cysco1187
Member
Hello:)
- Thread starter cysco1187
- Start date
cysco1187
Member
Thanks! Well like I said, I have the two clown fish that I just bought last weekend and my little hermit crab. I didn't think to ask how big the two clown fish will get but the owner of the local saltwater store I went to seemed to know what he was talking about. How long should I wait before I introduce the firefish, and how many would be okay to get?
saltydoug
New Member
I would get both the 10 and 20. Turn the 10 in to a refugium with some silicon and plex glass. Very easy. Then use the 20 as your display. 2.5 inches live sand bed in the refugium and about 2 inches in the display. Then 25 to 30 pounds of live rock between the two. A 90 gal an hour utility pump from refugium to display with a 3/4 pvc overflow. Then a protein skimmer. Then cycle the system for a month to two months. Feeding as you would if there fish it and use a enzymes booster. Then you will be happy and your fish will be too. It's easy and there are alot of you tube videos.
cysco1187
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542591
Sorry, I typed "not live long" but the "not" didn't show up.
There are very few fish that can do well in a tank that size. Mostly the tropical tide pool dwellers like a Barnacle Blenny or Clown Goby.
The size the Clownfish will reach mostly depends on the species.
~~So do you think I should add any other fish to this small tank or just wait until I buy a 10 or 20 gallon? I would also love to add live rock to a tank once I set one up but I'm not sure what hitchhikers come along with them. Any advice on how to start from scratch with either a 10 or 20 gallon tank would be much appreciated.arty: **I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT I AM STARTING OUT ON A BUDGET**
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542591
Sorry, I typed "not live long" but the "not" didn't show up.
There are very few fish that can do well in a tank that size. Mostly the tropical tide pool dwellers like a Barnacle Blenny or Clown Goby.
The size the Clownfish will reach mostly depends on the species.
~~So do you think I should add any other fish to this small tank or just wait until I buy a 10 or 20 gallon? I would also love to add live rock to a tank once I set one up but I'm not sure what hitchhikers come along with them. Any advice on how to start from scratch with either a 10 or 20 gallon tank would be much appreciated.
arty: **I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT I AM STARTING OUT ON A BUDGET**
cysco1187
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by saltydoug http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542600
I would get both the 10 and 20. Turn the 10 in to a refugium with some silicon and plex glass. Very easy. Then use the 20 as your display. 2.5 inches live sand bed in the refugium and about 2 inches in the display. Then 25 to 30 pounds of live rock between the two. A 90 gal an hour utility pump from refugium to display with a 3/4 pvc overflow. Then a protein skimmer. Then cycle the system for a month to two months. Feeding as you would if there fish it and use a enzymes booster. Then you will be happy and your fish will be too. It's easy and there are alot of you tube videos.
I'm a complete noob when it comes to this, so what is a refugium? Also, I'm starting this out on a budget for the simple fact I'm new at it.
Originally Posted by saltydoug http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542600
I would get both the 10 and 20. Turn the 10 in to a refugium with some silicon and plex glass. Very easy. Then use the 20 as your display. 2.5 inches live sand bed in the refugium and about 2 inches in the display. Then 25 to 30 pounds of live rock between the two. A 90 gal an hour utility pump from refugium to display with a 3/4 pvc overflow. Then a protein skimmer. Then cycle the system for a month to two months. Feeding as you would if there fish it and use a enzymes booster. Then you will be happy and your fish will be too. It's easy and there are alot of you tube videos.
I'm a complete noob when it comes to this, so what is a refugium? Also, I'm starting this out on a budget for the simple fact I'm new at it.
geridoc
Well-Known Member
You are making a mistake that many noobs make - assuming that a smaller tank will be cheaper and easier to learn on. In fact, the smaller the tank the more difficult it is to maintain. I have been keeping marine tanks for over 40 years, and have only had moderate success with a 10 gallon tank I had in my kitchen - conditions just change too fast in a small tank, and I know what I am doing. It is just too difficult to learn on such a tank since the only thing you learn is how to retrieve dead fish from the tank. As for cost, price the equipment for a 20 gallon system, and for a 55 and you will find only a small difference, mostly in the cost of the tank itself. Things like heaters don't vary much, so a larger heater for the 55 will only be a couple of dollars more than for a 20. Your biggest long term cost will be, by far, the cost of fish. I recall the first time a lost a $50.00 fish - I couldn't sleep for a week. So the least expensive way to go is with a moderate sized tank since your animals will survive far better.
cysco1187
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by GeriDoc http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542614
You are making a mistake that many noobs make - assuming that a smaller tank will be cheaper and easier to learn on. In fact, the smaller the tank the more difficult it is to maintain. I have been keeping marine tanks for over 40 years, and have only had moderate success with a 10 gallon tank I had in my kitchen - conditions just change too fast in a small tank, and I know what I am doing. It is just too difficult to learn on such a tank since the only thing you learn is how to retrieve dead fish from the tank. As for cost, price the equipment for a 20 gallon system, and for a 55 and you will find only a small difference, mostly in the cost of the tank itself. Things like heaters don't vary much, so a larger heater for the 55 will only be a couple of dollars more than for a 20. Your biggest long term cost will be, by far, the cost of fish. I recall the first time a lost a $50.00 fish - I couldn't sleep for a week. So the least expensive way to go is with a moderate sized tank since your animals will survive far better.
I'm leaning towards the 20 gallon but yea, I just want to make sure I don't kill any innocent creatures, as that would bother me far more and the price. So what should I start out by doing once I get my new tank?
