Starter Fish

[john5748]

Hi,

I am planning my transition into keeping marine fish (tank will be set up and ready for fish about October this year) and could use some advice.

I will be having my new tank deliverd about July/Aug time and will be setting it up and introducing my live rock (not sure how much to buy though or what kind is good, yet) before then in preperation.

I have had a look through a marine book which I bought and like the idea of keeping the following fish:

1. Yellow Sailfin Tangs, maybe 2?
2. Blue Surgeonfish
3. Clownfish (I can't buy a marine set up without Nemo, my son would never forgive me
4. Angelfish
5. Butterflyfish
6. Firefish
7. and a clean up crew

Please bear in mind before ripping my choices to shreads that I have only picked out fish which I like the look of and are not poisonious , the book which I have bought really only lists pictures and does not go into each fishs temprament which is why I am trying to plan ahead and avoid mistakes.

So feel free with your advice.

By the way the tank will be an Aquamedic Anthias 120 (550 litres, 122 gal).

 

[Aquascaper]

A bit more detail on what type of tank you want to set up would help a lot

Are you loking at doing a fish only system with live rock (FOWLR) or a full reef tank with corals as this will decide the fate of some of your choices straight off.

 

[Chac]

Whcih Butterfly & Angel

Also may want to rethink 2 Sailfins - It would be carnage

 

[john5748]

Hi,

The tank is the Aquamedic Anthias 120 Aquarium, I have pasted a link below so you can see the spec:

http/www.uda.co.uk/Aquamedic%20Aquariums.htm

I would like to have well, fish and live rock to aid the filtration process and I am think I would like the reef system, but I don't know enough about reefs and I know I need to research a lot more.

Told you I might be posting some pretty dumb questions

By the way, I have seen your post with your tanks pictures, I want one like yours , great pictures

 

[Chac]

Are you getting the tank from UDA John

Hell of a distance mate

 

[john5748]

No I am actually getting it delivered direct to the door from Maidenhead Aquatics in St Albans. A really helpful bloke down there called Paul, really knows his stuff, in charge of the marine section.

Quizzed him for about an hour and he was really helpful.

He called aquamedic and managed to secure me a really good price and free delivery to Northern Ireland

 

[Chac]

Have a look at Lyretail Anthias I have a few in my tank they are beut's

 

[john5748]

Have a look at Lyretail Anthias I have a few in my tank they are beut's

They are lovely fish, I have to admit to doing a search on google because I wasn't sure if they were fish, coral, live rock or invertrabates

It says that they are schooling fish how many do you have?

 

[Chac]

I only have 1 Male & 1 Female

But I think they do great as - 1 Male & 4 Females

HAve a look here for pics http/www.liveaquaria.com/

 

[Aquascaper]

As you have a while to wait until your tank turns up you have plenty of time to research and plan what you want in the tank so take it slow and feel free to bounce ideas off the forum members. However, it is better to do personal research on the fish, etc. as fact is better than opinion in my book and we wouldn't want you to be slated for asking if you can keep something completely ridiculous

My advice would be plan a FOWLR as that will leave you the option to upgrade to a full reef at a later date if you so wish. The only consideration for this would be your lighting, it will be better to get good lighting now rather than buying basic stuff only to have to upgrade it all further down the line. Your next decision should be on the amount of fish you want - do you want a full looking tank or a tank with some pretty cool individual fish? Your tank is a good size for schooling fish but this route obviously limits the other inhabitants, the same is true if you wanted a more oddball fish like a Lionfish, Moray, etc.

Decisions, decisions, decisions

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, a 125g offers many stocking options so you've got your research work cut out for you

The lighting that comes with that tank (2x150 halides) should be more than enough for corals should you choose in the future. If you do want a reef though, you're going to have to be careful with your selection of fish. Most butterfly's and some angels CAN be coral nippers, but are not guaranteed to do so. They have individual personalities so some people reprot luck, and others report horror stories. 2 Tangs would be a bloodbath, so try and stay away from that idea.

Good luck with your decisions

 

[john5748]

As you have a while to wait until your tank turns up you have plenty of time to research and plan what you want in the tank so take it slow and feel free to bounce ideas off the forum members. However, it is better to do personal research on the fish, etc. as fact is better than opinion in my book and we wouldn't want you to be slated for asking if you can keep something completely ridiculous

Can anyone recommend a good book on marine fish and also corals?

Yeah, a 125g offers many stocking options so you've got your research work cut out for you
2 Tangs would be a bloodbath, so try and stay away from that idea.

Good luck with your decisions

See you have already saved me from having a bloodbath , does this apply to all tangs or just same species/shape?

Also so could someone please explain (in simple terms) the difference between a tank with live rock and a reef as I am slightly confused on this,

Thanks.

 

[JJ1234567]

Books in my library that I would recommend-

The Reef Aquarium - By Julian Sprung and J Delbeek Vol 1-3
Reef Invertebrates - By Anthony Calfo and Robert Fenner
Concientious Marine Aquarist - By Robert Fenner (this is a must have!!)
Aquarium Corals: selection, husbandry, natural history - by eric borneman (if you want corals)
Clownfishes - by Joyce D Wilkerson (a must have for clowns!!)


these are some books that I would like to get, look like quality in the store

Pocket guide to marine fishes - by Scott W Micheal
pocket guide to marine inverts - by " " "
Natural Reef Aquariums - By tullock

hope this helps. By the way. Best prices on these expensive books is either ebay or amazon.com

 

[Aquascaper]

A tank with live rock (FOWLR) has no additional corals, there will be stuff that has hitched a lift on the rock but the overall look of the tank is more bare rock than 'reef', the live rock being there purely for filtration.

A Reef tank has lots of added corals and the overall look is typical of what you would see in nature

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, reef tanks typically have corals, anemone, or spnges added to them on top of live rock. Reef tanks are much more delicate and tend to be more difficult to keep as corals/inverts require exact conditions of light, water chemistry, diet, flowrate, and a whole other host of issues. Despite their difficulties in running, I personally think they look beautiful, which is why I'm trying to make one