Anyone have an aquarium?
While I was on vacation last week I saw a salt water "reef" aquarium. Honestly, I think I could have stared at it for hours without getting bored.
Anyways, I'm thinking about getting into the hobby. Does anyone here know of any good reference sites for information?
***Edit: stupid auto censor***
Anyways, I'm thinking about getting into the hobby. Does anyone here know of any good reference sites for information?
***Edit: stupid auto censor***
0
-
Salt is *really* expensive... for very pretty fish, consider cichlids. You'll want a "bigger" tank (55 or larger) and lots of rocks, not a lot of plants. Here's one of my favorite cichlids, the demasoni. 
As far as online resources, I like monsterfishkeepers.com - lots of big predatory fish, North American natives, etc.0 -
I had a 55 gallon salt tank. I'll never do it again. The best reference I had was a guy who runs a small pet store here in town. Don't go to the chain pet stores. They're idiots. I spent more than a grand before I bought fish #1. Just hit the library and read up on the types of tanks, equipment, and maintaining corals, etc. Don't get into corals, its really addictive [:D] 0 -
I have a 75 gallon freshwater aquarium. In it are one Oscar and one Pleco. I didn't know Oscars required as much maintenance as they do, so I will not miss this one when it dies. I have had it several years and it got big.
Trouble with Oscars is that, if you get bored with them, you can't just turn them loose, unless you are in south Florida, where they have survived and become established as a game fish.
If I have a chance to start over, I will catch a baby bluegill out of my pond, keep it until it gets big, turn it loose and start over with another one. Either that or get a turtle.0 -
nunn - releasing non-native and invasive species is a big no-no
That being said, head over to the North American natives section of www.monsterfishkeepers.com0 -
quote:Originally posted by iwannausername
Salt is *really* expensive... for very pretty fish, consider cichlids. You'll want a "bigger" tank (55 or larger) and lots of rocks, not a lot of plants.
The expense is the one thing keeping me from jumping in feet first....I'd hate to dump several hundred dollars into a set-up I know next to nothing about then watch everything die....[xx(].
I managed to kill an ant farm when I was a kid, still don't know how I accomplished that feat....
Anyways, for right now a big tank is a no-go for me, I know I'm going to be moving in two years (grad school) then moving again once I finish that. A big tank seems like it would be too much of a hassle to move.
I've looked at tanks and right now I'm shooting for something in the 25-30 gal range. That should be big enough to keep me interested, and at the same time should (I think) be mobile enough to take with me.
When I think I'm finished moving, I can get a big tank0 -
Been thinking of a salt water aquarium myself...
Spent time at the shop last week seeing what is available locally..At the prices for the nice stuff you will want to know the ropes before you start....Mistakes are going to be very costly!!!
Been hoping to locate a local that is having a very successful aquarium for a wee bit of help!!!0 -
quote:nunn - releasing non-native and invasive species is a big no-no
I know that, and I never said I would do it, UNLESS I were in south Florida. Someone had to be the first one to release an Oscar in south Florida, but it wasn't me. If I wanted to release an Oscar in south Florida, I would have no problem doing so, since it is as well-established there as any native species.
Kinda like the non-native geckos living in my house. I didn't bring 'em here, but they are here. Say I catch one, and keep it in a terrarium for a few months, and then want to release it again. Am I "releasing a non-native and invasive species?" Or, do I have to send it back to Madagascar or wherever it came from?0 -
Rack Ops - The trick to the aquariums, especially the salt-water ones is to get the bio-system estabished. Get a good quality filtering system (they are kind of expensive, but worth it). Also, start out with cheap fish, because they are going to die. Any of the fish in the damsal family are good for getting a tank started. The point of sacrificing fish to your new aquarium is to kick start the bacteria and other things to estabish the bio-system.
Another good way to speed things up is to buy a used tank. There are a bunch of them out there because people buy them, set them up and expect them to run perfectly and have their fish be healthy and happy. They then go out and drop a couple hundred on fish that all die within two weeks. They get pissed and sell off everything.
If you do decide to get a used tank, make sure you buy one that was used for salWar on Terrorer if you want salWar on Terrorer and fresh/brackish water if you want a freshwater tank.0 -
You can ammonia cycle a new aquarium without fish.