Originally Posted by GeriDoc http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542614
You are making a mistake that many noobs make - assuming that a smaller tank will be cheaper and easier to learn on. In fact, the smaller the tank the more difficult it is to maintain. I have been keeping marine tanks for over 40 years, and have only had moderate success with a 10 gallon tank I had in my kitchen - conditions just change too fast in a small tank, and I know what I am doing. It is just too difficult to learn on such a tank since the only thing you learn is how to retrieve dead fish from the tank. As for cost, price the equipment for a 20 gallon system, and for a 55 and you will find only a small difference, mostly in the cost of the tank itself. Things like heaters don't vary much, so a larger heater for the 55 will only be a couple of dollars more than for a 20. Your biggest long term cost will be, by far, the cost of fish. I recall the first time a lost a $50.00 fish - I couldn't sleep for a week. So the least expensive way to go is with a moderate sized tank since your animals will survive far better.
I'm leaning towards the 20 gallon but yea, I just want to make sure I don't kill any innocent creatures, as that would bother me far more and the price. So what should I start out by doing once I get my new tank?
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cysco1187 http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542602
~~So do you think I should add any other fish to this small tank or just wait until I buy a 10 or 20 gallon? I would also love to add live rock to a tank once I set one up but I'm not sure what hitchhikers come along with them. Any advice on how to start from scratch with either a 10 or 20 gallon tank would be much appreciated.arty: **I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT I AM STARTING OUT ON A BUDGET**
Hi,
Welcome to the site.
The two clown fish in a 5g isn't going to do well...have you done any water tests? The 5g was fully stocked with the one little hermit crab. Do yourself a huge favor and just purchase slow until you have all the equipment you need to set up. By going small, you will be spending money and wasting it since you will have to upgrade everything later, and pay again for the lost fish. It's actually cheaper to do it right the first time around. The cheap comes out more expensive. Lasting a week is no proof that things are going well....and as for adding the firefish, no way.
Originally Posted by Cysco1187 http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542602
~~So do you think I should add any other fish to this small tank or just wait until I buy a 10 or 20 gallon? I would also love to add live rock to a tank once I set one up but I'm not sure what hitchhikers come along with them. Any advice on how to start from scratch with either a 10 or 20 gallon tank would be much appreciated.
arty: **I SHOULD ALSO ADD THAT I AM STARTING OUT ON A BUDGET**Hi,
Welcome to the site.
The two clown fish in a 5g isn't going to do well...have you done any water tests? The 5g was fully stocked with the one little hermit crab. Do yourself a huge favor and just purchase slow until you have all the equipment you need to set up. By going small, you will be spending money and wasting it since you will have to upgrade everything later, and pay again for the lost fish. It's actually cheaper to do it right the first time around. The cheap comes out more expensive. Lasting a week is no proof that things are going well....and as for adding the firefish, no way.
cysco1187
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542619
Hi,
Welcome to the site.
The two clown fish in a 5g isn't going to do well...have you done any water tests? The 5g was fully stocked with the one little hermit crab. Do yourself a huge favor and just purchase slow until you have all the equipment you need to set up. By going small, you will be spending money and wasting it since you will have to upgrade everything later, and pay again for the lost fish. It's actually cheaper to do it right the first time around. The cheap comes out more expensive. Lasting a week is no proof that things are going well....and as for adding the firefish, no way
Hello and thanks for responding. I meant that things were going well between the crab and fish. I'm thinking of going out this weekend and buying a 20 gallon tank and I joined the site because I would like to know the correct way to go about it. What water tests am I supposed to be doing? Again, I'm new and have only used a hydrometer. Not sure what I'm testing for but all help is appreciated. I do understand that when I get the tank it has to stabilize for a period of time, but that's about it. Once I get it stabilized, I'm thinking I will move the two clown fish into it, seeing as how its not good to have them in such small of a tank. Keep the advice coming!
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542619
Hi,
Welcome to the site.
The two clown fish in a 5g isn't going to do well...have you done any water tests? The 5g was fully stocked with the one little hermit crab. Do yourself a huge favor and just purchase slow until you have all the equipment you need to set up. By going small, you will be spending money and wasting it since you will have to upgrade everything later, and pay again for the lost fish. It's actually cheaper to do it right the first time around. The cheap comes out more expensive. Lasting a week is no proof that things are going well....and as for adding the firefish, no way
Hello and thanks for responding. I meant that things were going well between the crab and fish. I'm thinking of going out this weekend and buying a 20 gallon tank and I joined the site because I would like to know the correct way to go about it. What water tests am I supposed to be doing? Again, I'm new and have only used a hydrometer. Not sure what I'm testing for but all help is appreciated. I do understand that when I get the tank it has to stabilize for a period of time, but that's about it. Once I get it stabilized, I'm thinking I will move the two clown fish into it, seeing as how its not good to have them in such small of a tank. Keep the advice coming!
cysco1187
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by jay0705 http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542630
Hermits in maine? Hmm never seen any lol.
I picked him right off the beach in Wells
.
Originally Posted by jay0705 http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542630
Hermits in maine? Hmm never seen any lol.
I picked him right off the beach in Wells
cysco1187
Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by jay0705 http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542633
Really? I fish off ogunquit, ill have to look harder lol
It was at sundown if that helps you out. There were literally HUNDREDS of them
Originally Posted by jay0705 http:///t/397463/hello#post_3542633
Really? I fish off ogunquit, ill have to look harder lol
It was at sundown if that helps you out. There were literally HUNDREDS of them