This is really good information.You have done an great job.Much of the information available here is derived from my opinions and experiences based on over two decades of raising tropical fish, maintaining my own tanks, helping friends to get their own aquaria started, extensive reading of literature available regarding the aquarium hobby and industry, and, more recently.

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Good source for fish tank aquariums

Its great info, But all the fish I like are aggressive and poiseness

Not sure if the colourfull dream of having a beauifull fish tank is a reallity . I have seen really beautifull tanks though with loads of colourful fish in them which is the attraction to own one.

Would a different tank allow for more colourfull fish in it that were compatible to a patricular envoironment I wonder .

I have heard of species tanks but what about a tank full of colorfull aggressive fish.

The Red sea max seems limited but yet sold as easy to maintain.

The colour of these fish is the point of attraction for most people, however they do get quite a shock when they realize that it isn't so simple. Most marine fishkeepers tend to focus on growing corals these days and seem to have relatively low numbers of fish.

Tank manufacturers will do anything to describe their tanks as 'easy to maintain', after all this is what tends to grab new fishkeepers. However this description is the biggest trick in the book, the prospective owners don't realize how much time and extra money that these tanks require, often to the point where they feel like throwing in the towel.

Most of the species on your wishlist can grow to at least 20cm/8" in length, although size isn't the only thing to consider. You need to make sure that you have a tank large enough to allow the fish to form territories, the oceans are much larger than the average aquarium. For example, Surgeonfish are naturally aggressive to each other, and this applies to different species. If you wanted to keep two Surgeonfish such as the Sailfin tang then you will need a 6 x 2 x 2ft tank as an absolute minimum.

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Luke (The fish dude)

Photography gear- Sony a200 DSLR with 18-70mm alpha lens, Sigma (sony fit) 70-300mm and Manfrotto neotec tripod. Coming soon: One Nikon D700 with all the trimmings.

I guess I could have corals and crabs and a star fish instead with very few fish , Because the corals although they can sting each other are very colourfull arnt they.

Seems to be a lower risk solution also particularily if you dont like dead fish. But I wouldnt need a big tank if iam just wanting a variety of a few coulorfull corals , Crabs, A star fish and 2 -3 fish


What I am also thinking about though luke is getting a wall tank to start with like this Aquavista Aquariums, Online Aquarium Store

Its a fresh water tank but will start me out and then progress from there as it seems to be a sensible thing to crawl before you learn to walk when it comes to very delicate fish keeping.

What would you suggest about that wall tank ?

I would suggest leaving the on-the-wall tank, it's overpriced for what it is and you can see that it is quite narrow, this will result in a low surface area which will effect the stocking capabilities of the tank. It would be much better to look into a standard rectangular aquarium such as those from Fluval or Juwel, there are some pretty good looking tanks available from these brands, and at a lower price.

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Luke (The fish dude)

Photography gear- Sony a200 DSLR with 18-70mm alpha lens, Sigma (sony fit) 70-300mm and Manfrotto neotec tripod. Coming soon: One Nikon D700 with all the trimmings.

OK - IVE DONE IT - IVE BOUGHT THE TANK

A 22" Wide X 18 " 25 " High Deep Marine Tank

Its called a Interpet River/Reef 94 L

I GOT THE FIRST ONE I DECIDED ON FROM OASIS

Its set up with salt water bought from oasis dry rock, sand, all washed

It has a heater, fan, thermostat, and an air tube .

It came with a starter kit but i think it is for tap water so I havent added the solutions just in case.

Its a bit cloudy still because its only been on for an hour.

DAY 2 :

PUT IN LIVE ROCK SOME REALLY NICE PIECES TOO.

ADDED ALL THE BEGINER SOFT CORALS - YELLOWS REDS GREENS BLUES

ADDED 2 SHAVING BRUSHES - ALGAE TREES

PUT IN ONE GREEN PIECE OF SOFT SEAWEED AND A HARD STEMED PIECE OF MARONE SEAWEED

A RED PIECE OF CORAL THAT EXTENDS ITSELF AT NIGHT AND FALLS FLAT DURING THE DAY

ADDED 3 SHRIMPS AND 4 CRABS

ITS LAYED OUT SO THERE ARE LOTS OF TUNNELS ON THE BOTTEM OF THE TANK NEAR THE SAND AND THROUGHOUT THE WALL OF ROCK .

JUST NEED 2 MORE PIECES OF SMALL LIVE ROCK AT THE TOP TO FINISH IT AND THEN I HAVE TO WAIT 5 WEEKS BEFORE ADDING OTHER CORALS AND FISH APPARENTLY. BUT IT LOOKS REALLY GREAT AND I AM VERY PLEASED WITH IT SO FAR .

BECAUSE ITS A SMALLER TANK I DIDNT WANT TO OVERLOAD IT BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER INTERETSING CORALS ETC YOU CAN PUT IN AFTER THE TANK IS SETTLED BUT IT HAS A GOOD MIX FOR NOW .

SO THATS IT FOR THE NEXT 5 WEEKS £800 - SO FAR

DAY 3 :

DISASTER STRIKES - HOT DAY - TANK TEMP RISES TO 30 % LOOSE MOST COULORED BUTTON MUSHROOMS - FIRST STARTED WITH A LONG BROWN TOXIC STRING OF WASTE AND THEN EVENTUALLY ATE THE WHOLE OF THE MUSHROOMS


2 OF THE MUSHROOMS SURROUNDED THEMSELVES IN A CLEAR PROTECTIVE BUBBLE AND ARE STILL OK . ALL OTHER CORALS SEEM FINE

QUICKLY RACED TO SHOP AND BOUGHT FISH TANK FAN TO COOL TANK WHICH WORKED ADDED MORE ROCK AND GREEN POLYPS


APPR0X DAMAGE £125 -

ADDITIONAL EXPENSE £95.00 GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE BUT THATS IT UNTILL IAM SURE I DONT KILL EVERYTHING IN THE TANK

have you cycled the tank???


im assuming its the samde as tropical keeping - cycling is essential!

as for marine - good luck.... ive kept freshwater upto now and desparate to try marine but cant justify the costs right now lol!

try a spieces only tank first,like malawi cichlids or maybe discus.
just to get an idea of water quality control.ive had tanks since i can remember and work in aquatics and i still cant afford or would hav the time to look after a marine tank lol

but they are all tropical and hes bought marine rocks etc.....




but yeh i wouldnt go marine until you have been tropical for a few years imo - you will loose money when you start out - just marine is far more epensive than tropical ;-)