If you don't the first fish you put in will die. So will the next ones.0 -
These are designed for salt water. I have the smaller 14 one for fresh and it works pretty well - nice looking too! The shop I got it from has the larger on set up with salt water and it looks and runs great.
The site is all flash so I can only link the main page.
http://www.oceanicsystems.com/#loaded0 -
I have several salt water aquariums, therefore, I may be able to offer some advise: it's one very very expensive hobby. Come to think of it, I could have purchased a truckload of guns with the money I've spent on salt water aquariums.
If you were to decide to go for it, here's a link:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/index.php?s=e9b58940837a109d16ccdaf990fbcab6
If you have specific questions, please feel free to contact me privately.
PS: Cant figure this out. Tried on several occassions to spell s-a-l-t-w-a-t-e-r as one single word, and this is what comes out:
salWar on Terrorer
Does anyone know why?0 -
Handgun: I was under the impression that I can cycle a salt water tank without fish.....using live rock 0 -
psycho: salt water
sal-TW AT-er0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
Handgun: I was under the impression that I can cycle a salt water tank without fish.....using live rock
Not the best method.
You may purchase one of several products containing live cultures, and as a source for the ammonia stratum, use the urine produced by inexpensive freshwater species such as black mollies.
Or you can do what I do: walk to the beach and scoop a couple bucketfuls of live sand.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
psycho: salt water
sal-TW AT-er
I know.
For some reason, my computer wont spell salt water as a single word: salWar on Terrorer.
Should I break out my tin foil hat?0 -
I have never had a salt water setup, but have done many fresh water tanks.
My success rate was outstanding and I usually would set up my tank and put fish in on the same day.
I normally did oscars and ciclids (not in the same tank together).
Filter systems are of the importance!
There are jumpstart chemicals you can use to aid in allowing fish to go into the tank on the same day as set up. Also food waffers that you feed placosomus(sp) will help jumpstart a tank.
Tanks do become alot of work as stated above!0 -
I've always wanted a salWar on Terrorer aquarium but don't know how possible it would be for my purposes.
I would need to keep it cold (roughly 50) to keep the species I catch in traps. I have caught many lobsters about 2 inches long and miniature wildlife of all types.
Would like to have an aquarium of small animals that live up here in the Atlantic.
Would it even be possible. I think that the tank would sweat due to the massive temperature differences. Also how to keep the water cold, would have a system to continually draw, refrigerate and pump water back to the aquarium.0 -
thanks for the reminder. I could have bought some sweet guns for what I spent on that tank...[B)] 0 -
I have a coupple of freshwater aquariums running since i were bout 9..
One of the nicest fishes though is this critters
http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/brackish_water/scats.htm
Green scats I imported some myselfe from Bangkok...Unfortunately i were'nt aware of that they want some salt water mix w their water.
So i thougt they catched som ich that many fish is sensitive of...
and treated them accordingly w no succsess.
Well those fishes were really intelligent .When i entered the room they came to the corner of the aquarium to meet me.If i wawed my hand they would wawe a fin back at me...[V] If i put my finger at the glas of the aquarium they would follow my finger wherever i moved it.
If i gave em some scrimps to eat...Well they looked really happy to get em.0 -
Nunn, your gecko is from the Mediterranean region, not Madagascar. They became established in South Florida and in Brownsville. They have moved up the Rio Grande and now have a toe hold in Albuquerque, though they will only survive winters indoors this far north.
Re: the Reef tank, you are looking a much money for lighting alone, as the polyps in the reef and many of the anemones have a symbiotic algae in their tissues which requires proper UV lighting.
They also require much attention and effort. Buy a good book and do the recearch before you begin, do not rely upon website information!
Start with this one: http://tinyurl.com/2cccv5
also this will help: http://tinyurl.com/29yw4q0 -
If you are willing to blow a couple of grand on something that can go belly up in the blink of an eye good luck!I had a 150 gal set up with about 5k worth of fish and forgot to wash my hand one day cleaning the tank and spiked th ph level and lost the whole tank. Go fresh water first more harty fish and see if you like taking care of the fish and tank before going for salt water.Salt water is a day to day job that can not be left alone! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
quote:Originally posted by iwannausername
Salt is *really* expensive... for very pretty fish, consider cichlids. You'll want a "bigger" tank (55 or larger) and lots of rocks, not a lot of plants.
