Want a small marine tank? It's your money!

[Fishfirst]

on that note... I'd have to say that frequent monitoring of levels, a low bioload, a good skimmer, and frequent water changes are probably the way to go with a small tank. Doing things slowly and not overreacting to problems also help.

[vvolfe1]

I'm new at this but if I'm correct what you guys and gals are saying is that larger tanks are better. What do you think woulf be the smallest size to start with then? I've been thinking of either a 75 or 125 gal tank. I'd like to do a reef with a few fish. From what I have gathered so far anything smaller than a 75 will limit the amount of fish I can have. Not that I want alot of fish but maybe 4-12 fish with a couple of pairs. If I'm correct also once Everything is set up the tank cycled etc. the larger the tank the less out of whack it will become when I make small additions. With the smaller tank the more out of balance an addition can create.

[Osiris]

A 50-75g would be feasible for beginners.

[vvolfe1]

Thanks Osiris, I've been thinking of either a 75 or 125 gal. I have been leaning towards a 125 for a few reasons. It would fit along my one wall nicely. It would give me plenty of room for different species of coral. I could eventually get an enemine or two. And some of the fish I'd like suggest 75 at minimum. With a larger tank the fish will be able to stake out territories better too.
The drawbacks are mostly upsizing the equipment and more equipment. The weight is kinda a drawback too but either way I will be adding a few supports to my floor joists. I figure the weigh of a 75 gal tank around 800- 1000 pounds where as a 125 to be close to 1500 pounds.

[Fishfirst]

Hi vvolfe1,

A few comments:

First of all, welcome to fishforums!
I'd like to firstly say that congratulations! You are starting off on the right foot when you are talking about tank sizes... a larger tank will definately be a bit more enjoyable for you and your family.
Secondly, about your fish choice... which fishes were you thinking of getting?
I see you want some corals? Which kinds?
As for anemones... I highly encourage you to NOT get these. Mainly because of their requirements and track record in aquaria. They are much better off in the ocean.
The 125 is around 1,250lbs when fully setup and stocked. However, you are putting it on a larger surface than a 75 gallon tank... and therefor there isn't a huge weight difference per square foot. I would encourage you to find a wall with the supports being perpendicular to the tank. This will make sure you don't have problems with support in the long run.

[vvolfe1]

Hi Fishfirst,

Thanks for the greetings.

As for tank size I think I'll probably go with a 125 gal to start. It will take much more to fill and start up will cost more. In the long run it will be cheaper than getting a 75 gal tank that I already know I will out grow. As for price though there are usually some good deals on ebay for someone willing to drive a few hours. I have been mainly been focusing on equipment so far and the amount of live rock I'll be needing. From what I have understood so far a 125 gal tank would be ideal with 150-200 pounds of live rock. I'm not to sure on the live sand? I'll probably make a purchase in a week or so depending on if I can find a good deal.
As for where I'll put my tank it is by a load bearing wall. I have just finished fixing the cracks in my plaster though in my 100+ year old house. So needed or not I will be putting in additional supports for the floor. They will be cheap compared to having to go back to doing something I dislike. ; )
I have not really thought to much on the animal life yet. I do know I'd like to get a pair of clownfish. There are three different types of clowns I've been looking at, a Blue regal tang and maybe a yellow tang a few blenneys.
Any suggestions for peaceful easy to take care of fish that play good with others would be appreciated. As for coral I'll probably start out with some of the easier ones to grow and work my way into more of what I like in the future. Being new to this almost everything looks great to me so I'll probably just research on the easier species to start with until I find some things I like better than others.

[Fishfirst]

lol I'd make your own thread man... as for species that would work well together with a pair of percs

Royal Gramma
Firefish
Pajama Cardinalfish
Yellow Tang (all of the zebrasoma spp. tangs would also work instead of a yellow except for a sailfin tang)
Dwarf Angel (may eat coral though)
Fairy wrasse

[Reefneck]

I don't mind the hijack on my thread but you'll get more good responses if you start your own thread.

Glad to see you getting started on the right foot and if there is anything I can help you with, Just ask.

Keri

[oldsaltytexan]

UMMMM how to say this without stpeeing on toes??

dont know so here it goes i have a 29 gal reef and a 10 gal reef my brother has a 20 gal reef and also a 10 gal reef neither of us have had bit of problems with fish or anything dying out my biggest tank is a 55 gal tank with freshwater i use to be a ast mgr at a pet store so i know there whole purpose is to make money plain and simple the nemo craze started the lil nemo in sally or jr's room in the super small tank would look cute
but you can make a small sw tank work just dont plan on making the great berrier reef out of it keep it simple when in a pet store rember that spending 90 dollars would be alot to some its nothing to the pet store with overhead and employee cost so up selling is the key to them staying in the biz

i wouldnt recomend putting nemo in a 2 1/2 gal tank but would in a 10-20 gal
if the employee would be more interested in helpping instead of maximising the sale. also by doing check up water testing after the sale aand maby a phone call to see if everything is alright this hobby would be better for all
because rember

1 good store gets 4 recomdations

1 bad store who refuses to sell to joe public for what ever reason gets told on to the whole neighborhood

[Betta5]

im not saying anything, but look at this,

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=806020

if this dosent work copy and paste it into the adderss bar and take a look!!!

thanks

Sean

[Reefneck]

I don't see what this has to do with this thread! This guy was NOT a beginner and has lots of experience. Also notice no updates since April? Tells me it failed and he's not saying.

