[Hello,
I am new here and reading some posts I figured it would be best if I asked all my questions before I did anything ;-)
1) What size aquarium to get?
I've heard you should have at least a 50-60 gallon tank but on posts here I heard no less than a 180. Maybe that was for specific fish but what is a good size tank for an "average" fish. The only fish I know I want that I know the name of is a clownfish. I also may want the shrimp/lobster things as well. I thought I would look at pictures from this sites advertisers to list names here but it seems every store has different fish. I thought every store had much the same fish but alas, not the case, what a cool hobby to get into. The tank I'm thinking about getting is 125 gallons. I could not find many much bigger than that (only 1 actually). I currently have a 10 gallon tank but dont worry, only small fresh water fish in there.
2) What does live sand do?
I've heard of live rock and sortof know what it does in that things live in the rock and some plants could grow out of it (right?).
3) What is a really good fish store near White Settlement (West Fort Worth)? If there are none (real good) close, what is one medium distance? IE: Whats the best 1 or 2 stores for the distance to travel?
4) What is the water tanks under the aquarium tank (with the fish) used for?
I was at a store that had the regular fish tank with fish etc in it and below it, like in the cabinet, there were several other fish tanks that only had water. Is this some kind of super filter or something? Whats up?
5) How do you get the "accessories" attached to the fishtank?
With a glass top covering the whole top, how do the accessories attach to it without keeping the doors open?
6) How do I make salt-water?
I figure the easiest way is to get tap-water and put the salt pellets or whatever in it and youve got saltwater. However, I read that you dont want to use tap water because of the chemicals in it and that there was like this water purifier system or whatever that you could buy that would "make" good water for salt water tank. I'm guessing its something like a britta filter system or something. Is any of this right?
7) Not quite a questions but a "do I have this right" sanity check. Here is what I think is needed for a tank and what it is used for. If you could fill in some blanks and add other things I will need/want/must have, it would be great.
Tank - obvious reasons - So far guessing at 125 gallons.
Lights - ? - why do you need them? what kind or type do you need? I see people saying 800 Watt bulb this or 700 Watt bulb that, are these really 800 and 700 watts? Like, almost a kWatt per hour. What is the electricity cost of these things?
Fish - I guess not required but for me less assume they are.
Water Filter - I've heard of differnt kinds but the only kind I am familiar with is the waterfall kind that serves dual purpose to put air into the water. I've heard of gravel filters, under something filters. What are they and what do you need? What do the different kinds really do?
Live Sand - dont know why?
Live Rock - looks good and gets you "plants" but not sure why required. Is it?
Heater?
What chemicals do you need except the stuff to make salt-water?
8) I read where invertibrates are very much harder to keep than just fish. Why? What kinds of things fall into the invertibrate category? Do shrimp? Clams?
9) I read that you need to have treated live rock or it will put amonia in tank and kill everything. Why would a store sell untreated live rock? What does it mean to be treated? Is that just having the live rock in another tank with only water for a period of time to de-amoniaize itself?
10) How much live rock should you have for a tank? I like the live rock but a friend had a tank that I thought had to much rock, it seemed cluttered to me. Do you have to fill tank with rocks?
11) What are some good and colorful fish to start with?
I guess thats it for now. Thanks in advance for all your help.
PS: Do any of you get together to enjoy each others tank? It would be a cool idea, I guess.]
I am new here and reading some posts I figured it would be best if I asked all my questions before I did anything ;-)
1) What size aquarium to get?
I've heard you should have at least a 50-60 gallon tank but on posts here I heard no less than a 180. Maybe that was for specific fish but what is a good size tank for an "average" fish. The only fish I know I want that I know the name of is a clownfish. I also may want the shrimp/lobster things as well. I thought I would look at pictures from this sites advertisers to list names here but it seems every store has different fish. I thought every store had much the same fish but alas, not the case, what a cool hobby to get into. The tank I'm thinking about getting is 125 gallons. I could not find many much bigger than that (only 1 actually). I currently have a 10 gallon tank but dont worry, only small fresh water fish in there.
2) What does live sand do?
I've heard of live rock and sortof know what it does in that things live in the rock and some plants could grow out of it (right?).
3) What is a really good fish store near White Settlement (West Fort Worth)? If there are none (real good) close, what is one medium distance? IE: Whats the best 1 or 2 stores for the distance to travel?
4) What is the water tanks under the aquarium tank (with the fish) used for?
I was at a store that had the regular fish tank with fish etc in it and below it, like in the cabinet, there were several other fish tanks that only had water. Is this some kind of super filter or something? Whats up?
5) How do you get the "accessories" attached to the fishtank?
With a glass top covering the whole top, how do the accessories attach to it without keeping the doors open?
6) How do I make salt-water?
I figure the easiest way is to get tap-water and put the salt pellets or whatever in it and youve got saltwater. However, I read that you dont want to use tap water because of the chemicals in it and that there was like this water purifier system or whatever that you could buy that would "make" good water for salt water tank. I'm guessing its something like a britta filter system or something. Is any of this right?
7) Not quite a questions but a "do I have this right" sanity check. Here is what I think is needed for a tank and what it is used for. If you could fill in some blanks and add other things I will need/want/must have, it would be great.
Tank - obvious reasons - So far guessing at 125 gallons.
Lights - ? - why do you need them? what kind or type do you need? I see people saying 800 Watt bulb this or 700 Watt bulb that, are these really 800 and 700 watts? Like, almost a kWatt per hour. What is the electricity cost of these things?
Fish - I guess not required but for me less assume they are.
Water Filter - I've heard of differnt kinds but the only kind I am familiar with is the waterfall kind that serves dual purpose to put air into the water. I've heard of gravel filters, under something filters. What are they and what do you need? What do the different kinds really do?
Live Sand - dont know why?
Live Rock - looks good and gets you "plants" but not sure why required. Is it?
Heater?
What chemicals do you need except the stuff to make salt-water?
8) I read where invertibrates are very much harder to keep than just fish. Why? What kinds of things fall into the invertibrate category? Do shrimp? Clams?
9) I read that you need to have treated live rock or it will put amonia in tank and kill everything. Why would a store sell untreated live rock? What does it mean to be treated? Is that just having the live rock in another tank with only water for a period of time to de-amoniaize itself?
10) How much live rock should you have for a tank? I like the live rock but a friend had a tank that I thought had to much rock, it seemed cluttered to me. Do you have to fill tank with rocks?
11) What are some good and colorful fish to start with?
I guess thats it for now. Thanks in advance for all your help.
PS: Do any of you get together to enjoy each others tank? It would be a cool idea, I guess.]