The expense is the one thing keeping me from jumping in feet first....I'd hate to dump several hundred dollars into a set-up I know next to nothing about then watch everything die....[xx(].
when you find one for several hundred dollars please pass on where you got it, sure it starts out that way, but before you know it your dumping a down payment on a house into it, constantly throwing good money after bad to protect your investment0 -
FUGGEDABOUDIT!!!!Just go look at that tank every once -in-a-wile, and leave it at that...Realy... The best way to go , is to rent one. Down here in West Palm, Their are a lot of places that will rent,maintain and guarantee them. U pick the size, and they install it.
Unless you have alotta time and $$, that's the way to go. All the big night clubs have them here, and their all rented...
In any case good luck.
Jeff0 -
gave up on fish a while back, but there are some tetras swimming around in frogworld!
will add current pics tomorrow..too tired to climb into the cabinet to turn the lights back on tonight,
you will be surprised how the growth has taken off in there!!!
dont know why uploads to photobucket seem to be blurring...
but you can see how the greenery has taken off since that other pic was taken!0 -
Oh I forgot, if you rent be sure to get renter insurance to cover the tank! They also have aquarium specific insurance out there check with the local pet shops or aquarium shops they usally have a few cards of the insurer! 0 -
i have a manquarium!! haha.. check it out
http://www.manquarium.com/default.asp?manq=5E69B1E7-08AE-45E9-B47C-297A9401B0A90 -
Trouble with Oscars is that, if you get bored with them, you can't just turn them loose, unless you are in south Florida, where they have survived and become established as a game fish.
??????????????WHA?????????????0 -
why does it filter S A L T W A T E R ? why does it make it say salwar on terrer? 0 -
Here's my 38:
And my Maroon Clowns:
I've kept salt water fish for 5 years and I started making this one into a reef 2 years ago.
As others have said, it's a really expensive hobby and has become my primary hobby. Can't afford much else. Just had to order a few hundred bucks worth of supplies last month. Just ordered a hundred dollars in new T-5 bulbs this month. I've got at least 5 grand invested in this simple tank. No sump and a basic 200 dollar skimmer. 50 to 100 dollars is nothing for a small sized, in demand coral. But you just have to get stuff over time. You accumulate stuff over many years.
Last year, I got a Reef Keeper 2 which basically everything plugs into, including the lights and it controls most everything. Temp, has a pH probe with readout temp read out, puts the lights on seperate timers, wavemaker channels, dims down at night..etc.. It was one of my bigger purchases.
I also just bought a Tunze osmolator that tops it off with fresh water automatically as it evaporates. You just have to keep the reservoir full.
Don't get into the hobby on a whim. Read up and if you really have a passion for it, do it. But I'm telling you now, the list of items like different lights, gadgets, livestock, chemicals will never end. There's always something every month that you need/want to get for it. It never ends.
Larger tanks, you're looking at 10k to 20k. Just the live rock for them run anywhere from 6 to 10 dollars a pound. Lighting systems get into the 1000 range pretty quickly also, although my 3 ft 4 bulb Tek T-5 unit was only a few hundred. Bulbs run me a hundred bucks a year. Plus a couple buckets of salt and new RO/DI filters. Then you have activated carbon and phosphate removers to buy. It's certainly not impossible but you have to be determined and willing to spend a few grand to get started.
I've got a reef ready 55 gallon perfecto (drilled) on a custom stand ready to go but I'm unable to go much further with it until I get the sump made, and a couple grand rounded up for a lighting system and a 'good' protein skimmer.
Good luck with whatever you do and let me know if you want some more info.0 -
Just thought I'd add... There is a lot of satisfaction in watching fish and corals grow. Many of the corals in my tank I got as small frags and have grown a lot in 2 years. The other thing that's neat is the tank will start paying you back some as stuff grows. Everything you see in there can be either cut or broken off, attached to a new rock and in a week or so, the new piece will attach to the rock and start growing as a new one. Then you can trade it or sell it back to the local fish store for credit. It's just a supplement though. You won't make money on it.
Like I just traded in a clump of pulsing xenia back to the LFS for 30 dollar credit and I got a Lawnmower blenny with it. They'll probably sell the xenia for at least 60 and nothing was taken from the wild.
Oh yeah, get ready to learn some chemistry too when you're ready. Calcium, alkalinitiy, pH, Magnesium, stronitium, iodine/iodide, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, specific gravity....it's all in the water. [;)]0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
63 comments