Thinking of Starting an Aquarium, Advice?

[Carosylics]

The best practice is to keep a QT up and running until you at least have stocked your tank completely. QT has to be a well cycled environment just as the display tank must be. You can't achieve a well cycled tank on the quick. Also, sometimes fish get sick down the line with an infection even after you have placed a healthy QTed fish in your display. Ideally, you'll have the facilities needed to treat if your favorite 2 yr old fish suddenly gets sick.

Yes, the best thing to do is QT all fish and hard surfaced animals....but I must admit I only QTed fish. As for other animals such as crabs (don't ever get hermit crabs) and snails is to know if they came from a dedicated tank, or a community tank that contained fish. Crabs and snails can't get fish diseases but there is a remote possibility that they could carry a pathogen on their hard shells....same for hard corals (if they have been exposed to fish, fish equipment, fish water, etc.) Many of your best saltwater fish shops have separate systems, but if you're buying from your basic all purpose pet shop, you can count on everything being all mixed up together some how.

I am suddenly very glad there is a specialized shop near my area. Not sure how good the shop is in general, but everything seemed separated. And very expensive.
What's bad about hermit crabs?

 

[Carosylics]

If at some point your feel like all the research is not worth it....its time to decide not to go in to the hobby. I researched reef tanks for a solid 6 mos. before I set one up and that is after many years of exp with fish-only tanks. The research should be something you want to do and look forward to doing, otherwise, saltwater tanks is not for you. Fortunately, there is a lot of help now with the internet, particularly forums such as this one. But also, a lot of good free reads on the www.

Research is fine, so don't worry about that. Just might take me a bit longer than I'm used to, since I have little to no background for more complicated(?) aquariums. Had some bettas and a few guppies and koi, etc. before, but no saltwater fishes. Admittedly was told there wasn't that much or a difference in a pet shop I went to some time before, so the amount or research needed was a bit surprising.

 

[beth]

Bettas can be kept in an bowl using RO water, no pumps, no filters....try that with any salt fish and see what happens. LOL

Lesson: Pet store employees are 99% of the time not reliable teachers for this hobby.

As long as you are enjoying the process, then you're good to go.

 

[flower]

Hi,

The reason for the longer tank is not to give the fish room to swim...tangs need their 6 feet, which are all 125g and larger...each critter has their needs. The reason is that a wider tank allows for better gas exchange since there is more surface area. With properly placed power heads that really isn't an issue.

 

[silverado61]

Along with the. Books Flower suggested, here are a couple more:
Algae, A Problem Solver Guide. By Julian Sprung. Which identifies different types of algae. Beneficial and problematic. And the different ways to control it.

Water Chemistry For The Marine Aquarium. By John H. Tullock. Which gives detailed instructions on how to create and maintain a synthetic saltwater tank. You'll also learn about adding chemical components and trace elements using test kits and keeping good records.

 

[beaslbob]

As part of your research I highly recommend you consider macro algae and even an algae turf scrubber.

By starting the tank with macro algae right from the start everything IMHO is secondary. So you can get by with less of the rest and save a whole bunch of money.

Also a tank balanced out with algae is much more stable and forgiving of operator errors.


my .02

 

[Carosylics]

Hi,

The reason for the longer tank is not to give the fish room to swim...tangs need their 6 feet, which are all 125g and larger...each critter has their needs. The reason is that a wider tank allows for better gas exchange since there is more surface area. With properly placed power heads that really isn't an issue.

Oh that explains it. Thanks!