questions from a newby

[scossairt]

So after i get my tank set up and everything running alright how much time will i spend in a day taking care of the fish/ fish tank.
Is it still going to be very time consuming if i have a 50 gallon tank and an adequate number of fish?
How much time does it take to set up the tank and start it in the beginning?
What all do i have to do?
What all do i have to do if i am interested in a puffer, clown fish, gobies, and blue damsels?
Anything else special i need to know?
Thanks :happyfish

 

[cheapfish1]

basically once you put the substrate rocks and water in the tank you will have to wait anywhere from two to six weeks for your tank to cycle before you can add anything to it. you must test water parameters about every other day during this time. As for time a day i know that on my 30 i spend anywhere from 10 min feeding a day or somedays a hour when i do water changes and other random maintance. Also your fish list might not be fit for a 50 gallon. Im pretty sure that puffers need more space, could eat the clown goby and blue damsel. Also damsels are known to be agressive and may stress the clown and gobies. O and by the way for the what else you need to know, research research research. It would be much easier to set up a tank right than to change everything after its full.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by cheapfish1
basically once you put the substrate rocks and water in the tank you will have to wait anywhere from two to six weeks for your tank to cycle before you can add anything to it. you must test water parameters about every other day during this time. As for time a day i know that on my 30 i spend anywhere from 10 min feeding a day or somedays a hour when i do water changes and other random maintance. Also your fish list might not be fit for a 50 gallon. Im pretty sure that puffers need more space, could eat the clown goby and blue damsel. Also damsels are known to be agressive and may stress the clown and gobies. O and by the way for the what else you need to know, research research research. It would be much easier to set up a tank right than to change everything after its full.
Agree!!!! :happyfish

 

[watertight]

I've found that the most interesting thing about a s/w tank is the liverock, and all the hitchhikers you get on it. Get plenty of it, and lay it out in a good formation, put a red filter over your lights at night, eg red cellophane, and turn out your room lights and watch your tank. You will find that the other creatures in the tank are just as interesting as the fish, probably even more so. Just my opinion at least.