Starting: saltwater, 20-40 gallon, want advice

cyproz

cyproz

New Member
Ok so i originaly wanted to start a big tank because i had the money but my dog got sick and i racked up a nice 300 dollar vet bill. So my new plan now is to go for a 20-40 gallon tank that i gradually build. It will be saltwater and i think i can get a 40 gallon on CL for around 70-100 bucks. What i really want is an aquairum that i can look in and just be like " neato". I want fish that do weird things. I have lots of time to read and do reasearch and lots of time to care for them. I live in florida btw. So what are some fish i can be looking at? also what is the supplies list i need for just having a tank with sand and water in it. I know i need a filter, tank, and light.
thanks for any help in advance :)
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Cyproz
http:///forum/post/3196687
Ok so i originaly wanted to start a big tank because i had the money but my dog got sick and i racked up a nice 300 dollar vet bill. So my new plan now is to go for a 20-40 gallon tank that i gradually build. It will be saltwater and i think i can get a 40 gallon on CL for around 70-100 bucks. What i really want is an aquairum that i can look in and just be like " neato". I want fish that do weird things. I have lots of time to read and do reasearch and lots of time to care for them. I live in florida btw. So what are some fish i can be looking at? also what is the supplies list i need for just having a tank with sand and water in it. I know i need a filter, tank, and light.
thanks for any help in advance :)

Welcome to the site!
Besides water and sand you are going to need live rock.
Short list of absolute needs:
Tank
Sand
Live rock
Power heads
Skimmer
Test kits
Salt to create a little ocean
Thermometer
Lights
Hydrometer
heater
books
Are you planning any coral?
 
cyproz

cyproz

New Member
well i worked in a petstore where i had to take care of the fish as well as other things. i also know a ton about gardening, like ph and ppm.
Im not sure what the difference is between live rock and coral, i know coral is an organism but i also know most of them are poisonous. I think depending on the fish i choose, depends on if i get coral or not.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Cyproz
http:///forum/post/3196719
well i worked in a petstore where i had to take care of the fish as well as other things. i also know a ton about gardening, like ph and ppm.
Im not sure what the difference is between live rock and coral, i know coral is an organism but i also know most of them are poisonous. I think depending on the fish i choose, depends on if i get coral or not.

Live rock is a rock with tiny critters living on it. It helps to filter the tank naturally, the fish graze on the algae and feed on the rock critters all day. It also helps to relieve stress, the fish hide in and swim around the rock, many saltwater fish must have hiding places or they die.
A coral is a critter, kind of like a step above plants but really cool to watch and has lots of color.
Besides fish you will need a CUC (clean up crew) these are critters with a job, like eating algae and cleaning up the dead..Keeping the sand clean and stirred.
This is why books are on my list of must haves. You may have worked in a pet store but I can tell you have lots to learn and discover.
 
isthatright

isthatright

Member
yeah i agree, i had fw for 15 yrs then got brave n started sw5 yrs ago n in sept 09 shut my 55 down gota 90 for my birhtday n now have a fowlr n cant believe how much i stillhave to learn but i love it
 
cyproz

cyproz

New Member
maybe i should start with freshwater, but i have never seen any fresh water fish that make me go "Wow"
 
gill again68

gill again68

Active Member
I would make the suggestion that if you decide to go saltwater wait a little longer and get the big tank you wanted. In the saltwater world smaller is harder to keep than larger. I dont think you have to start with fresh to be sucessful. You do need to learn a bunch and be scared of the "experts" and the people that speak in absolutes. I think each system is a world of its own and you may get things to work that others say should never be attempted. The fact is there are basic rules and if you follow those and go really slow then you will have more success than failures. If you think you can buy it all today and have it tomorrow then buy a bicycle and forget the fish thingy.
Slow is the way to go.
Hope you decide to go salt. I waited 20 yrs to do it and wish that I would have started way back when. Its expensive as all get out but hey I dont think they will bury me with pants on anyway. All I ever see is the top half so no pockets then Im spending it now!
 
cyproz

cyproz

New Member
what are some books or dvds or stuff i can start buying and reading? i know there are a ton of books and what not but i want to get ones with good, accurate info.
 
isthatright

isthatright

Member
i have to admit i don't have any sw books but in the 15 yrs of doing fw i learned alot from my lfs guys n i finally decided to go for it n take what i learned from them n this site. i had a sw 55 for 5 yrs with a undergravel filter n crushed coral . wasn't crazy about it all of the time but learned alot n kept my sw fish alive n they are 4 n a couple that r 2 so i think i've done ok. so now i got brave n decided to go sand n liverock so here i go and so far so good.
but i have nothing against readin but really haven't found a good book either.
 
bswe22

bswe22

Member
IMO the best book for you to get is "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" 2nd Edition by Robert M. Fenner. It is a great book that covers all aspects of saltwater. I would definitely read up on it before you make any decisions.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Have you read these?
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/264597/a-list-of-extremely-helpful-threads-for-all-hobbyists
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/160830/beginners-12-step-program
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/301033/101-tips-to-beginning-and-maintaining-a-saltwater-aquarium
Great start in my opinion.
 
isthatright

isthatright

Member
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/post/3197336
Have you read these?
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/264597/a-list-of-extremely-helpful-threads-for-all-hobbyists
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/160830/beginners-12-step-program
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/301033/101-tips-to-beginning-and-maintaining-a-saltwater-aquarium
Great start in my opinion.
actually i have read some of those , good info, n i read for a living so sometimes its hard for me to read more but thats no exuse.
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
man i tried keeping freshwater fish for years and couldnt keep a fish alive nearly as long as my sw fish have lived.
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
^ i only say that because, for me, my experience with keeping freshwater fish was not a good indicator of how well i could care for aquaria. if you want a fishtank, and salt water fish is what you like, then start w/ salties... but i would start with my best foot forward, and by coming here and asking questions/ doing research it seems like you're on that path
 
isthatright

isthatright

Member
Originally Posted by Eric B 125
http:///forum/post/3197402
^ i only say that because, for me, my experience with keeping freshwater fish was not a good indicator of how well i could care for aquaria. if you want a fishtank, and salt water fish is what you like, then start w/ salties... but i would start with my best foot forward, and by coming here and asking questions/ doing research it seems like you're on that path
yea fw was good for awhile but i love sw n hope i can keep some cool stuff soon, do u have any corals?
 
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