Starting up my first tank

[vriggchan]

Hey guys I've been searching around at stores and asking questions about starting up my first tank. Someone pointed me to this site, saying that you guys are the best in knowledge and such. So I decided to ask you this:

I was thinking of starting my first tank, I want something big and beautiful. I was thinking something in the 90 gallon range. I want the tank to be a salt water fish. Looking for something that i could admire after a couple of herbal indulgences, and easy to maintain. Could I make a reef aquarium with a castle in it? That's what I'm really asking. What suggestions could you guys give for creatures and fish and other such things. We want a very large array of colorful active fish. So far the only ones we thought of are the blue and yellow tang for sure, possibly angel fish, and glow fish. Just we are curios as well if all of these assorted fish will live in harmony, and what kind of corals to pick out to their liking.:feedback:

 

[Arturo]

Welcome, if you have never had a tank of any kind before I would suggest going fresh water first. If you can handle fresh water then go ahead and try saltwater. The margen of error on salt water is very slim, good luck with watever you decide.

 

[Ace25]

First question, what is the most $ your willing to spend up front to get the tank going? That is going to decide what you can or can't have in the tank. Just a FYI, my 75G "coral" tank has cost me about $10,000 total in 12 months time. My tank is by no means "complete" either, I could easily spend another $5000 today if I had it just on additional equipment.

 

[james123]

i disagree with arturo. my first tank was a saltwater tank. i do agree with Ace, however, be prepared to spend some $$$$!!!! i got a 55 gallon tank w/stand for free from my brother and a year later can't decide wether to thank him or kick him!! i've spent well over 2 grand and i have just a few fish and coral, by no means is my tank full. It's a never ending expense, this hobby. That being said i enjoy it and i would recommend it to anyone.

As far as a castle, i would have to say that most of the people on here would say that is going against the principles of a reef tank. we (at least i) are trying to have our own little piece of the ocean, as close to the creatures we keep's natural habitat. I have never seen a castle in the ocean. just my opinion though.

There are so many different kinds of fish out there that you will have NO problem filling your tank with fish that are colorful and work together. but my suggestion would be to decide what kind of tank you want to keep and get the bulk of the equipment you need first. after you get your tank up and running you will have plenty of time to worry about livestock. (if your're anything like me, my money dictates the rate i add livestock-lol).

good luck with your project! as you get further nto it do not hesitate to ask lots and lots of questions!!! everyone on this forum is very helpful and has experienced just about everything. there's not a question that can be asked that someone does not know the answer to!!

 

[fsn77]

No doubt, a saltwater tank is not cheap. And, it is time consuming, especially in the first several months.

If you want multiple tangs and large angels, please consider a tank larger than 90g. If you want a "large array of colorful and active fish" (not sure how many fish that is in your mind), you would probably be better off with a 6' long tank of at least 180g, especially if you want it to be a reef tank. In capitivity, large numbers of fish and keeping corals do not go hand in hand, unless the tank is very large or one is willing to spend a lot of money on filtration and time on maintenance. Corals have higher water quality requirements than fish, which is why sucessful reef tanks tend to have a relatively small number of fish in them.

I imagine you're talking about buying some castle aquarium decoration, but... If you're handy and creative, I think you could take pieces of rock and make them into a castle. There's plenty of people that drill holes in live rock to connect them and build structures (typically natural looking structures). Doing so to make a castle could be rather tedious, depending on how elaborate you want it to be. But if that's the effect you want, I think it can be done. I would, however, suggest creating it out of dead reef rock (dry base rock), as the amount of time spent working on it will keep it out of the water a long time and isn't worth killing off the life that would be on live rock.

 

[ToeJam]

The money spending does build up over time. The initial cost is still high. Over time you will upgrade until you have the display how you want it to look.

Fish recommendations are hard. Coral route you can do later but get coral safe fish.

To go about this the spending slowly route ...going fish first is good to keep the costs down. Corals need more strictly balanced water parameters and more lighting. The lighting and skimmer are what kick you in the nads on cost when it comes to getting started with Coral vs Fish.

So for now fish only with corals down the road in mind:
1.Tank ..90 gallon selected already k.
2.Sump ...if you can afford it..Sump/Refugium for future with corals.
3.Overflow Hang off the back/ Unless you are buying a tank with it built into it.
4. SKimmer for inside the sump (Octopus I am now a big fan of)
5. Unavoidable live rock collection. 1lb in general per gallon..doesn't have to be exact...you can slowly build up on this.. buying 40lbs for now vs 90 for instance ...and buy some every time you have extra cash to build up the amount.

Another variation is getting tank and hob skimmer for the time being and add the sump/overflow and new skimmer for sump later.

Still the most expensive thing today is getting enough live rock ....price is high now.

I also recommend you buy quality live sand...sure you can try to be cheap...but with a 90 gallon tank...if you have a substrate problem...thats a huge big chore to fix...

Much like a foundation to a house..starting off with a good substrate and live rock can make or break your sanity once you get going....

 

[DSR]

While ace's example might be a bit extreme (he don't cut no corners) a salt tank is a huge investment in both money and time. In my small cuttin' corner tank I have conservatively spent well over $1,750.00 and I don't even have a sump or a skimmer yet (hell, right now a $3.00 light timer is hittin a bit close).

The point is that one mistake (such as going cheap and using an inappropriate clamp to secure a return line from a new chiller while taking pain medications) can cost you a tremendous amount of money... and that is not including the destruction and choas that ensues as you scramble around at 3AM two days after surgery trying to figure out the best way to vacuum up 20 gallons of water... urghhhhh, I just made myself dizzy thinking about it.

Saltwater or freshwater is your choice. But just be warned that the cost from a saltwater mistake is huge. Cost from a freshwater tank... maybe not as much. Good luck and get us some pics if you set one up.