small tank.

For a pair of clown fish, you normally need to get very young or a matched pair if you get two. I learned the hard way.

Cleaner shrimp are cool. . . there are other types of shrimp too, but some are harder to care for than others. And some eat corals, feather tubes, etc. I had 2 pepermint shrimp that ate all but two of my feather tubes. . .

Get ready. No fish for at least a month or two. I used a chemical bio additive and a pair of damsels (after two weeks) to cycle my tank. Took about 6 weeks and at least there was something to look at. Tank requires a lot of work for the first three months, after that, clean the sand and 10-20% water change every two weeks. I am fighting red slime in my tank right now. My lights were out for 6 days and my tank went nuts. . .

This is what we are looking for.

Is there an internet shop for low prices or are you just stuck with local pet store pricing?