First tank!

[Demoz91]

Morning everyone i have just purchased a fluval roma 200L tank and im going to attempt to set it up over the weekend. When it comes to cycling your tank is it the same as tropical fish? Add ammona and wait for the nitrogen cycle? Once everything clear youre ready to go? Also what would be a nice fish to start off with?

 

[GT350pwns]

Nail on the head with the nitrogen cycle.

Tell us a bit more about your set up! Bare bottom, sand, how much rock, etc.

On average, it'll take about 4 weeks for the tank to cycle and then you are good to add a small clean up crew (new tanks won't have enough junk laying around to feed a large crew) and if they do well you should be good to add your first fish.

As far as fish go, clowns seem to be the general entry point into that. They are hardy animals, do well in captivity, and tank-bred specimens are readily available.

 

[Crooked Reef]

You honestly don't want a starter fish. What do you plan on doing with the tank? Reef, fish only with live rock, peaceful tank, semi aggressive tank, predator tank? We can give you better recommendations when we have that info. Clownfish are great fun fish but depending on what kind you pick they may claim 25 to 50 gallons to themselves when the sexually mature.

 

[fishhuman]

Tank size in gallons for reference is 52.4 gallons
In saltwater u add ammonia and wait for it to spike up and completely disappear before adding anything. This normally takes a little over a month. Starter fish for this tank vary but I think gobies, clownfish, blenny, or cardinal fish may be a good choice. As far as stocking the tank goes stay away from any large fish like tangs, triggerfish, and large angels these fish can easily outgrow a tank that's 200 liters and they become quite aggresive when put in under their minimum tank size. Some fish that you could consider depending on if you want coral are
. Gobies
. Clownfish
. Blenny
. Smaller wrasse
. Dwarf angelfish such as flame angel
. Cardinal fish
. Dart fish
. Filefish
There are plenty of others u would look on the website live aquaria for reference.
Remember that clownfish do not need an anemone to survive.

 

[Zer0.]

Tank size in gallons for reference is 52.4 gallons
In saltwater u add ammonia and wait for it to spike up and completely disappear before adding anything. This normally takes a little over a month. Starter fish for this tank vary but I think gobies, clownfish, blenny, or cardinal fish may be a good choice. As far as stocking the tank goes stay away from any large fish like tangs, triggerfish, and large angels these fish can easily outgrow a tank that's 200 liters and they become quite aggresive when put in under their minimum tank size. Some fish that you could consider depending on if you want coral are
. Gobies
. Clownfish
. Blenny
. Smaller wrasse
. Dwarf angelfish such as flame angel IMO a flame would be cramped in that size tank and probably aggressive, I would look at a smaller dwarf angel such as a flameback or cherub /dwarf angels also aren't always reef safe.
. Cardinal fish
. Dart fish
. Filefish Not always reef safe/some get much to large for a 50 gallon tank
There are plenty of others u would look on the website live aquaria for reference.
Remember that clownfish do not need an anemone to survive.

Good info from fishhuman ^ with a few considerations on fish added. I like to go off live aquaria's recommended tank sizes for most fish.

Don't forget to do a large water change once your ammonia and nitrite levels have dropped to bring your nitrate levels down before adding a small CUC.

My first fish in my tank were a pair of false percs (oscellaris), followed by a royal gramma, then a firefish goby and a midas blenny. I feel these were all very good hardy smallish starting fish.

As others said what do you plan to keep? Fish only? Fish and soft corals? Fish and soft corals and Large Polyp Stony corals? or even small polyp stonies?

 

[Demoz91]

Thanks for your replies. We will be keeping a peaceful tank hopefully with lots of colours for my little boy to notice. At first there will be no corals just live rock and fish.. i was going to ask about corals.. can they be added at any time? Theyre something i dont know too much about so dont want to rush into adding them to my tank when i havent got a clue.

 

[killinit123]

Thanks for your replies. We will be keeping a peaceful tank hopefully with lots of colours for my little boy to notice. At first there will be no corals just live rock and fish.. i was going to ask about corals.. can they be added at any time? Theyre something i dont know too much about so dont want to rush into adding them to my tank when i havent got a clue.

I would take your time with corals first do some research to see what types of corals you would want to keep ie. softies, LPS, SPS... these different types of corals have different requirements in water quality, certain water parameters, and lighting. once you figure out specifically what corals you are interested in keeping, then go from there to determine the right equipment needed to keep such corals.

 

[Demoz91]

Yh im in no rush to get corals mate. I need to have a good research like you said, its not something im going to rush into. Concentrate on the fish first and then start looking at some nice corals. Any recommendations to begin with?

 

[killinit123]

Yh im in no rush to get corals mate. I need to have a good research like you said, its not something im going to rush into. Concentrate on the fish first and then start looking at some nice corals. Any recommendations to begin with?

depending on your lights you could start with softies like leathers, kenya trees, toadstools things of that nature. you might be able to get away with zoas and palys these corals are great for beginners and add lots of diversity in color and detail. what is your lighting if you dont mind me asking? or thoughts of lighting?

 

[tomreefer]

yes start off with zoas, mushrooms or leathers for corals.

 

[Demoz91]

Ive got 2 aquaray aquabeam led lights but one of them is faulty so i have to take it back to my shop amd get a new one tommorow. Once the tank is all setup i will decide whether or not i need new lighting. Not sure of the wattage of them. Ill have a look at all them corals yous have mentioned. Cheers