Quote:
Originally Posted by
scharvill http:///t/393871/starting-up-75-gallon-salt-water-tank#post_3505250
Trying to figure out what fish to get
all me and my roommate know is were going to get about 4-5 Clown fish. a yellow tang. and he wants a sting ray.
also were doing sand and live rock. no live plants.
what would be some good, cool starter fish to do. this is both of our first saltwater tank
Hello and welcome to the site.
A 75g tank is WAY too small for a sting ray...they need at least a 400g tank. Only two clown fish pair per tank that size, and a yellow tang needs at least a 6 foot tank to be happy, all SW fish will get aggresive if it feels too crowded. So always get a fish according to the adult size of the fish so the tank is the proper fit. Please get a beginners book on keeping saltwater tanks so you can get an idea of what you are doing. Saltwater isn't hard to do, but mistakes are costly. We are right here to walk you through getting set up, but it will really help you to have a book so you will even know what questions to ask.
You should read the 101 tips for beginning, found at the top of the new hobbyist section. You must set up the tank, and get it cycled (using raw shrimp, not a live fish) before you even dream of putting fish in the tank.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
You will need power heads to move the water. The wave is the life of the ocean and your SW tank. No air lines, and certainly no air stones.
There is less oxygen in Saltwater than in freshwater, so leave the top open and don't cover it.
Add rock first, and put the sand around it, never build on shifting sand.
GFCI outlets are the best, safest way to power your fish tank...it only takes a few minutes to switch the outlets over.
Give at least 5 to 8 inches from the wall to set up the tank so you have room to work and fit equipment.
Lab type test kits are a must, not strips.
Use Reverse osmoses water, never tap water
- . You want the purest water, and add your salt-mix to that, so the only chemicals in your water is what you add.
Mark the water line, and always keep the water at that level
5g jugs are your friends.
Reverse Osmoses (RO) water is best to get from your own unit at home as basic equipment. You will need it to mix your saltwater for the tank, and for water changes. Also the water evaporates but the salt doesn't and stays the same, so we TOP OFF with fresh RO water to keep the salt levels in the tank always the same.
NOTE: You can purchase RO water from a grocery store (Cheapest: Walmart sells it for 37 cents a gallon at the refill station)
You can get premixed water from the fish store. Get the highest SG, and lower it to the level you want by deluting it with RO water... that's the cheapest method if you buy from the LFS.
Always mix your water (use a power head to churn it) 24 hours before use in a seperate container, before adding it to the main tank.
A couple of must have books to help you stock your tank:
A page so you an see the info it offers:
Another really useful book:
