Marine Fish - Newbie!

[Gary]

Hello,

New to the group AND marine fishkeeping!

I had a fairly small marine aquarium installed about 45 minutes ago, the
local fish shop installed and filled with water, added the salt and setup
the filter etc. I am hoping to find someone to maintain on a monthly basis
for me, I will pay of course, however I would also like ot know what's what!
:)

I purchased the tank not knowing anything and trusted the local fish shop to
give me a "good setup" for the four or five fish I want to keep.

The aquarium measures:
30 inch length x 12 inch wide x 18 inch deep.

The only filter installed is a Penn-Plax Cascade 700 Canister Filter.

The base in the tank isnt sand, it appears to be crushed coral or crushed
shells.

Not sure what kind of lighting tube is installed, printed on the tube it
says Sylvania Standard F18W 154-T8 daylight.

Anyway, looking for any info on the above equipment, is it any good? Does
the filter I have deal with this "Chloramine"?

I paid £330 GBP for all the equipment and setup I am advised to add living
rock in 4 or 5 days and then marine fish in a few weeks.

--
Regards,

Gary.

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[BiG Orange]

Crushed coral sucks, everyone uses sand now. Ihad crushed coral 10 years and
switched over in February and smooth sailing now.

You need to get some live rock from http://www.drmaccorals.com, I like Tonga
the LA boxes.

Go to http://www.reefcentral.com and check out the forums.

[Gary]

Hya,

Whats the arguments for and against Crushed Coral? You used it for ten
years, did it cause you issues? Why is sand better?

--
Regards,

Gary.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Visit Tigger's site and read his story.
Browse photos of all our cats - Tigger, Tootsie and Tango.
http://www.cutecats.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------------------
"BiG Orange" <@> wrote in message ...
> Crushed coral sucks, everyone uses sand now. Ihad crushed coral 10 years
> and switched over in February and smooth sailing now.
>
> You need to get some live rock from http://www.drmaccorals.com, I like
> Tonga the LA boxes.
>
> Go to http://www.reefcentral.com and check out the forums.
>
>

[BiG Orange]

> Whats the arguments for and against Crushed Coral? You used it for ten
> years, did it cause you issues? Why is sand better?

Because 10 years ago, that is what people used and it's a pain to pull it
out. Go to the forums and read about it, but I cant believe a fish store set
up your tank with crushed coral.

[Gary]

Hi,

I have actually decided to have another local fish shop take over the entire
management of the tank, as far as I am concerned, they can maintain and take
my money, and ill sit back and enjoy the view :)

I felt that the shop which sold me the tank "forgot" a few important points
which I have since learned.

- They did not ask if I wanted to keep any coral, and failed to mention the
light differences and restrictions with the tube they sold me.
- The did not mention a Protein Skimmer, something which I have read is
vital for a tank as small as mine.
- They failed to mention that the water in my city is unsuitable for fish -
it contains chloramines ???

I know I should have researched, but I did explain to the shop that I had
read nothing and was completely clueless with regards to a marine aquarium.
I asked them to provide the best kit, and set it up - even if it cost more.


In the future, I really would like to be hands on, but I am happy to take a
back seat with the first marine setup. I can guarantee that if in three
months time I am enjoying a marine setup with 4 or 5 nice fish, I will have
another 3 or so larger tanks setup before next summer (all hands on
hopefully) - I am a compulsive git!!!

--
Regards,

Gary.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Visit Tigger's site and read his story.
Browse photos of all our cats - Tigger, Tootsie and Tango.
http://www.cutecats.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------------------
"BiG Orange" <@> wrote in message ...
>> Whats the arguments for and against Crushed Coral? You used it for ten
>> years, did it cause you issues? Why is sand better?
>
> Because 10 years ago, that is what people used and it's a pain to pull it
> out. Go to the forums and read about it, but I cant believe a fish store
> set up your tank with crushed coral.
>

[cokeman69]

So what you are saying is that you want a marine setup, but don't want
the maintanence to deal with....................... Do yourself a
HUGE favor, and save yourself some $$$ as well as save some
life......... Get out of this hobby..........Sell everything you
have to someone that really wants to enjoy the hobby, and everything
that comes with it. Sell it to someone who wants to learn through
trail and error, rather than sitting back and watch someone else
clean you tank for you.......

I gotta ask, do you have a maid??? Cuz, it sounds to me like your too
lazy to get up off your fat A#s to actually do anything... If you
can't take 30 minutes a week to take care of a marine
tank............. You shouldn't have it.................. And I
hate to see what your house looks like.........
__________________________________________________
Posted via FishGeeks - http://Aquaria.info

[Gary]

> I gotta ask, do you have a maid???


<GRIN>
I wish!!! Its going to happen I promise, just need to convince my
girlfriend! Give me time :).
</GRIN>

> Cuz, it sounds to me like your too
> lazy to get up off your fat A#s to actually do anything...

I am a lazy bugger, I admit it. I also run my very demanding business 24 /
7 - hard bloody work, and I never really get to turn off from it, it
exhausts me.

> If you
> can't take 30 minutes a week to take care of a marine
> tank............. You shouldn't have it.................. And I
> hate to see what your house looks like.........

I CAN take 30 minutes, but I would rather watch and learn as opposed to
stumble into the hobby and kill everything which goes in my tank. If I
learn from an experienced fishkeeper, I will hopefully have a very enjoyable
setup AND the knowledge to do the next one on my own.

Imagine if I applied your reasoning to driving a car for the first time?
Screw learning, just get in, buckle up and try and take it for a spin. Not
very sensible.

By the way, my house is spotless, my girlfriend is one of thoe obsessive
compulsive cleaner types! I tell her to chill out, but she wont.


Gary.