Saltwater

[izzie]

I know that this is a tropical forum but i was hoping someone might be able to help me out a little. My gf loves saltwater fish and her bday is coming up and i was thinking of starting her a 20g salt water tank with 2 clown fish in it. Nemo fish. I read u can start a 20g as long as u know what ur doing with fresh water pretty easy. What all am i looking to be using for filtration. I have heard u dont need a protein skimmer as long as u only have the 2 fish in it and have good biological filtration and that the only other piece of equipment ill need other then the same stuff i use for freshwater is the solinity test thing. Is this true or did i read up on a bad artical.

 

[fish_keeper2]

ull be better off asking in the marine section. id help u out now but i dont have time at the moment.

 

[izzie]

Sorry i didnt notice there was a marine section. And i dont know how to move this so im going to copy and paste it there sorry for having a double post but im slow with computers and dont know how i move a post to a different section

 

[Bloo]

Best advice i could give you, is to read this great article (pinned in the SW section) titled My very own Nemo - hopefully that will make you think twice (if not very carefully)

 

[fish_keeper2]

ill have to disagree bloozoo2. it just made me want a clownfish even more. now i have already started getting equipment and the tank to start. hopefullly ill be on my way cycling before the 1st week of novemember is over.

 

[yvez9]

good luck!
hope you realize what you're getting into, especialy if you'll be keeping corals (which i think clowns need to feel safe)

I thought about transforming my 20 to SW but changed my mind when i figured out what everything was gonna cost me

 

[k3vin2k3]

I was too tempted to turn my 55 gallon in to a saltwater tank, but once the guy at the store told me it could cost up to 2000 dollars, I stayed with freshwater and I am still happy with it.

 

[Bloo]

ill have to disagree bloozoo2. it just made me want a clownfish even more. now i have already started getting equipment and the tank to start. hopefullly ill be on my way cycling before the 1st week of novemember is over.

Kudos to you if you have unlimited $$$'s Even at the smallest scale possible you are looking a huge expenditure. No one gets things right the first time. It's all trial and error (even if you do your homework) the only downside with SW is that it's big time bucks for errors.

 

[Chac]

What a bunch of doomsayer we have here

A 20g Marine, (althought not the best size to start with) wouuldnt cost you an arm & a leg, keep an eye out on places like ebay etc. where you can pick up tanks & equipment real cheap

Clowns DONT NOT need Corals or Anenomes - IMO DONT NOT get an Anenome PLEASE - whatever your LFS says

Have a read of this Post & come back with your questions

And you will have loads of them

Also have a look at houndour Post this is an ongoing post from another Newbie

Hope this helps ya

 

[Bloo]

What a bunch of doomsayer we have here

I don't think I'm a doomsdayer at all - but quite an optimistic realist
I think many people under-estimate how much it will cost.

you can pick up tanks & equipment real cheap

and are you calling his gf cheap ? only kidding, but if I was giving someone else a gift, I sure would make sure it's brand spanking new. Unless we're talking antique furniture of course. eBay is almost only ever cheap if you're looking to buy second hand. You might save a few $$'s on new stuff but hardly anything that's worth writing home about. Unless of course things are very different in the USA.

 

[Chac]

I have been reefing for years & have 2 tanks at the moment & am just setting up a 10g nano

I neither have a bottomless pit of cash or a Rich Sugar Mama, this hobby aint for the rich but the dedicated

Iz, do some reasearch & ask loads of questions on here & then decide it this is a possibility

 

[Bloo]

this hobby aint for the rich but the dedicated

Which has to beg another question. Loving something (his girlfriend loves SW fish) and giving something to someone as a gift and serious responsibility, is another issue altogether.
As I say, I don't want to seem all doom and gloom )), but there's nothing romantic about potentially neglected fish.

 

[Chac]

I cannot comment on Iz's dedication to this hobby as I do not know the guy, but at least give him a chance to look in to it, granted it may be an expensive & time consuming gift but it is also worthwhile & fufilling

& with the members in the Saltie Section helping him what can go wrong

 

[Tiggs]

does she know shes getting it? bit of an odd present really as you are giving her something that will need constant (daily) care for many years to come.....fine if she is 110% into it but make sure she is!

IMO Tiffany & Co is cheaper and more appreciated!


worth adding on the ease of jumping from fresh......its a small jump from the top of the fresh ladder to the bottom of the salt ladder...but to run a salt tank on a par its a vast jump. to give you an idea i ran a planted tank that was (IMO) superb and use most of the avalible resources (in terms of equpiment).....my salt tank is prob 5X as expensive so far and i still havent used 50% of whats out there.

can you set up a salt tank easy and cheap? yes
can you do it easy, cheap and still be pleased and content with it...dubious at best IMO

best advice i can give is get on to a site that shows tank build diaries (not that this site isnt good but it doesnt have many builds)........look at what people are doing (and spending) to achive the pictures you see on the net - then see if you want to do that as well....if you do (she does) then good luck!

 

[steelhealr]

Whew..most of us came from FW, right? What's a little bothersome is someone WITHOUT marine experience DISSUADING someone from becoming a marine aquarist.

Cheap? No. But it doesn't have to be a bank breaker.
Easy? Uh, at times, no. Challenging is a better term.
Learning curve? Yes.
Rewarding? Priceless.

You know, I love my 46 gallon FW, but, since starting a marine tank, I walk thru the FW aisles and go right back to marine. Just can't beat the colors, diversity, variety, symbiotic relationships, etc. So, I wouldn't dissuade anyone. HOWEVER, I DO AGREE that Nemo's are not gifts, but committments. BIG COMMITTMENTS. Better be sure the two of you want enter the marine aquarium world. SH