Community Tank Recommendations

shreez

shreez

New Member
What types of community fish would be reccomended for smaller sized tanks? When I say smaller I mean a 25 gallon extra tall. Also, how many fish could I put in a tank like this. I plan on having a couple of small pieces of live rock in the bottom for decoration but that's about it.
Another question I have is this. I plan on having a live sand bed rather than crushed coral or something similar. If I have the patience, what is the best type of sand to use as a "filler" so that I don't have to purchase so much actual live sand? If I use some sort of filler sand how long should it be before my tank is fully cycled.
Thanks,
Chris
 
bentrue

bentrue

Member
clowns would be good. i would stay away from damsels as they can be quite aggressive. a six line wrasse is a very cool fish. i am also a big goby fan, they are fun to watch. in a 25 gallon tank you could probably have 3-4 fish, obviously depending on their size. i have a 30 gallon with 4 fish.
 
shreez

shreez

New Member
BEN! I see that you are in Hoover! What fish store do you use in your area. I work over by the Galleria in Hoover! :)
 
bentrue

bentrue

Member
hey shreez,
i use two of them. in hoover there is a store called aquarium imports and in bessemer there is a store called the fish bowl that will order pretty much anything. what LFS do you use? is it close to hoover?
 
shreez

shreez

New Member
I was using Aquarium Imports but I learned the hard way that they do not garantee their fish for any period of time. If it dies, it's dead, that's it. I'm looking for another store because I bought some fish from them and they all died within a week. I was very careful to acclimate them and I was also very careful to check my water levels to make sure they were safe to add more inhabitants. Recently something toxic was introduced to my tank and literally wiped my entire reef out. Frustrating but needless to say I'm starting over. I'm planning on going with a fish only this time and plan on getting my live sand from Aquarium Imports.
 
bentrue

bentrue

Member
yeah, i have not been satisfied with aquarium imports, and am still looking for one that i will use all the time. let me know if you find one.
 
shreez

shreez

New Member
I will. I've heard that there is a good one in Boaz, but I have yet to make a visit there.
What experiences have you have with Aquarium Imports? Anything to do with pollution?
 
bentrue

bentrue

Member
nothing with poluution, i just get the feeling like they don't have time to help their customers. also, the not guaranteeing fish that they sell even if you bring in a water sample and everything is good. it makes me wonder if the fish they sell are healthy to begin with?? i hate to spread stuff about them, but thats just the way they make me feel when i go in there. where is boaz?? i have not lived here long.
 
shreez

shreez

New Member
The lack of a garantee is what bothers me the most. I think if Saltwaterfish can give you the garantee that they give you then a local store should be able to offer you at least double that unless they are not confident in their livestock. If the shipping weren't so expensive I would just buy online. It doesn't pay to buy online though if the shipping is going to be so expensive.
 
jamos6

jamos6

Member
Well im lucky to have 2 good lfs and theywill sit and answer any of my ?s and i have a bunch most of the time lol. 1 doesnt have a garantee but is very knowlegdable. I am picking what I buy from there because of this all I have bought from them was 2 damsels adn my eel. The eel is doing great and the damsels got ate by the lionfish when i bought him.
The other pet store in all the times I have been there I have only seen 1 dead fish which was sick when they got him. They tried to heal him but it just didnt work. But all in all the stores are great.
HOPE yall find some soon.
 
bentrue

bentrue

Member
no gurantee there either. they don't have any saltwater fish there, but the guy can order anything that you need. fish, inverts, whatever. you just have to be there the day they come in to pick them up. like i said, no gurantee but the guy is very helpful and takes the time to answer questions. i am hating the no guarantee. i have ordered all my filter/skimmer type stuff off the net because it is so much cheaper, but the livestock shipping charge is so high i can't see the benefit of doing that.
 
dasnake03

dasnake03

Member
I don't no any lfs by me that has a garanty on their salt water fish,even stores that have the best fish.If the fish you are buying from that store are dieing and your water quality is good don't buy from them. Did you make sure the fish were eating before you bought them? How long were the fish in the store before you bought them? At Salt water fish.com, the shipping isn't that expencive,if you think how much the fish are at the store,it is probably $10 more to get the fish online.It is better if you buy more than one thing. If your only going to pay $10 more for a fish online, that is going to live,it makes sence.
 
von_rahvin

von_rahvin

Member
i have never had a lfs to offe any kind of warrenty. Only suggestion i have about buying the fish is to look at the tanks surounding the fish you are buying. Most fish stores do their filtration by banks. one display rack will all be connected, so to make sure you have a good quality fish you have to check them all. My Girlfriend bought me a sailfin tang for my birthday. since she does not know anything about fish tanks she directly introduced it into my main tank. unfurtonately this fish was infected with black ick. Now that i have lost 200 in fish and a few hundred more in other things, i know to check the entire bank. If you are unsure ask to see their filters so you can directly see what tanks are connected. That and never directly introduce any fish into you mian tank, get a 10 gal (only cost like 8 bucks) and set up a hospital tank.
 
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