Basic Questions for the Veteran

scopus tang

scopus tang

Active Member
Originally Posted by woody189
http:///forum/post/2517658
It put a HUGE dent in my wallet, and is taking a crapload of my time.
Amen, be aware however that most of the expess and the time come at the front end of this hobby. Oh you'll always be spending money, upgrading a pump, adding one more coral or one more fish, but not like you do when you are first starting out.
BUT, i'm sure it's going to pay off once i start adding some fish. The start up is a pain i the asz, but once it get's going i think i'll be happy i made the investment...
It will and you will

I am by no means trying to discourage you, but I personally am not enjoying it yet, but i don't regret it...ask me that question in a month. you need a lot of patience
Regardless of what you read or see anywhere else, patience and knowledge are the backbone of this hobby. Read, learn, and enjoy!
Remember, its not the endpoint alone, but the journey, as well as what we learn along the way!
 
fallout

fallout

Member
yeah its pricey. I just purchased a 65gallon tank and everything so far minus a skimmer, live rock, and inhabitants (fish and coral) has totaled $1800.
 
atlantis16

atlantis16

Member
Originally Posted by fallout
http:///forum/post/2517927
yeah its pricey. I just purchased a 65gallon tank and everything so far minus a skimmer, live rock, and inhabitants (fish and coral) has totaled $1800.
woah!
what is the most simplistic defintion of a cycle?
 
mcbdz

mcbdz

Active Member
Originally Posted by mcbdz
http:///forum/post/2508772
I'm not really a vet, but can help out with these ?'s.
If you are set on having tangs then the smallest tank you would beable to start out with would be a 125gal 6 foot long tank.
All your fish list would be compatable except the seahorses which require a spieces only tank. There is a board farther down where you can do some reaserch on them, but would recommend waiting until later on when you have been in the hobby for awhile.

Keep a close check on craig's list, the classifieds farther down on here, and anywhere else you look for used and you can find some good deals to help save you some money.
I would suggest going to these threads and reading through them.

Great to answer most of the questions you need to have answered.
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=264597
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=301033
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=301033

Please spend some time and read through these links I posted earlier. This will answer a lot of your questions and then will give you more informed questions to ask.
 
atlantis16

atlantis16

Member
Originally Posted by mcbdz
http:///forum/post/2527286
Please spend some time and read through these links I posted earlier. This will answer a lot of your questions and then will give you more informed questions to ask.

hah alright man...
I dont want to go all out with my 1st tank but a nano is hard to not make a mistake... what would be a suggested size?
I only want to simplify it and have live rock, anemone , and clowns
 
krazykarel

krazykarel

Member
Alright dude...here is my recommendation...just 10 easy steps to having success with your first saltwater fish tank :)
1) Get someones used setup (ie. tank, lights, canopy, stand).
2) Get some "live sand" from local fish store (LFS) and put it into the tank.
3) Buy some saltwater from the LFS or mix it yourself (you can learn this by searching on this board) and fill the tank.
4) Buy some "Live Rock" from an LFS and put it into your tank.
5) Get a raw shrimp from the market and throw it in your tank. Keep it in the tank until it is all disolved (decomposed).
6) Wait approximately 1 month for your tank to "cycle" -- this when the chemicals in your tank will go up and down until eventually stabilizing.
7) As you WAIT for your tank to cycle test the water for Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite so you can get some experience running tests on your tank.
8) As you WAIT the month...read every new post on here, especially the ones in "New Hobbyist" section.
10) By this time you will have a better idea of what you can and cannot do with your tank and you can add your first fish. Try a Clown...they are hardy fish. You will then learn a lot by your own experience.
Hope that helps you along!
 
