First Tank Ever - Updated Often

[pimp4cheddar]

That's right folks...


PLEASE NOTE - I AM ON A BUDGET AND MONEY IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SPENT WITHOUT CRYING...


After having my tank for 3 weeks and reading a TON on this website and a few others...I've decided to go with a Marine Tank. I'm going Live Rock with Fish (FOWLR).


I was given a tank by my lovely fiancee. It was a Start-up tank for Tropical Fish. The specs are:

30 gallon tank.
20-40 whisper filter
100 watt water heater
Black Top
Regular bulb...T8 I believe


At first I was going Tropical Fish since it was so cheap and easy...but I can't pass up a dare...plus a marine tank is soooo much prettier.

So here's the timeline:


Built the stand - Nice stand I got from Wal-Mart
Put everything together - Top, filter, plugs, light, heater....
Brought tropical fish rocks - Brought 16 pounds of blue rocks from Wal-Mart
Added 30 gallons of water
Added declorinator
Let it settle


Here's the kicker...
I went into Petco and met a wonderful woman who convinced me to go with a DIY marine tank...and I couldn't pass it up.

I brought:

Sea Salt
Crushed Coral
Hydrometer
Biozyme



So I started:

Removed everything from the tank and mixed the salt and kept measuring with my meter
I layed the crushed coral over the blue rocks...I didn't have my receipt and I spent close to $20 at Wal-Mart (money doesn't grow on trees!)
Let it settle
Followed up with the Biozyme everyday for 6 days


So my numbers are good to go according to Petco (they do free water test!) FREE IS GOOD.


I'm looking to go with a good looking tank, however I don't want to spend the money needed for Coral - Lights and skimmer
So I'm going to go Live Rock with a few nice fish.


Since it's a small tank, there's a lot of thought going into the fish I can have...

Here are some pics (seriously...who doesn't love pics)

Like I said...I left the regular blue rock in the tank...should I remove?

My filter

I don't want to buy a skimmer or any UV light. I've read that buying Live Rock means that I no longer need my filter...is this true?


Please let the comments flow (positive and negative)




Thanks,






As for fish...

I would like to go with:

Dwarf Puffer
Picasso Trigger
Dwarf Lion Fish

Plus the regular clean up crew.


According to some post online...the 3 fish I've listed seem to not go well with snails and crabs....

 

[orange shark]

tank and stand looks great

i dont think you'll need the filter, instead buy some powerheads, they will circulate your water through your live rock which will be your filter

the only fish i know about on that list is the picasso trigger and i believe they need a 55 gallon minimum

sorry in a rush but those are the main points!

 

[shibby]

powerheads and liverock would be fine for filtration. in your filter you could put carbon and rowaphos to help combat algae.


Canthigaster puffers will be fine, my particular favourate is the valentini. i would suggest there fairly safe ive kept one without it eating crabs and snails before, but i wouldnt say i trust them 100%

picasso trigger would get to big imo and ive seen them take out clean up crew pretty well.

for dwarf lion: dendrochirus brachypterus fuzzy dwarf lion would be the best bet, though i probably would trust a dwarf puffer with the lionfishes tasty looking flowing fins.

 

[ox5477]

in your filter you could put carbon and rowaphos to help combat algae

Exactly what I was going to suggest.

As for the fish, make sure you take the bioload into account. If your going with preds, make sure you look into a skimmer. A skimmer will help with a heavy bioload so that you dont have to do constant water changes.

Ox

 

[SkiFletch]

And remember, with many puffers, they eat snails/crabs/shrimp

 

[pimp4cheddar]

powerheads and liverock would be fine for filtration. in your filter you could put carbon and rowaphos to help combat algae.

Thanks. This was a concern of mine. I take it the filter wouldn't be enough of a waterflow...so I need to add a powerhead to my tank.

And remember, with many puffers, they eat snails/crabs/shrimp

Thanks SKI...

I know...that's my problem

I want a tank with a few of my favorite fish and it seems asthough they don't live well with crabs, snails and each other!!!

It seems like I'm spending all this time and energy and at the end of the day...I won't be able to house the fish I LOVE...


Would I beable to go with a Piccaso Trigger (I really want) and a Dwarf Lion Fish? I will be willing to drop the Puffer as it seems he'll cause more problems than everyone combined!

Also,...what about an eel? I've read all the negative comments about eels being sneaky and all...but how would they fair up with snails, crabs and a Trigger?

 

[SkiFletch]

You could go with a Snowflake eel, but that would of course pose the same problems as a puffer with regards to snails/shrimp/crabs...

