starting out with a lionfish

[sirsolo]

All right... a complete newbie here looking for advice.

My two year old wants to have a lionfish, and I, of course, know nothing about aquarium (FW or SW). I have read a few tutorials and threads here and there, so I have a basic idea on how to get started. I am planning to get a 50g tank, and my questions are:

What other fish are compatible with (dwarf) lionfish? How many fish (including the lionfish) would be ideal for a 50g tank? I know that whether to have a fish only tank or not is up to me, but does the choice of lionfish influence this decision? Thanks and any advice is welcome.

Cheers

[Corax]

"All right... a complete newbie here looking for advice."

Welcome aboard! Grab some Kool-Aid and let's get to salting that tank =)

"My two year old wants to have a lionfish, and I, of course, know nothing about aquarium (FW or SW). "

While I try to encourage any and all to give sw a chance, placating a child's whim of the week is not a very good reason. Do you foresee yourself being interested too? If not, I'd scrap the entire notion and get the kid a puppy. SW fish can live 10-15 years if properly cared for. Not a responsibility to take lightly.

"I have read a few tutorials and threads here and there, so I have a basic idea on how to get started."

Go purchase these books before you get too far involved. They will prove to be invaluable:

The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1890087025/qid=1053630275/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8220832-6147868?v=glance&s=books)

and

Natural Reef Aquariums: Simplified Approaches to Creating Living Saltwater Microcosms (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1890087009/ref=pd_sim_books_1/103-8220832-6147868?v=glance&s=books)


"I am planning to get a 50g tank, and my questions are:

What other fish are compatible with (dwarf) lionfish?"

Anything the lion can fit in its mouth is a potential meal.

"How many fish (including the lionfish) would be ideal for a 50g tank?"

Depends on the fish really. A 50g (do you mean a 55g?) is 48" long, so that rules out any and all Tangs. Clowfish are out as the Lion would munch them pretty quickly. Same with Damsels. A hawkfish would work, as would a Fox Face. I'm having a duh moment here and not much is coming to mind I'm afraid.

"I know that whether to have a fish only tank or not is up to me, but does the choice of lionfish influence this decision?"

You will be fish only because the Lion will pretty much destroy any kind of non-sessile (moving) inverts like shrimp or crabs. You can do feather dusters though, they're kinda neat.

[sirsolo]

Thanks for prompt reply, Corax.

My wife and I had some interest in keeping a SW aquarium, but it was just all talk until our two year old gave us an additional incentive.

Go purchase these books before you get too far involved. They will prove to be invaluable:

The Conscientious Marine Aquarist: A Commonsense Handbook for Successful Saltwater Hobbyists

and

Natural Reef Aquariums: Simplified Approaches to Creating Living Saltwater Microcosms

Thanks, I will be sure to read them. I basically want to learn as much as I can before I get started. Fox Face looks very interesting, and I will have to look into them.

How would I go about finding out which fish are compatible with lionfish? Would those two books have anything about fish compatibility?

Thanks again for your advice.

[Boogiechillin]

Try to avoid relying on hard and fast rules for compatibility as temperments and sizes vary quite a bit with marine fish. One thing that I should point out right now is that dwarf lions are pretty sedentary - most will park themselves on a ledge or overhang during the day and only get active after lights-out. Unfortunately, the bigger, more active lion species get way too big for a 50g tank. Your options for livestock also open up quite a bit if you can make do without the lion...its predatory nature is going to be a real pain when you go to add tankmates.

In addition to the books that Corax mentioned, check out "Marine Fishes" by Scott Michael and take a look at www.wetwebmedia.com --- that should definitely get you started with plenty of reading material!

[sirsolo]

I got the 55 gallon tank yesterday (from walmart), but it did not come with a stand. Do you guys/gals know of a place that sells a stand for this tank size?

As far as lionfish goes, I am still working on those readings... Better be safe than sorry.

Cheers.

[OrionGirl]

If you're at all handy, building your own stand will be much cheaper, and allow you to customize the stand for the long term needs (ie, a sump, pumps, equipment storage). Otherwise, I've seen stands at Walmart and most fish stores--your choice of the wrought iron or wood. Often, the box pet stores (ie, Pet Smart) will run sales on the stands.

[ChilDawg]

I'm disappointed in your Wal-Mart...most sell stands and hoods for 55g if they have 55g aquaria for sale. I'd go to a PetSmart, PetCo, or Petland, as I'm not handy, but, if you are, DIY people can tell you how to make one.

[sirsolo]

I'm not handy at all, so I will have to check out some other stores.

thanks.

[sirsolo]

Got the stand from another walmart for $77, and it actually looks decent. I have a couple of other questions:

powerheads: I am planning to get two, but should I get Aquaclear or Maxi-jet? Is one significantly better than the other based on your experiences?

cycling: I am planning to get 45lbs Fiji LR as a start, and I have a question regarding fishless cycling. Do I cycle with LR (with sand and LS) only or do I cycle with LR and a couple of shrimps? In either case, do I want to put filter, heater, and powerheads in place (in other words, do I set up everything as it would be with the fish except for the fish)?

Thanks again for your help. It's coming together slow, but I am sure it will be worth the wait.

[kreblak]

For cycling you should not add the live rock. Set up the aquarium as though you were going to add fish (sand, powerheads, saltwater, heater, and all), but leave out the LR. Toss in the shrimp, and wait for your ammonia and nitrites to come down to zero. Then you can add the live rock. The reason for this is that a large ammonia spike (like the one you will get with the shrimp) will kill any organisms on the LR other than nirtifying bacteria. Some poeple don't care to have any hitchhikers on their LR, I think it adds to the diversity of your tank.

Once you are cycled, add the live rock and give it a day or two to settle in and make sure that your ammonia and nitrites are still zero. Depending on whether or not your LR is "cured," it may produce an additional ammonia spike if it experiences any die back once placed in your tank. Once your levels are consistantly stable, add fish and enjoy!

PS- be sure to stock the tank slowly, add the least aggresive fish first, and the most aggressive fish last. Quarantine tanks help a lot, too. The last thing you want is to add a fish with Ich to the tank you have spent so much time and effort preparing.

[kreblak]

Oh, and I like the maxi-jet powerhead.

[Mandairn]

What other fish are compatible with (dwarf) lionfish

Presonly i'd think a fox Face may get too big, but (dwarf) Anglefish, some butterfly fish, and maybe a dottyback(though there small there going to put up a fight and a loinfish wants an EZ meal not one it has to work for).

gOoD LUck

[sirsolo]

Thanks kreblak and Mandairn for your replies. Regarding my cycling question, I also learned quite a bit from this post (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11232), and am linking it from here so that other newbies can find it more readily. Corax has some good information there. Thanks.