setting up salt water tank...

hey folks..
I have had some fun with the tropical fish in the past, and then i have movied onto betas and gouramis, and then more agressive fish.
I have decided to set up a salt water tank. I bought a 20G aquarium starter kit, and some white gravel. I am going to let the water run through and cycle for about a month. Then i will get a couple black mollie to make sure the ph is correct, it is cool because mollies can live in salt water. Then, later on, I am going to get two small false percula clowns, and a black sea urchin. I misht get a Coral Banded Shrimp or a Green Target Mandarin Goby. they are pretty...

here are some pics. .. .

Black mollies:
http://fcabrol.free.fr/pois/molly.jpg

Fasle percula clown:
http://rosamondgiffordzoo.org/images...ish_121103.jpg

Black sea urchin:
http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/marl...verts/f403.jpg

Coral Banded Shrimp:
http://www.reefcheck.org/images/indi...20Jeffords.jpg

Green Mandarin Goby:
http://www.reefcastles.com/mandarinbestaug10.JPG

WEEE.. ok I am done.. i am just excited.!!! :D

I'd LOVE to have a salt water tank someday, but it's hard just taking care of my two goldfish! :p

My best friend has a large saltwater set up with clown fish and seahorses. It is EXTREMELY expensive for saltwater supplies- it all adds up quickly. Shrimp require lots of iodine and and other additives which cost a lot of money. Salt is about $80 for 100 gallons. Sand isn't cheap either and you need about 3-4 inches- sand costs around $200 for a deep sand bed. If you do not know your nitrogen cycle your animals won't be in the best of health because the water won't be at optimal quality. Corals require especial lighting which is expensive too- depending on which kind-it is around $150 ($50/bulb). Urchins are poisionous and will kill other animals in the tank along with you. You can only add one fish every 6 weeks so the tank can adjust to the new bioload from the inhabitants. Cycling the tank takes 6-9 weeks- which is required to keep the filtration up to par so the fish survive. If you do not cycle the tank the fish will die.

He spends a lot of time and money on his set up. LOTS and LOTS of research is a must- more than just reading some websites and books in a couple of days. Otherwise you are simply wasting your time and money.

Just thought I'd share....

If you'd like, you can go to www.petfish.net . They have articles and a forum section if you'd like help from people who have them. I agree with YellowLabLover, the more research you do, the better the chances of having happy fish. Those are really pretty fish, best of luk.

Quote:

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Originally posted by tikeyas_mom

Coral Banded Shrimp:
http://www.reefcheck.org/images/indi...20Jeffords.jpg

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^^^^^We call these "Jaques fish" :{D :rolleyes: :p

awesome!! I know salt water tanks are loads easier to take care of than freshwater :rolleyes: [experience, lol :p]

I've never had any experience with a salt water tank, but I would love to someday have one. I hear that . once they are set up they are much easier to tank care of compared to a salt water tank. Good luck with the new tank, it should be a fun experience.

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Originally posted by YellowLabLover
Urchins are poisionous and will kill other animals in the tank along with you.

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not true. the sea urchin that i want to get, the long spined black urchin is not poisionous, i have them at work and i touch them often well cleaning the tanks...

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Originally posted by flamepony12
I know salt water tanks are loads easier to take care of than freshwater :rolleyes: [experience, lol :p]

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First time I ever read that comment. How can salt be easier than fresh?! Generally it's not.

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Originally posted by Mandy1
I've never had any experience with a salt water tank, but I would love to someday have one. I hear that . once they are set up they are much easier to tank care of compared to a salt water tank. Good luck with the new tank, it should be a fun experience.

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yeah.... i think that the salt is a lil more difficult to care for. i work with them all day.. lol

Quote:

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Originally posted by tikeyas_mom
not true. the sea urchin that i want to get, the long spined black urchin is not poisionous, i have them at work and i touch them often well cleaning the tanks...

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True. Very true. In the aquarium hobby, black sea urchins- like the one you posted in your first post- are venomous. You are just lucky that it did not sting you, that's all, keep touching it and you just might- which means you will have to be rushed to the hospital! :eek:

Long-spined black sea urchin
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...=23&pCatId=591

Quote:

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Originally posted by YellowLabLover
True. Very true. In the aquarium hobby, black sea urchins- like the one you posted in your first post- are venomous. You are just lucky that it did not sting you, that's all, keep touching it and you just might- which means you will have to be rushed to the hospital! :eek:

Long-spined black sea urchin
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...=23&pCatId=591

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ooops i was mistaken.. you are very right about the long spined black sea urchin being venomous... .... ... .. i will give my boss a peice of my mind when i get to work tomorrow, he has several salt tanks and told me that, that particular species isnt poisionous... wow i am fairly mad..

Good thing you haven't been stung- I've heard it hurts like hell! I would be really mad too- that's a lawsuit waiting to happen...since he falsly informed you about it.

Um...the black mollies we have at my work are freshwater...

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Originally posted by WolfChan
Um...the black mollies we have at my work are freshwater...

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yeah but they are generally used to "break" a salt water tank. just like you would use feeder goldfish to break a freshwater tank, you would use mollies to break a salt water tank, just to be sure that the ph is alright ect..

What does "break" mean? Is that like cycling the tank? If so, don't use goldfish!! They are cesspools of disease because of the crowded conditions they are kept and bred in!