Let's try to stay on the topic of the thread please.

[Osiris]

I agree, keep to the topic..

[predator]

Originally Posted by Reefneck

I don't see what this has to do with this thread! This guy was NOT a beginner and has lots of experience. Also notice no updates since April? Tells me it failed and he's not saying.

Let's try to stay on the topic of the thread please.

its a link to a small tank... is that not what this thread is about?

oh and just to keep you updated my lil tank is doing ok i guess... all that is running around in it is the hitch hikers that came with the LR... the levels are much more stable that\n i thought they would be and the few inhabitants that came along seem to be doing well... since i have been working like 65 hours a week no time to mod the tank to test out some theories i have...

i will say this though... im considering building a tank for it and getting it out of the one its in... ill prolly increase volume slightly, but not for water volume, but simply to add a sump of about .5 gallons to the back to get all the equipment out of sight... hide the heater... add a built in water leveler... a DIY skimmer...

-me

[Reefneck]

Originally Posted by predator

its a link to a small tank... is that not what this thread is about?

No, It's a link to another forum where someone who has nothing better to do put saltwater in an antfarm! I don't call that a tank.

[predator]

For one thing... to come up with examples you pretty much have to link another forum... not really much on the subject to link to around here so i personally can easily look past that...

and even thought it happens to be an ant farm its a cool shape... and last time i checked walmart didnt have a pico tank isle... whether its a vase or a shotglass if it holds water and is intended for fish (or aquaria in general) it's a tank...

and i got a question for you... you are all so against this, but are their not animals that survive intire lives in tide pools? there are organisms for all environments... granted there are things that will not work in small confines, but some things will... ever thing about telling someone yeah its hard and you might not want to try it, but if you do try it with ________ they live in tide pools and do very well in small places...

-me

[Fishfirst]

"are their not animals that survive intire lives in tide pools? there are organisms for all environments... granted there are things that will not work in small confines, but some things will... ever thing about telling someone yeah its hard and you might not want to try it, but if you do try it with ________ they live in tide pools and do very well in small places..."


tidal pools are hundreds of gallons usually if they have stuff living in them that is solely dependent on seawater... also around 99% of the stuff you get for a marine tank is not found in tidal pools. Sorry but I have to disagree.

Also I don't consider a betta bowl a "tank" but thats just my opinion

[Reefneck]

Originally Posted by predator

whether its a vase or a shotglass if it holds water and is intended for fish (or aquaria in general) it's a tank...

You just showed your own ignorence right there with this exact quote! "and is intended for fish".

An Ant Farm was NOT "intended for fish"!!

Now please stop trying to start an argument in my thread with little to no idea what you are talking about!

[leveldrummer]

there are animals that spend there entire life in tide pools, but those tide pools have freshwater added back to them in rain, they also flood twice a day with the tides and get a huge water change. if some kid sets up a 5 gallon and forgets to top off ONE day, the specific gravity with spike and could crash the tank very fast. that thread about the ant farm is stupid imo. its just someone trying to keep a tiny tank alive. my purpose is to set up an aquarium to enjoy, not do the most challenging thing i can think of. so i have to work my ass off just to look at a hermit crab and a couple zoo's, and like mentioned before, that tank probably crashed in a week. this thread was intended to help people set up a nice tank, with low maintenance that they can enjoy. sure, setting up small tanks are entirely possible, but it is more work, and you cant say it isnt. if your up for the work, fine go for it. but you have a much higher chance at failing. if you want something low maintenance, thats nice to look at. a larger tank is your best bet. these arent opinions, its pretty well documented everywhere. and it isnt some ploy by the local fish store conspiracy, its simple science. water params fluctuate to fast in a small body of water. (and fyi- even the bettas that are able to survive in a puddle of water. they get frequent freshwater changes and have large mangroves to keep the nitrates low. not something the usually person provides in a 1/2 gallon bowl)

[predator]

Originally Posted by Reefneck

You just showed your own ignorence right there with this exact quote! "and is intended for fish".

An Ant Farm was NOT "intended for fish"!!

Now please stop trying to start an argument in my thread with little to no idea what you are talking about!

In no way am i trying to start a fight... i didnt know that seeing another side of an issue and expressing some opinion about it was provoking you...

and when i say "whether its a vase or a shotglass if it holds water and is intended for fish (or aquaria in general) it's a tank..." read it as "whether its a vase or a shotglass if it holds water and is intended for fish (or aquaria in general) BY THE USER it's a tank..."

I have never said its not more difficult or more restrictive... there are daily requirements from such a tank that other tanks dont need... but i see nothing wrong in working your ass off to have a tank that will ony support a shrimp... i see your points on not keeping fish in such a small tank, but inverts are normally used for food so whats the harm?

-me

[Reefneck]

There is no "other side" to it because an Ant Farm is NOT a tank! Period! And there is not even a "shrimp" that could exist comfortably in less than 12 ounces of water Except for a copepod, amphipod or other microscopic organisim! Think about the animals in question instead of your own self once in a while.

Oh and when I eat food shrimp I don't eat microscopic shrimp. I prefer jumbo! Let's see you fit even one in an Ant Farm! I also don't eat "Sexy Shrimp, Harlequin Shrimp, Fire Shrimp, Cleaner Shrimp, Camel Shrimp or any other Ornamental Shrimp kept in aquaria!

I'm finished with this BS argument!