Hola. I'm considering a switch to the salty side. It will be a sloooow process, as much due to the expense as anything else. Two quick questions if you don't mind. First, I have a 120 litre tank I'm considering as a first tank - would this be acceptable? I know from the tropical stuff that the larger the tank the more stable it is, I'm also aware of the whole "I wanna bigger one" syndrome! However, this needs to be tempered with the "I'm generally broke" syndrome... I believe it's around 80cm x 40 x 40...
Second, can anyone recommend any good books. Like I said, this won't be happening for a while and I'd like to get plenty research done first.
Thanks in advance...
Books posted here:-www.fishcrazy.co.uk/forums/t/7825.aspx
Trea.
Rena Aqualife 120 x 40- 250l :
Plants: Vallisneria spiralis ''Tiger'', Bacopa monnieri, Limnophila sessiliflora, Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis', Echinodorus 'rubin', Anubias barteri var. nana, Java Fern, Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Green', Limnobium laevigatum
Fish:- 17 x Harlequin Rasboras, 3 x Bristlenose Plecs
3 Bed House - 637129l : 1 husband, 2 kids and 1 hairy dog
The words generally broke and marine tanks don't go together very well mate!
For a fish only with live rock set up(FOWLR) you will still need a skimmer but light isn't a major issue. If your going for a reef then you'll need a few quid just to run it!
The tank is an OK size - I think Wayne Rowley did a thread about his set up which is a similar size?
They aint cheap though mate - i've looked at setting a reef up a couple of times now - it's not materialised yet due to cost. Last one I looked at was to convert my rekord 60 (60 litres) - but even that would cost in the region of £200 - and thats without a skimmer (would only be keeping a single fish)!
I would seriously consider the cost mate.
1xTrigon 1903 Clown Loaches,14 Cardinal Tetras,8 Rummynose Tetras,6 Cory Trileneatus,6 Hatchetfish,4 otocinclus,1 SAE,1 Bristlenose,, 10 amano Shrimp
Anubius Barteri,Crinum thianum,Limnophilia sessiflora, Echinodorus Blehri, nymphaea lotus, Ammania Senegelis, Crinum calimustratum, java moss, 1xRekord 60Empty at Present
12 litre tank - 4 japonica shrimp, 4 Red crystal shrimp, 5 High Spot Rasbora
Anubias Barteri, Glossostigma Elatanoides, Ammania Senegalisis, Limnophilia Sessiflora, Bacopa amplexicaulis
Thankyou Dave; I am. Basically nothing will be happening for a good twelve months or so I think, I just want to start reading up on it all as much as possible. I've looked at the price of live rock and that alone was enough to make me a bit nauseous! My plan is to read up, get moved, and see where I'm at...
I said the same thing this time last year! It will happen sooner or later (probably later),lol. Latest set back is the electrickery going up by 35% (another £20 a month!) - thats life.
Meanwhile the link that Trea posted has all the books that I have bought and read over the last year - some good uns there (although the cost of them could probably have bought some live rock instead!).
Good luck and happy reading
when you are ready to set up keep your eyes open for someone who is breaking down a tank , you can get good quality LR for 4 quid a kilo
As Dave says, marine and money don't go hand in hand.
I've been running a few tanks, 190l the smallest, and it's went really well.
But yeah, it is very expensive to set-up.
FD
Hi there,
Not sure what to add really. 120L is quite a good size for an initial marine tank. Have a read through the books and decide what you want to keep - that's my first bit of advice. This will greatly affect the equipment and stocking (which of course affects the cost). Reef will cost more than fish only with live rock, but for a lot of people marine is reef!
Cost can be offset by buying second hand. I am slowly gathering kit for my marine tank upgrade and have found some good second hand bargains on ebay. It is also good to buy quality brands rather than 'cheaper' brands - especially when it comes to the key components (skimmer, lighting, powerheads).
Good luck!
Wayne
Tank1: 125L Tropical. 1 male betta, 4 scissortail rasboras, 3 neon tetras, 4 glowlight danios, 1 candy stripe loach, 1 female bristlenose, 6 amano shrimp.Tank 2: 65L Nano reef. 6kg live rock, 96w T5 lighting, 3 x turbo snails, 5 x red-legged hermits, 1 x peppermint shrimp, 1 small pistol shrimp (hitch-hiker), two percula clowns, 1 neon goby, 1 sun coral, 1 clove coral & 1 tree coral