Katy410
Aquarium Advice Activist
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2013
- Messages
- 180
Hi! I'm new to these forums, so if I'm not quite "going with the flow" of these communities, then pardon me.
First of all, this will be my first tank. My dad has lots of freshwater experience, and I, myself, have kept betas. But I'm looking to step into something deeper. I was considering freshwater, but then, my family and I went to my local fish store(Ocean Gallery II, if you must know), and they have a nice selection of freshwater, but also a great selection of marine. After knowing exactly what I wanted for freshwater, we skimmed the marine shelves, and then asked if it was too much worse. The employees said that it wasn't too bad, but small aquariums were a bit harder to maintain. Dad had some friends who had large saltwater aquariums, but couldn't maintain them. But they couldn't maintain their wives either, so that's probably saying something...(LOL!). So, I then got hooked on the beautiful, interesting, liveness of saltwater tanks. And that les me here.
My plan is this:
Get a small tank now,
Then if I enjoy fish keeping/saltwater,
I'll get a large aquarium for Christmas.
Sounds good?
Hope so.
That led me here.
Now, what would I need for saltwater?
I am buying pre-mixed saltwater, from the LFS(From what I have seen, that's this forums "lingo", I hope.) and am wondering, do I need to cycle it like I would a freshwater tank? If so, what materials/chemicals are needed? Next, I am getting some of the flooring in my house stained, and this should take about a week. If I were to buy a 10 gallon tank during the process, would the smell of the flooring kill the fish/infect the water? I am staying with my neighbors, just FYI. And if I were to buy everything, would a quick drive up the block harm the fish in any way?
Where I live, we can get power outages at random. What do I do, if that happens? Or let's say we get another Sandy, with 2 week power outages. What do I do? And now, to the fish.
I would love a clownfish or two, probably ocellaris, or percula; whatever you all say is better, just list their habits, needs, sizes, personalities, etc. And maybe a goby or two; as well. What breed would you recommend? What should I buy for the tanks? What species of fish do you recommend? And also, tell me anything else I need to know. Here is a run through of questions to make it easier on you all to answer.....
1.What do I need for a 10 gallon, saltwater, tank?
2.Do I/what do I need/how do I cycle a saltwater tank?
3.Would the scent of the floors being stained be toxic for the little fish?
4.If I were to buy everything while at my neighbors, would a quick drive up the block harm the fish/ tank in any way? If so, what way(s)?
5.What do I do during a power outage?
6.If I were to get a clownfish, how many, what breed, etc. Should I get? Also, what do I need to know about clownfish?
7.Do clownfish need anemone?
8.Can I have a goby, as well? If so, what species?
9.What should I buy for the tank?
10. What species of fish do you recommend?
11.Can I have a clownfish, and a goby, together, with maybe a cleaner shrimp of sorts?
12. What little shrimp/fish to be tank cleaners should I get?
13. What else do I need to know about Saltwater/Saltwater Fish/Saltwater tanks?
14. What are some things that I don't need to know about clownfish/gobies/saltwater fish/saltwater tanks that I should know?
Thanks!
~Katy
P.S. Is there anything about this forum that I should know?
First of all, this will be my first tank. My dad has lots of freshwater experience, and I, myself, have kept betas. But I'm looking to step into something deeper. I was considering freshwater, but then, my family and I went to my local fish store(Ocean Gallery II, if you must know), and they have a nice selection of freshwater, but also a great selection of marine. After knowing exactly what I wanted for freshwater, we skimmed the marine shelves, and then asked if it was too much worse. The employees said that it wasn't too bad, but small aquariums were a bit harder to maintain. Dad had some friends who had large saltwater aquariums, but couldn't maintain them. But they couldn't maintain their wives either, so that's probably saying something...(LOL!). So, I then got hooked on the beautiful, interesting, liveness of saltwater tanks. And that les me here.
My plan is this:
Get a small tank now,
Then if I enjoy fish keeping/saltwater,
I'll get a large aquarium for Christmas.
Sounds good?
Hope so.
That led me here.
Now, what would I need for saltwater?
I am buying pre-mixed saltwater, from the LFS(From what I have seen, that's this forums "lingo", I hope.) and am wondering, do I need to cycle it like I would a freshwater tank? If so, what materials/chemicals are needed? Next, I am getting some of the flooring in my house stained, and this should take about a week. If I were to buy a 10 gallon tank during the process, would the smell of the flooring kill the fish/infect the water? I am staying with my neighbors, just FYI. And if I were to buy everything, would a quick drive up the block harm the fish in any way?
Where I live, we can get power outages at random. What do I do, if that happens? Or let's say we get another Sandy, with 2 week power outages. What do I do? And now, to the fish.
I would love a clownfish or two, probably ocellaris, or percula; whatever you all say is better, just list their habits, needs, sizes, personalities, etc. And maybe a goby or two; as well. What breed would you recommend? What should I buy for the tanks? What species of fish do you recommend? And also, tell me anything else I need to know. Here is a run through of questions to make it easier on you all to answer.....
1.What do I need for a 10 gallon, saltwater, tank?
2.Do I/what do I need/how do I cycle a saltwater tank?
3.Would the scent of the floors being stained be toxic for the little fish?
4.If I were to buy everything while at my neighbors, would a quick drive up the block harm the fish/ tank in any way? If so, what way(s)?
5.What do I do during a power outage?
6.If I were to get a clownfish, how many, what breed, etc. Should I get? Also, what do I need to know about clownfish?
7.Do clownfish need anemone?
8.Can I have a goby, as well? If so, what species?
9.What should I buy for the tank?
10. What species of fish do you recommend?
11.Can I have a clownfish, and a goby, together, with maybe a cleaner shrimp of sorts?
12. What little shrimp/fish to be tank cleaners should I get?
13. What else do I need to know about Saltwater/Saltwater Fish/Saltwater tanks?
14. What are some things that I don't need to know about clownfish/gobies/saltwater fish/saltwater tanks that I should know?
Thanks!
~Katy
P.S. Is there anything about this forum that I should know?