Complete and total newbie.

[jared]

Whuzzup!? I stumbled upon this site while doing a research paper at school. I started looking at the different things this site has to offer (aka screwing around in class.)
I am the kind of guy that loves to fill my room full of rare crap that no one else can get. Some of these things are perfect to add to my collection. The only downside is, the most complicated fish I've ever raised are bettas and goldfish. you just about have to try to kill the bloody things.
I get the feeling that table salt isn't exactly what you mix with the water. (Okay, let it out. laugh your arses of.) What do you do to get the salt water?
Some of the fish that I'm interested in are:
Clownfish
radiata Lionfish
snowflake eel
porcupin puffer fish
blue hippo tang
What do I need to know about these fish? Are there any that shouldn't be mixed? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[kreach]

First thing... welcome to the board!
As far as starting your own saltwater aquarium, the best advice I can give you before you start is research, research, research. A recommended book is The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Robert Fenner... they sell it on this site.
As far as the salt, you're right that it isn't table salt. Premade saltwater can be bought from many LFS (local fish stores). Or you can buy RO (reverse osmosis) water from your LFS and make the saltwater yourself using packaged sea salt (also available at your LFS).

 

[dcel22]

there are fish compatibility charts out there that help when matching fish. Although I would recommend asking here. And if I am correct you need a minimum of a 55 gallon tank for a tang. (or atleast highly suggested)

 

[shine~on]

Once that eel grows it will probably eat the clown

 

[beaslbob]

welcome to the board.
first I am incomplete and a half newbie
I second the book recommendation.
You are correct table salt can not be used by itself and under no conditions if it contain iodine. But back in the old days there were formulas for do it yourself salt mixes. It wasn't very long that excellent commercial salt mixes for aquariums became available, so you don't see those formulas much today.
In keeping betta and gold fish you chose the two IMO easiest and hardiest fish to keep. Both can survive in extremely bad water and the goldfish can survive at temperatures down to just above freezing. Almost all other fish fish require much better and stable environments.
I do not have experience with the fish you chose but from what I hear they are relatively hard to keep (except the clown). The lion and puffer may even be poisonous . And all (except the clown) may eat the clown. So do some research and you may find some really awesome fish that are much easier to keep. You also may want to research various saltwater plants. Not too many people in idaho have saltwater gardens.
Good luck and again welcome.

 

[justchillin]

Originally posted by Jared
Some of the fish that I'm interested in are:
Clownfish
radiata Lionfish
snowflake eel
porcupin puffer fish
blue hippo tang
What do I need to know about these fish? Are there any that shouldn't be mixed? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
ok looking at that list i would say first off you'd have to lose the clownfish...
lionfish and eel would work, puffers are known to nip at the lionfish so that isn't a great mix...as for the tang, if introduced early and is not to small you may get away with it, but if you get an especially aggressive sfe then it may go after it...
i would say go with min. of 75 gallon and if possible bigger...and introduce them in the following order...
1. tang (med-large)
2. lion (med)
3. sfe
if trying a mix like this i think it's better to add the most aggressive last...
get multiple opinions from people on the board (and there will be multiple opinions!) and like kreach said "research, research, research"...

 

[jared]

Okey-dokey, thanx for the info!
If I were to put the clownfish and blue hippo fish in a tank on their own (along with other mild-tempered fish), how big of a tank would I need? Let's say I have maybe five of each fish.
Would the puffer get along with them okay?
Also, how big would the tank have to be for the eel and lionfish?
Are there any other fish that I could put in the aggressive tank that would get along okay?
Sorry for the endless questions. Any help is greatly appreciated though! Advice has been great so far. Thanx a ton.

 

[saltysyd]

While there is always SOME risk involved. I have 2 false percula clownfish in a 75 g with a pretty big snowflake eel and a volitan lion and they have never even tried to eat them. As long as they are getting enough to eat from you they shouldn't have to go "hunting". Snowflakes are USUALLY not aggressive toward other fish, however some other types of eels are. Another thing you should know is that eels are the "great escape artists" of the SWF world!! By that I mean, you need every little hole in your tank hood covered somehow or they most likely will escape. They also have to be fed with a feeder stick or some brave souls on here do it by hand!!Eels have very poor eyesight but a very powerful sense of smell. You will need to hold the feeder stick with the food on it very close to the eel's face and then he will take it. Read alot of info online first to help you decide. Also, whatever you do NEVER feed your lion live fish. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

 

[karajay]

I agree with Research, Research, Research! A good book, like the one that was recommended, will save ALOT of money and grief. :yes:
On to the fish. In my opinion, you'd need at least a 125g to be considering fish such as tangs and puffers. They get large and need the space. If you'd like a clown in your tank, I'd recommend a maroon. They can hold their own with the big boys.
By the way...ONE of each fish is more than enough.

 

[goobernif]

holy cow you mean other people in Idaho raise SWF? or are interested. man just when i was about to give up hope. good luck with your new-found hobby. One thing i noticed, it's VERY ADDICTIVE!! actually SW is the most addictive thing i've come across, next to the nasty that is.