i want to get a marine tank up after xmas. i think its going to be a 25 gal tank but im really not sure how much stuff to have in there. i just read the post about geting one started but i really do need the idiots guide to everything marine. i want:

3 or more clownfish
some enemonies
a star fish or two
maybe a couple of seahorses

would these all be ok together and in that size tank? are they compatible? how much salt do i put in?? what do i feed them???

Hey blinky, I hope you have a lot of money and time on your hand. It is a real money sink. Are you sure you want the whole 9 yards or just a couple of small clownfish will do?

You are talking about special lighting, protein skimmer, hydrometer, chemistry set, etc, etc. This is serious stuff.

Hi Blinky!

I dont know much about marine set ups, but i have heard they can be difficult. You have taken the first step in finding out info by creating this topic which is a start. A few people here know a bit about it and will no doubt help you with the info you need. I spoke to my lfs about marine tanks and they suggested to start small with only a couple of fish and a small set up, so you can get used to doing all the testing, checking equipment etc . My lfs say you cant keep seahorses with other fish, but i dont know why . I think you are very brave as I dont have the confidence to start a marine tank . At the moment I dont have the space either. Four tanks in my 2 bedroom house is plenty at the moment. Good luck Blinky with setting up you new tank, and be sure to post pics......by the way clown fish are way cool B)

thanks for your help guys. all i really want is a couple of clown fish and some enemonies. the other are just optional extras really. i just want a plain tank really until i get the hang. i have plenty of money in the bank and my parents bank so i dont think money will be a problem

hey hun, ure brave.....ill have to go shopping with you..............i love tank shopping....

Hello Tinkerbell,

As a Salty guy i will put in my 2 cents LOL....

First of... a 25 gallon is a good starter tank, Smaller than that will give you challenges your not ready for. THe smaller the tank the less room for error, In a larger tank which is always suggested by a seasoned Marine tank keeper, You will have more room to work with errors and will have less a chance to loose valuable livestock.

I agree with the above statment that it is a costly Hobby, But is very rewarding once you get past all the yuky stuff in the first 6 months to a year like algae break outs.

Now the key to this costly hobby is Patients and time. Don't rush or be in a hurry to have the most nice looking tank on the block, its much different from FW tanks (FW still need to have patients), and it is more costly if you get in a big hurry to get through all the steps of a successful Marine Aquarium. Now as for a 25 gallon tank .. Clowns would be a good start in the tank and i would not ad no more than 12 to 15 inches of fish. Nowif your planing on usint Live rock and such i would HIGHLY Suggest not to let the LFS's talk you into Damsels, There terror on wheels in an aquarium and belong in a spc. tank... they will stress most fish to the point of death, slower fis wont eat and if and when you start putting live corals in they will plow your aquascape.

In saying that if you ever need any advise just shoot me a message and would be glad to point you in the right direstion


Good luck in your endevor

RAZ

thanks for that. it was really helpful ill ave to see what santa brings me this year. if its a 20 gal, ill move the axolotls into there and use my 25 gal for the salties. thanks for your help everyone! keep it coming!

Is the nitrogen cycle still involved in setting up a marine tank? How long does it take compared with Goldfish? Are there other things you have to put in the water besides conditioner and salt? I'm interested on behalf of my husband in this as well.

Personally if you can get the Nano Cube this is the easy way of setting it up. Then I would get the Live sand and some sand, this will help the tank cycle faster. Then you will need Live rock, Let this go with nothing in the tank for 2 months, Making sure your checking for:

Calcium
Alkalinity
Ph
nitrates
Phosphates

And at the beginning
Ammonia and nitrites....

you want the Calcium to be around the 400-450ppm
Alk=10-12ppm
Ph=8.2-8.4
Nitrates=0
Phosphates=0

and of course ammonia and nitrites=0

In this tank I have you want to take out the bio balls and carbon in the tank. You will not need any of those things to get it going in fact it will cause a problem with the phosphates and nitrates so don't use them

Hi Koko...

Can i just add one more thing to your reply.... i don't want to overstep the queens boundies here LOL...But IMO i would put at least one peice of Cured live rock in the nano or several in al larger size aquarium along with live sand... this will give a faster and more effective Biological filter build up.....This is just my prefernce but i have found it very successful.... Ok Stepping down now...LOL


RAZ

it says on the website 1lb per gal i think so ill go with that thank you for your help. 2 months without anything!? how am i gonna cope!? omg!

I think you can put in crabs and snails earlier than 2mos....

Anemonies and coral even longer than 2mos i think.....


Im not sure...im setting up a new SW tank too! (but i don't know much yet...)

Excuse any misspellings or typos..im not supposed to be online and Im typing in the dark so the lights won't give away my secret....lol

Yes that part is true you can add crabs, snails to the tank in the first month. dont add any fish or corals to the tank

Oh I just said "Then you will need Live rock, Let this go with nothing in the tank for 2 months, Making sure your checking for:" not Cured I forget about live and cured but yes in my Nano tank I have three peices of cured Live rock in there and about 3 pounds of live sand

Raz you can help anytime

Thanks darlin.. Love to help in this hobby Long term success is the name of the game.....


RAZ

sounds cool!!
what kinda stuff would you need if you just wanted a few clown fish, snails, anenomies etc.?

wel...good luck

Anemones need lots of room. The grow very big and like to move I would suggest a tank of 30-50 gals and one Clown fish to one Anenomie....snails you can have a whole lot of them....Great guys

you would need a tank, filter, protein skimmer. sand, rocks. Lighting.....special food for the Anemone

In response to an earlier question/statement, seahorses should not be kept with other fishes because they (the seahorses) will be outcompeted for food.

Be sure to learn the requirements of any species you are thinking of adding to the tank. With anenomies this includes knowing their lighting requirements.

hmm....anenomies sound difficalt....what could you have instead?