lionfish

[fishlover88]

Ok so i have been over in freshwater for many years, and now i am looking at doing saltwater for fun. However i have been curious about starting with lionfish. This is the single fish that has me even considering saltwater. But caring about the welfare of the fish, i am curious to several points. The first being is a lionfish even doable for a saltwater novice? Second is what species does anyone find easier or more enjoyable, i have to say that the coloration on the zebra lionfish, and its size fits best with the tankspace that i have? finally would a 29 gallon be big enough for this particular species of lionfish?


Just know that i have not made any steps toward setting anything so any general saltwater info would be nice


thanks

[Ghost_knife]

There's many species, I believe Fuzzy Dwarf or some of the other dwarf may work. dont hold me to that. another thing to consider is they need a stable system Ie one thats been running for more then 4 months preferably 6 months.

[Squawkbert]

Agreed - go w/ a small species and don't cycle a tank w/ it. Watch NH3 levels carefully throughout the life of the fish as sloppy feedings can result in a nasty spike.

Also - you don't have any cats or small children, right?

[fishlover88]

dont worry with this kind of fish i would take every precaution that not only the fish but the people around it are safe as well. So there are no cats or small children to be running around.

Secondly, i understand the need for a stable environment, are there any fish that are good for helping to stablize, or to test the system. Cause often times in freshwater your chemical balence could be right, but you put the fish in there and they die. so in freshwater we test the system with guppies or tetras or such. Are there any fish that i should look at using before the lion?

[Squawkbert]

damsel or chromis

[FreddytheFish]

In that size tank, I'd go with a fuzzy dwarf or a fu manchu lion; a dwarf zebra would be pushing it.

You could cycle with a damsel. Lions are very hardy; the biggest issue with them is usually feeding.

[dorkfish]

Personally I'm wondering how a small child would get injured by the lionfish. I've already figured out how a cat would get harmed, though (had it happen once).

[fishlover88]

does any one know how well, or have any objections to the eco-complete substrates? I've always looked at them, and never really liked the idea of complete tank in a day, but i wanted to see what other people thought and if i should steer clear of it, or keep it in the back of my head as a last case scenario

[Uncarved Block]

Definitely a fu manchu lion would be great. I personally like them the best out of the lionfish, and they do ok in smaller setups.

[Tommy Gun]

Saltwater tanks differ from freshwater in that you can cycle a tank without any fish and just some live rock and live sand in the tank. I really suggest having a good amount of one or the other (I suggest both since sand substrate will really help you have the ability to pick up the lionfish's wastes, which are big and often, so you do not want to simply allow them to get stuck in a gravel substrate) to aid any mechanical filtration with some natural filtration.

I had a lionfish for a time in my saltwater tank, but it was a Volitan's and too big for a 29 gallon tank. The good news is that they are rarely aggressive and very slow and calculated in their movements, so it is sort of hard to get stung by one unless you are completely not paying attention. That is not to say you shouldnt take every precaution available and I would find a python that is long enough to use without having to put your hand in the tank.

I feel that cycling with a damsel is ok, chromis not so much as they are not as hardy, but the problem is trying to catch them when you want to take them back out. Very very very hard to do, I had to once and ended up taking out all the live rock to do so.

[fishlover88]

Would a bio wheel/ overflow filter be strong enough to keep up with the waste that the fish would produce, and would the sand get caught in the water and then cause issues inside the filter. I realize people use sand all the time and find it to be more effective than other substrates, but since ive never used it i am curious

[Tommy Gun]

I have tried to use sand to no avail in my freshwater tanks and had the problems that you bring up with the sand in the water and filter concerns, but from my experience with live sand in a SW tank, it is a totally different thing and is very good at settling out and does not kick up too easily in my tank at all. Even when I am messing around a lot with my rock or cleaning the tank, the sand settles out really quickly. Plus, it would completely undo the 'live' part of live sand to rinse it out so you can skip that step. The fish are also pretty used to being in sandstorms created by hurricanes and stormy seas so they can handle it, especailly reef type fish. Hopefully others can back me up on this for you. It must be something to do with the salty water or something that makes the sand act totally different in a SW tank than in a FW tank.