Very Basic Marine Tank

[KingOfTheSea]

Hi, Its my first thread here although I have had a look through some threads on my brothers account.

I am looking to set up a very simple fish only marine tank, No LR or corals etc. Just would like a few colourful fish.

I have all of my brothers old equipment and i need help on what i need to get to get the tank up and running. A check list kind of thing

I have

* 120 litre tank with stand lid and light
* External filter with media
* Heater
* Salt (although I need more)
* Hydrometer
* Sand and rocks
* Black background
* Test kits
* Dechlorinator
* Flake and frozen food

I have a box full of other stuff which im looking through ATM. Am I missing anything from the list?

All i want the tank to house a few colourful fish. The tank is 40"x15" (or 18 im not sure)x 12" (LxHxW)

Would this be an OK stock list

* normal clown fish (name has slipped my mind)
* red or purple firefish
* a dwarf angel of some sort

and maybe 1 or 2 other small fish (suggestions???)

I also want to get some marine algea for decoration really.


thanks and any help would be great

 

[Trod]

Hi and to the salty side.

Personally I would get a refractometer and ditch the hydrometer, they are easy to use and more accurate.
You will need some test kits to most on here use salifert
Ammonia
Nitrite
nitrate.

In a 120l tank you could have up to 5 fish depending on their size.

Your choice is fine, Although I'd go with a pair of juvi clowns they are fun to watch together

Just curious though, why do you not want LR, I know it can be an expensive outlay and you would need around 13kg for a 120l, but the fish would prefer to have hiding places and caves especially the purple firefish (I have one they are lovely).

It can still be a simple set up but with just a bit of LR and happier fish, but thats just my opinion.

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Hi and to the salty side.

Personally I would get a refractometer and ditch the hydrometer, they are easy to use and more accurate.
You will need some test kits to most on here use salifert
Ammonia
Nitrite
nitrate.

In a 120l tank you could have up to 5 fish depending on their size.

Your choice is fine, Although I'd go with a pair of juvi clowns they are fun to watch together

Just curious though, why do you not want LR, I know it can be an expensive outlay and you would need around 13kg for a 120l, but the fish would prefer to have hiding places and caves especially the purple firefish (I have one they are lovely).

It can still be a simple set up but with just a bit of LR and happier fish, but thats just my opinion.

Hi thanks for the fast reply. I have those test kits along with a few other things to test for.

A pair of clowns would be something to think about. Fish only tanks sound pretty empty but i have a load of reef rock to fill the tank with so they will have plenty of places to hide. Im just going to go FO rather than FOWLR.

 

[Trod]

Hi thanks for the fast reply. I have those test kits along with a few other things to test for.

A pair of clowns would be something to think about. Fish only tanks sound pretty empty but i have a load of reef rock to fill the tank with so they will have plenty of places to hide. Im just going to go FO rather than FOWLR.

Got you, I just had this image of fish swimming around an empy tank

 

[KingOfTheSea]

Hi thanks for the fast reply. I have those test kits along with a few other things to test for.

A pair of clowns would be something to think about. Fish only tanks sound pretty empty but i have a load of reef rock to fill the tank with so they will have plenty of places to hide. Im just going to go FO rather than FOWLR.

Got you, I just had this image of fish swimming around an empy tank

Yeah, that seems to be the image most people get when they hear Fish only. I always give fish, freshwater or marine places to hide or they get restless.

 

[STD]

IMO fish do much better with Live Rock & it makes the tank more interesting

 

[KingOfTheSea]

IMO fish do much better with Live Rock & it makes the tank more interesting

Could you explain? Have you had a FO and a FOWLR? What were the major differences? In what areas does it make the fish do better?

It being more interesting in more down to the individual im guessing.

Im pretty sure im doing a FO but i would never rule LR out 100%. Although as i have said, im more intrested in the fish themselves.

 

[STD]

IMO fish do much better with Live Rock & it makes the tank more interesting

Could you explain? Have you had a FO and a FOWLR? What were the major differences? In what areas does it make the fish do better?

It being more interesting in more down to the individual im guessing.

Im pretty sure im doing a FO but i would never rule LR out 100%. Although as i have said, im more intrested in the fish themselves.

Yup had both FO & FOWLR

The fish tend to do better cos they can browse on the LR and it makes a great filter

I kept Marine setups several times over the years before live rock was commonly available and they never did anywhere near as well as my more recent tanks with LR

 

[KingOfTheSea]

IMO fish do much better with Live Rock & it makes the tank more interesting

Could you explain? Have you had a FO and a FOWLR? What were the major differences? In what areas does it make the fish do better?

It being more interesting in more down to the individual im guessing.

Im pretty sure im doing a FO but i would never rule LR out 100%. Although as i have said, im more intrested in the fish themselves.

Yup had both FO & FOWLR

The fish tend to do better cos they can browse on the LR and it makes a great filter

I kept Marine setups several times over the years before live rock was commonly available and they never did anywhere near as well as my more recent tanks with LR

In what respect? Life span? general health?

Sorry about all the questions, I love to pick peoples brains for info lol

 

[STD]

In what respect? Life span? general health?

Sorry about all the questions, I love to pick peoples brains for info lol

Life span, general health, lack off disease

I never kept a tank going for over a year without LR - my current setup has been going for six years

I know there were other factors but I wouldn't have another Marine tank without LR - JMO

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, LR is definitely a great filter and natural buffer for fish. If the cost really turns you off, consider buying a whole lot of dry/dead rock often called base rock or reef bones for most of your rockwork then just buy a few pieces of LR to seed it. In 6-12 months time you'll have tank full of LR . So long as you use low-power lights to prevent nuisance algae, this should work great for you.

Oh and for fish choices, don't forget wrasses