We're thinking of starting a great fishtank for our home, and I'm trying to create something beautiful, yet clean. How many things like, coral, anenomes, fish, and tank maintainers should I have? I think we're going to go with a thirty to fifty gallon tank. Thank you.
2007-04-27 16:53:38 · 7 answers · asked by kandy_gurl825 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
You've got some good answers here already. Although they look great, I would suggest not trying anemones or corals at the beginning. These are more sensitive to tank conditions. Get some good live rock - "live" refers to bacteria to cycle the tank, but you'll get some coraline algaes, macroalgae, shrimp, and all sorts of other organisms it'll take you months to find on it. And you might even get some corals. Get confident in what you're doing with fish and hardier inverts (snails, hermit crabs, shrimp, brittlestars or seastars) first.
I'll echo PeeTee's recommendation of reading material. Bob Fenner is good (he also is a part of the moderated forum at wetwebmedia http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ and writes articles on a varitey of topics for the website), so are Michael Paletta, and Julian Sprung. You can never do too much research!
2007-04-27 18:51:08 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Go as large as you can afford, many saltwater fish require at least a fifty gallon tank. If you want coral invest in a protein skimmer, good filter and high quality lighting system.
No fish expert would tell you a set number of fish - it all depends on the kind of fish. Saltwater fish are more sensitive about tank mates, and not all fish are reef safe. For example putting a tang and angel that look similar in coloration will often result in fighting - so be sure that multiple tangs/angels all have different coloration's. When you are considering a fish you should ask your fish expert if they are reef safe, how compatible they are with you other fish and if they can go in a tank your size. :)
2007-04-28 00:02:51 · answer #2 · answered by Sage M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Saltwater fish are definitely nicer (in looks). 50 gallon would be nice, besides, a bigger tank is easier to take care of, which I would recommend for a saltwater tank. Just keep adding different items until it looks filled. Keep it out of direct sunlight, so it doesn't develop algae. A background, those things that come on a roll, will really add a lot to any tank. It adds a very nice background. Drift wood, especially wood that is smooth and shaped like vines, with holes and twists, really adds a lot also. Colorful other decorations would be ideal as well.
2007-04-28 00:06:15 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A tank as small as a 50 will require a lot of work,live rock will help with the cycling,but if you want a 'clean' environment you will have to be the cleaner. Even the best 'balanced' tank requires a lot of outside assistance. The tank that you envision is possible,but the work-load may be more than you are able to provide,begin with more research,lots more,you can't get the information you need on a web-site,you need books,more than one. Try at least one by Robert Fenner.
2007-04-28 00:26:19 · answer #4 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My FIRST saltwater tank (about 20 years ago) was a REEF tank (Lots of live rock and Live Corals)
This is going to cost a LOT of $$$ BUT it will be well worth it if you want something BEAUTIFUL that is going to cause AWE whenever someone comes over to your house.
You can go a lot cheeper BUT...
I would go with a 75gal tank drilled at top corner W/overflow box.
About 75-10lbs Live rock (Cured), (biological filtration)
About 2" to 3" live sand (biological Filtration)
30Gal. tank for a sump
Protein skimmer rated up to 200gal. (mechanical filtration)
Return pump, 800-1200gph.
3XMaxijet 1200 powerheads on a timed Wavemaker powerbar.
About 50-60 small blue leg hermit crabs (cleaners)
About 30-40 different types of snails (cleaners)
2-4 different cleaner shrimp (cleaners)
Red sea star (cleaner)
Sand sifting sea star (cleaner)
2 small Emerald crabs (cleaner)
GOOD LIGHTING, about 5watts per gallon.
NO other filtration is needed, This is as close to NATURAL as possable and leaves LESS work for you.
With this setup you can add about 6 different REEF SAFE fish, about 20-30 different corals and other inverts and it will be just like a piece of a Reef in your livingroom.
If you want to email me, I will send you a link to some pics and can help with setup.
2007-04-28 09:15:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Freshwater fish are easier. but if your going to get salt water than get some anenomes, clownfish, and some other community fish.
Also know Salt Water is alot more Expensive.
2007-04-28 00:00:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Salt, water, and fish.
2007-04-27 23:57:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