Is This a Good Deal?

I am contemplating a new purchase.

My LFS is offering to sell me a complete 150 Gallon tank (All Glass
brand) with finished cabinet and top (with the lights installed in the
top).

The price includes everything except the fish (wet/dry filter, UV
sterilizer, skimmer, everything).

The setup is going to be a fish only tank. With a tank this size, I
can eventually have a dramatic community of relatively large fish.
And, with the amount of space in the tank, hopefully I can keep the
aggression to a minimum.

The dealers price is $2200 and this includes him delivering it and
setting it in place. I will fill it and get it running so I can cycle
it.

He still believes in cycling a tank with damsel fish. What is the
consensus? I know, years ago this was the way we did it. But, there
are some products on the market that are supposed to speed the process
of cycling the tank. Do these work?

Thanks.

HJ

Haywood Jablowme wrote:

The dealers price is $2200 and this includes him delivering it and
setting it in place. I will fill it and get it running so I can cycle
it.

Doctors Foster & Smith will sell you a 150 gallon system for $2,050. But.
There's a $350 delivery charge. Sounds like your deal is better.

He still believes in cycling a tank with damsel fish. What is the
consensus?

Dunno about consensus, but there's no need to cycle a large tank like this in
the old sense of adding a load of fish and watching the nitrites climb. Add a
few fish at a time and space the additions about a month apart, and the tank
will cycle without any detectable rise in ammonia or nitrites. Don't buy any
fish that you don't want to keep. Size matters in this. If you add a $200 queen
angel, don't add anything else for a month. If that's your first fish, don't add
anything else for at least 6 weeks - it takes the wet/dry a while to get the
bacterial cultures established.

With that size tank and the equipment you describe, you could add 1-2' of fish
as soon as the water seasons and never see a trace of ammonia or nitrites.

George Patterson
Forgive your enemies. But always remember who they are.

George Patterson wrote:
Haywood Jablowme wrote:

The dealers price is $2200 and this includes him delivering it and
He still believes in cycling a tank with damsel fish. What is the
consensus?

Dunno about consensus, but there's no need to cycle a large tank like this in
the old sense of adding a load of fish and watching the nitrites climb. Add a
few fish at a time and space the additions about a month apart, and the tank
will cycle without any detectable rise in ammonia or nitrites. Don't buy any
fish that you don't want to keep. Size matters in this. If you add a $200 queen

Clown fish are a good first addition; related to damsels, and as
tolerant of spikes.

Mike

I
Clown fish are a good first addition; related to damsels, and as
tolerant of spikes.

I have always liked Clownfish (Ocellarus). So, they will be the first
fish in the tank. I'm thinking I should get 5 of the largest Clownfish
I can find. This way, they can stand up to future additions. Don't
you think I should use an odd number?

Haywood Jablowme wrote:
I
Clown fish are a good first addition; related to damsels, and as
tolerant of spikes.

I have always liked Clownfish (Ocellarus). So, they will be the first
fish in the tank. I'm thinking I should get 5 of the largest Clownfish
I can find. This way, they can stand up to future additions. Don't
you think I should use an odd number?

Be careful with clowns, unless you have more anemones; they can become
VERY territorial. You should add more anemones than clowns.

Mike

I have always liked Clownfish (Ocellarus). So, they will be the first
fish in the tank. I'm thinking I should get 5 of the largest Clownfish
I can find. This way, they can stand up to future additions. Don't
you think I should use an odd number?

Be careful with clowns, unless you have more anemones; they can become
VERY territorial. You should add more anemones than clowns.


Probably best to get only two juvenile clowns. All clowns are male as
juveniles and the more dominant will change into a female with the next
dominant male being the partner and "female in waiting". If you have more
than this, they will pester the least dominant until it dies and work their
way up until only the two strongest survive.

Mark

Haywood Jablowme wrote:

The dealers price is $2200 and this includes him delivering it and
setting it in place.

By the way, if you're in central New Jersey, you might want to get a comparison
price from Howie Berkowitz at Pets, Pets, Pets in Somerset. He's always treated
me well. 732-545-6675.

George Patterson
Forgive your enemies. But always remember who they are.

By the way, if you're in central New Jersey, you might want to get a
comparison
price from Howie Berkowitz at Pets, Pets, Pets in Somerset. He's always
treated
me well. 732-545-6675.

Thanks for the tip. But, I'm in the Orlando, Florida area.

HJ

If you are planning to add coral, and I think eventually you will, you
might want to avoid anemones since they like to move,
and sometimes will kill your coral when they touch. Besides, the clowns
will spend most of the time hiding inside.

The clown fish will behave like a school of fish, swimming together without
the anemones, just make sure you pick tank raised from the same tank.

Good luck,


Ruben





"Haywood Jablowme" wrote in message
...

By the way, if you're in central New Jersey, you might want to get a
comparison
price from Howie Berkowitz at Pets, Pets, Pets in Somerset. He's always
treated
me well. 732-545-6675.

Thanks for the tip. But, I'm in the Orlando, Florida area.

HJ

RubenD wrote:
If you are planning to add coral, and I think eventually you will, you
might want to avoid anemones since they like to move,
and sometimes will kill your coral when they touch. Besides, the clowns
will spend most of the time hiding inside.

I haven't had any problems with that; the best spots for anemones are
taken by anemones, and I move the corals accordingly.

Mike