Tropical Marine or Freshwater

A

AndrewT

AC Members
Dec 26, 2005
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Ive just had my first tank for Xmas:

It is a 180 litre (39 gallons i think) corner tank - AQUA ONE WINDSOR to go in our front room.

http://www.aquariumworld.co.uk/equipment/index.html?lang=en-uk&target=d324.html

I wish to know the expense and upkeep of either a freshwater or marine, I would prefer a marine (both rock & fish).

However, is this size of tank suitable for marine? and do i require any further equipment for marine.

What is the quantity, size of fish, rock i could expect to put in this tank?

I have no experience with fishkeeping in a tank, although I do own fishing lakes :)

thanks
 
First off, the tank is 150 litres if it is 39 gallons, so please clear this up. By what you are saying you want a FOWLER, Fish Only With Live Rock, this mean no expensive lighting units are need like Metal halide, which means you can run with 2 fluro's, 1 atinic and 1 day light. Items you will need for marine are Test kits, hydrometer, Calcerous sand, Live Rock, A good source of water (no chemicals in it) or a Reverse Osmosis filter unit, Skimmer although not essential, reccomended for beginners as it make life a lot easier in keeping correct parameters, Sump tank (not essential), Refugium (not essential).

Basically anyone will say Marine costs more, and is also harder to keep, you tank is within the limits for begginers, as most people recommend that you start off with atleast 150 litres. Generally the fish will cost more, but are a lot more colourful and more diverse. As far as decor goes, 1/3 of the tank should be live rock, and 5 cm or 2 inch of sand (coral sand or others).

Fish, it all depends on size, you could expect to put about 7 fish in a 180 liter marine FOWLER aquarium. Fish being no more than 8cm, also you would need good filtration for that, 20 x turnover is recommended for fowlers and anywhere between 30 times and 60 times for a reef aquarium.

Before you make any choices, buy a book, this way you can learn about the care needed and how to look after a marine aquarium, most important thing is TAKE IT SLOW, whether it be marine or fresh, don't make the mistake many other have made!
 
I would suggest finding out what fish you are really interested in. Both marine and tropical offers a great selection. Obviously you don't have the biggest tank but it will work for both. Either browse the web or go to your local fish store and make a list of both fresh and salt water fish that look nice. Rememeber that most sold are juviniles so they will get bigger. Then ask again which fish would be suitable for your tank. From there it will be easier, I think, to make a decsision which way to go.
 
I've had both. Started with Fresh and I won't go back. I feel that Salt is somehow easier to take of. Now I said the fish are easier to take care of its their habitant that takes the time and effort. I lost alot of fresh water fish when I started this hobby for some reason but maybe that is what taught me how to really take care of fish so not to kill them. Fresh are much cheaper than salt but salt are much more beautiful. Salt tanks are harder to care for especially if you have one with live sand and rock like mine. But somehow it all works out in the end.
 
The tank is "180 Litres Capacity"

The more i read, the more i like the idea of a "FOWLER" tank.
I shall seek more advice and read up though.

Thanks for all the posts so far.

Could anyone give an indication of maintenance time & costs with the FOWLER setup, ie how often will salt need to be changed etc?

thanks
 
Yup find out what you want to put in there first, as 7 fish is a bad idea if those 7 fish wont get along, or if they are active swimmers which would mean it could hold less fish.
 
i suggest for a first time aquariast you look at liveaquaria.com, go to the marines and look at beginners, use it as a reference, Don't buy offline on that site, there are many cheaper ones. First it depends where you live, is there a local fish store near by, if so, you are in luck. secondly where do you live, i live in australia, and most of the fish over here seem about $20 cheaper to american online stores. Depending on fish 10% waterchange each week should suffice, more for larger fish or poo machines, like lionfish.

all up, you are looking about $600 at the most, that is based on australian dollars, and with a red-sea prizm skimmer, power compact fluro's, 15kg of live rock, 30 kg of coral sand, powerheads, heater, test kits and hydrometer, sea salt.

Also if you do not have access to a rain water tank, a ro/di water unit is around $150 more.

Sorry, but that is around the price of keepin salt :(
 
mysis,

thanks for the info.

I live in the UK, Cornwall so pretty far from the tropics :)
However we have a really good aquatic shop nearby.

Been busy this week.

I have had an osmosis unit installed to get my water from.
Ordered some T5 lights (thinks thats what they are called), as the ones that came with the unit are not upto scratch.
2 power heads to push some water around.
Skimmer (Prizm) as this was the best one to fit my tank.
Test kits, hydrometer.

Because of the design of the tank, it took a while jigging the heater, powerheads, filter and skimmer. But getting there.

I also saw a mates tank who had painted his and looked very effective, so ive done that & it does look better than the blue background paper provided.

So hopefully getting the water in for the weekend, and then some live rock. I intend to build the rock right up to the top back, so corals can be close to the top and near the light.

Are there any photos around of corner tanks with marine life?

Also bought a book, so reading up all the time - very excited and glad ive taken the hobby up, even though i still have an empty tank :)

Any more advise, help appreciated.

ive also been told about a UV light, where the water passes through - are these any good?

thanks
 
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