atlantis16

atlantis16

Member
Originally Posted by krazykarel
http:///forum/post/2531291
Alright dude...here is my recommendation...just 10 easy steps to having success with your first saltwater fish tank :)
1) Get someones used setup (ie. tank, lights, canopy, stand).
2) Get some "live sand" from local fish store (LFS) and put it into the tank.
3) Buy some saltwater from the LFS or mix it yourself (you can learn this by searching on this board) and fill the tank.
4) Buy some "Live Rock" from an LFS and put it into your tank.
5) Get a raw shrimp from the market and throw it in your tank. Keep it in the tank until it is all disolved (decomposed).
6) Wait approximately 1 month for your tank to "cycle" -- this when the chemicals in your tank will go up and down until eventually stabilizing.
7) As you WAIT for your tank to cycle test the water for Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite so you can get some experience running tests on your tank.
8) As you WAIT the month...read every new post on here, especially the ones in "New Hobbyist" section.
10) By this time you will have a better idea of what you can and cannot do with your tank and you can add your first fish. Try a Clown...they are hardy fish. You will then learn a lot by your own experience.
Hope that helps you along!

wow i am following that for now on! but what tank size would be good for a beginner? 30g?
 
mcbdz

mcbdz

Active Member
Originally Posted by atlantis16
http:///forum/post/2531118
hah alright man...
I dont want to go all out with my 1st tank but a nano is hard to not make a mistake... what would be a suggested size?
I only want to simplify it and have live rock, anemone , and clowns
I think a 55g is a good starter tank size, but bigger is always better.
 
metweezer

metweezer

Active Member
A 55 is a good size tank, but... price wise check out a 125 instead. a 6 foot long tank will give you more options on aquascaping your tank and livestock. 55's are taller, which limits stocking.
I think that Journeyman might have mispoke on this one.
55's are not taller than 125's. 55's are 20" high and 125's are 22" high. 125's are 6 feet long which is nice and 5" wider but they weigh more than twice as much. So it's a matter of a 4 foot long tank vs a 6 foot. My 2 cents.
 
atlantis16

atlantis16

Member

Originally Posted by metweezer
http:///forum/post/2536796
A 55 is a good size tank, but... price wise check out a 125 instead. a 6 foot long tank will give you more options on aquascaping your tank and livestock. 55's are taller, which limits stocking.
I think that Journeyman might have mispoke on this one.
55's are not taller than 125's. 55's are 20" high and 125's are 22" high. 125's are 6 feet long which is nice and 5" wider but they weigh more than twice as much. So it's a matter of a 4 foot long tank vs a 6 foot. My 2 cents.
I really do not want to have a huge tank right now... are nanos bad??? I am purchasing a tank soon so it will cycle and be ready to add fish during the summer... How long does it take for a smaller tank (29g) to cycle? are there limited rock/coral/inverts that are compatible?
 
mcbdz

mcbdz

Active Member
Originally Posted by atlantis16
http:///forum/post/2537055
I really do not want to have a huge tank right now... are nanos bad??? I am purchasing a tank soon so it will cycle and be ready to add fish during the summer... How long does it take for a smaller tank (29g) to cycle? are there limited rock/coral/inverts that are compatible?
Nanos are more difficult to keep water stable and not as forgiving of misstakes.
All tanks have to cycle the same no matter size, that said
each tank cycles differently
now are you confused.
Just follow how to cycle and test your own water until amm. goes up then down, >nitrites go up then down>, then nitrates go up and stablize. Do water change and ready for first fish.
Yes, there are more limatation to what you can put in a small tank do to it's size.
 
aratroth

aratroth

Member
I am new to the hobby as well. I started with a 55 gallon tank about 3 months ago and now have most of my livestock in the tank along with around 75 lbs of live rock. I am already itching to get into a bigger tank. Definitely follow the other posters advice of going with a bigger tank as it provides you more margin of error while starting out (a mistake in a 29 gallon tank with be worse than in a 55 gallon as there is less water etc...).
my .02
 
sciknen

sciknen

Member
yea im in the process of starting my 1st tank
which is a 55g
im already having fun building the stand and the sump
 
atlantis16

atlantis16

Member
Originally Posted by atlantis16
http:///forum/post/2538486
ok thanks now i have some thinking to do
any ideas how i could find a used 24g and up nano tank in the PA area??? ---- has nothing, and the classifides here are all over the states..... any suggestions?
 
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