help a noob

[florida_newbi]

ya i know i just got me by supries u know ummmm what size is a 50 gallon tank normaly just so i can get a feel(<<2 e right?) of the size of the tank umm i know its expensive but when i come home from schol and work and sit by the tank ill think i put my money in the right place any how i feel u i use to have fighter fish and when my blue one died i felt like i would nevr look at a fish agin

[florida_newbi]

not going to do sea horese as i like clowns better umm its a 50 gallon not a 29

[MyCatsDrool]

a 55 gallon tank is standard size, and will be less expensive than a 50 gallon.

They measure 48.25 x 12.75 x 21 inches. You will need to add an additional 3 feet or so for the stand in height.

[florida_newbi]

48 n long and 12 inchs wide just asking so i can visualize the space where im going to put it

[MyCatsDrool]

yep. closer to 13 inches.

Like the size of a large dresser or entertainment center.

[florida_newbi]

having more then a pari of clowns is bad right?

[MyCatsDrool]

I'd say stick with just a pair. You will find in your time building up your tank that there will be many other types of fish you will want.

[florida_newbi]

umm where can i get my tank drilled as i dont want to do it and what size hole

[Joshjohnson]

i have only been in this great hobby for about 5 months and all i can say is this, have money on hand for those events you don't plan or think of. I t can be very expensive but if you do your research and listen to what people have to say with a open mind you will find this hobby to be a wonderfull thing, but it does cost allot of money. my tank is 47 gallon with no sump or fuge and i have allready spent well over 1500 dollars in equipment, livestock, food, more pumps, skimmers and the list just keeps going on and on, but IMO it is worth eavey penny i love my tank and all the wonderfull critters that i keep.

i wish you the best of luck but do remember to read and reread before you make any move what so ever. It will save you a lot of money in the long run.

[MyCatsDrool]

Unless you buy your tank pre-drilled or know someone who is very good with glasswork, go with an overflow rather than drilling. I drilled my own tank, and it was a major pain. Not something I would do on my own again.

I am also a big DIY-er, both in aquariums, and other things (around the house, I am Ms. Fix-it.) so I felt comfortable with the tools and prospect of doing it myself.

I suggest if you want a drilled tank, find either a glass-smith or buy one pre-drilled. But you will need to tack on cost for either, when you can buy an overflow for less, and it will be just as easy to keep. Not to mention that an overflow will make your tank easier to change to FW or anything else in the future if you should decide at some point the hobby is not for you.

Not to discourage you at all, just something to keep in mind.

[MyCatsDrool]

And I hope I am not coming off preachy or negative. I just want to prepare you, and spare you some of the mistakes I made. If it weren't for luck and a boyfriend who used to own an aquarium business and still works in the trade, I would be screwed.

[florida_newbi]

no ur not coming off as negative i arpichate( spelling?) it over flow it it lol

[florida_newbi]

umm i sould get a qt tank right?

[MyCatsDrool]

no problem =) I like spreading the knowledge. I like helping. And hopefully in a year, you will still be in the hobby, and still be here on the boards and be able to help someone else. I wish when I first started out that I had a lot more help. My feet were already well submerged before anyone helped me.

Too many threads where people really want help to do things right go unanswered. It helps to help. And sets a good example. And that is how you make friends in the hobby =) In this hobby, friends are a very good thing to have.

[MyCatsDrool]

Yes, you will want a quarentine. But you will not need it right away. And for a 55 gallon tank, I would say a 10 gallon with a sponge filter, a few pieces of scrap PVC (which you will find you will have oodles) and a heater will suffice. You can get and set up a QT for about $30 and have it running in less than an hour if you need it. Wait until you get your tank set up and have sand and rock before you do your QT. You will want water from your tank to fill it.

I suggest you get your stuff together, then when you are curing your live rock, set up your QT. You can use the curing/cycling time to QT your first livestock.

[florida_newbi]

:P hehehe dont worry i think ill be sticking around

[florida_newbi]

ya but im in no way geting damsils im puting some dead shrimp lol my buddy had a bad exprienc trying to get them out of the tank

[1PunchKO]

Start off with a Nano Tank. It can be JBJ or any other as there are many nano tanks these days made by a bunch of people since they are so popular. You can take a nice 12 or 24 nano fully setup already so you have to do little work as most are already geared for reef systems. I would suggest a single rose anemone, a true breeding pair of clowns (I like true perculas), and use real live sand and live rock. Plant a good Macro Algae thick around your intake as it will prevent the anemone from moving over their and getting stuck in the intake but will allow the water to flow easily. The macro algae will also help a great deal like a glorified refugium to rid your tank of unwanted phosphates, nitrates and silicates.

I've successfully spawned my true perculas many times in my nano and raised the fry to adult size which I sold back to my LPS for credit.

It's a great beginner experience.

As for the Sea Horses, forget it. The small nano would be okay but you need to feed small portions by what is known as target feeding right at their mouths about 8 small feedings of live food daily. They can't compete for catching the food if there are fish in the tank and will starve. You may keep them alive for 8 months or so but, they almost always die off.

I would suggest sticking to Nemos at this time while you experience the marine life. You can even play around with putting some mushroom coral, pumping xania, zooanthids, etc in the tank which will thrive, resulting in your own mini reef system!
You should be able to do all this for under $400.

Have fun and welcome to the hobby.

[florida_newbi]

humm i could get cured rock for 4 bucks a lb or should i buy un cured

[florida_newbi]

btw the clowns i like are the ones with the fat black lines like nemo but with bigger black lines always for get the name

[MyCatsDrool]

Even cured rock, you will need to let it settle in for a while and complete it's die off. Anything exposed to air in transport, like sponges, will die. Even if the exposure is for a few moments. IMO, for starting out, cured rock is a better choice, as most has been groomed for mantis shrimp, apstasias, and nusiance algaes (not completely, but mostly).

There are several types of clownfish. You might be referring to Euro percs. Not sure.

Also, 1PunchKO is very right about nanotanks. They are great for those on a budget. But most will tell you to go as large as you can afford, as you will invariably want to upgrade eventually.

On a side note:

I do like nano tanks, however, they are difficult to salvage anything from when you want to upgrade. The lighting and filtration are usually built directly into the hood, and cannot be used on a freestanding tank in the future.

[florida_newbi]

i would go on a nano tank but i want my tank to kinda be a display peace m8t get a nano for breeding clowns thoe

[MyCatsDrool]

I think if you are willing to put up the cost and time, you will be much happier with a 55 =)

[florida_newbi]

http://www.diving4images.com/images/...rculaMB-sq.jpg

some ting to that effect

[florida_newbi]

time i have money is the only issue it will move slowly as it will take about 4 months to get the moeny