 

[shibby]

aaa ski trust in puffers there not snail or crab murders mayeb shrimp and clown fish murders but that is another story!


i would go with the snowflake puffer combination and purchase a skimmer few teddybear crabs and your puffer will love it

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Thanks for the insight.

I still have awhile before I purchase any fish or atleast any fish I like.

I've been calling around for Live Rock...(that's expensive rock).

Most places sell FIJI LIVE ROCK for $7.99 a pound...I found a place about 25 minutes away that sells it for $3.99 a pound: http/www.oceandirectonline.com/

I'm going to take a look at what he has this weekend...am I looking for anything specific in Live Rock?

 

[SkiFletch]

Shape, porosity, and color.

Shape - has to be big enough to stack easily in your tank, but not too big that it's hard to stack, fine line here

Porosity - the more holes (pores) in the rock the better. Not only will it be lighter (cheaper) but also will harbor more/better beneficial organisms

Color - usually indicative of healthy rock if it's got encrusting algaes/sponges, etc


Remember, if your trip to the $3.99/lb place doesn't really have good rock, do not forget places like premiumacquatics.com, they sell great rock at a reasonable price online.

 

[adam98150]

Would I beable to go with a Piccaso Trigger (I really want) and a Dwarf Lion Fish? I will be willing to drop the Puffer as it seems he'll cause more problems than everyone combined!

Also,...what about an eel? I've read all the negative comments about eels being sneaky and all...but how would they fair up with snails, crabs and a Trigger?

You could go with a Snowflake eel, but that would of course pose the same problems as a puffer with regards to snails/shrimp/crabs...

Wouldn't a snowflake Moray grow too large for a tank of that size? Also, i believe no Trigger is small enough to live happily in a 30G.

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Wouldn't a snowflake Moray grow too large for a tank of that size? Also, i believe no Trigger is small enough to live happily in a 30G.

I'm not sure...

Is there a central website you folks visit to get info on fish?

I've seen:
MarineDepotLive.com
PremiumAquatics.com
Tonmo.com
Aquaspot.com


I'm looking for a REAL ODDBALL TANK! I wish I could go with an Octopus...but that's way ahead of my league. So I'm thinking: eel, lion fish, trigger, puffer, etc.... I would like to stay away from the normal community fish.

It's a 30 gallons tank...so there's only so much I can do. Any advice...I don't want to go and buy Live Rock and then realize that I shouldn't have gotten it...

 

[adam98150]

Wouldn't a snowflake Moray grow too large for a tank of that size? Also, i believe no Trigger is small enough to live happily in a 30G.

I'm not sure...

Is there a central website you folks visit to get info on fish?

I've seen:
MarineDepotLive.com
PremiumAquatics.com
Tonmo.com
Aquaspot.com


I'm looking for a REAL ODDBALL TANK! I wish I could go with an Octopus...but that's way ahead of my league. So I'm thinking: eel, lion fish, trigger, puffer, etc.... I would like to stay away from the normal community fish.

It's a 30 gallons tank...so there's only so much I can do. Any advice...I don't want to go and buy Live Rock and then realize that I shouldn't have gotten it...

Here's where i can help, you feel you want to stay away from the traditional community fish? Me too!

I can relate to your situation quite well, i'm just in the process of setting up my own 35G. As stated, you will not fit a Trigger in a tank of that size. Have you taken a look at the Fu Manchu Lionfish? It looks absolutely stunning, reaching a maximum of only 4". Depending on the dimensions of the tank you may also be able to fit a Golden Dwarf Moray Eel, it has the potential to reach 12", but 10" most likely. It's one of the smallest of the Moray's, expensive and rare. (I've just completely copied my stock, sigh . . .)

The Snowflake Eel has the potential to reach an apparent 36", possibly the length of your tank?

Here's another website to view marine fish, brief information also - http/www.liveaquaria.com/

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Okay...few questions...

KEEP IN MIND>>> I HAVE NO FISH IN MY TANK!

Do I want cured rock...or uncured rock?

Also...should I take out the blue rocks I currently have in my tank (under my crushed coral)?

Should I add sand on top of the crushed coral, since I'm buying a Snowflake Eel?
If so...can I use regular beach sand? The sand at the LFS is about $40 a bag!!! they say it has LIVE BACTERIA


Thanks,

 

[adam98150]

Okay...few questions...

KEEP IN MIND>>> I HAVE NO FISH IN MY TANK!

Do I want cured rock...or uncured rock?

Also...should I take out the blue rocks I currently have in my tank (under my crushed coral)?

Should I add sand on top of the crushed coral, since I'm buying a Snowflake Eel?
If so...can I use regular beach sand? The sand at the LFS is about $40 a bag!!! they say it has LIVE BACTERIA


Thanks,

I've just got to ask, do you even read our comments?