Well I've posted in a few of the other threads and it was recommended that I just start my own thread to bounce some ideas off you guys. So here it goes....
THIS IS KINDA LONG.... DISCLAIMER javascript:smilie(':strooper:')
stormtrooper
Like it says in my experience I have 10 or so years of freshwater experience. Being only 21 most of those years were when I was younger, but I was always required to do the maintenance and everything on my own.
I currently have a 55 gallon cichlid tank that has a number of yellow labs as well as yellow tail acei in it right now. It has an aquascape to it with sand and rocks and is very basic but a fun tank to watch.
I also have a 20 gallon lightly planted tank. I made a DIY fixture composed of compact flourescent bulbs in the 6500 range that are perfect for plant growth. This tank has your typical community fish in it as well. I also have a 20 gallon fry tank that houses some swordtail fry at the moment. I'm looking to move these or get rid of these fry once they've reached maturity.
I also have 2 10 gallon tanks, one I use as a hospital/quarantine tank and it's setup without substrate so as to be easily cleaned. The other 10 is a shrimp only tank that houses a breeding colony of red cherry shrimp. They are soooo interesting to watch and I can't reccomend them any higher. If anyone has a freshwater tank and would like some I would be glad to share some as my population is getting kinda outta hand These shrimp are in a sandy bottom tank with some plants growing as well that they like to graze on.
In similar fashion but on another spectrum I have a 29 gallon turtle tank that houses an adorable juvenile red eared slider turtle. He's about 1.5 inches and is so cute. He shares the tank with some feeder guppies and is entertained by chasing them on a regular basis.
I have a 1.5 gallon betta tank as well.
I change about 25% of the water in all of these tanks about once a week. I have a DIY python setup to do water changes and it makes things easy on me. These tanks require hardly any maintenance at all and I've grown to love this aspect although I know saltwater will be another story.
So here's my ambitions as a saltwater keeper....
I've wanted a saltwater tank for the last few years and have always thought it would be too much trouble or too much money... I have since learned that once you get a good system set up the maintenance isn't too bad. I don't mind adding water on a daily or near daily basis and the money won't be a huge issue as I plan on taking it slow and buying it all slowly as to not feel the hit as hard on the pocketbook (I am 21 and in college you know )
My initial plans were to buy a 28 gallon cube and get it all in one shot. This is still an option but I've thought about going other routes as well. I don't have the space for anything too big but I want it to be at least a 20+ gallon tank as I know the sensitivity to changing levels is seen much higher in smaller tanks.
I've thought about converting the 20 gallon fry tank to a saltwater tank, and still might.. Although my biggest hope is that I can find a disgruntled fish keeper who has a 28 gallon cube with the rock and sand and wants to get rid of it cheap (who wouldnt like that :rollface: ) I am in no hurry to get the tank setup as I would rather take the time to know what I'm doing instead of rushing into it. If anyone knows someone trying to get rid of said setup let me know!
My initial thoughts are to go with the hardier fish from the beginning, your typical clowns more than likely, I especially like their personalities and their colors. I will also go with easy to care for soft corals and compatible specimens for my ligthing as well as tank. I find it really silly to pay a lot of money when I'm first starting, and that's why the frag exchange and raffle sounds so appealing to me.
So that's kinda where I'm at ATM... I know it's not a set plan that I have setup right now but I hope to have something going by around christmas time. I spend hours that I should be studying on Reef Central as well as another fish forum I frequent more for freshwater just reading different journals as well as reccomendations as products go.:strooper: :strooper:
THIS IS KINDA LONG.... DISCLAIMER javascript:smilie(':strooper:')
stormtrooper
Like it says in my experience I have 10 or so years of freshwater experience. Being only 21 most of those years were when I was younger, but I was always required to do the maintenance and everything on my own.
I currently have a 55 gallon cichlid tank that has a number of yellow labs as well as yellow tail acei in it right now. It has an aquascape to it with sand and rocks and is very basic but a fun tank to watch.
I also have a 20 gallon lightly planted tank. I made a DIY fixture composed of compact flourescent bulbs in the 6500 range that are perfect for plant growth. This tank has your typical community fish in it as well. I also have a 20 gallon fry tank that houses some swordtail fry at the moment. I'm looking to move these or get rid of these fry once they've reached maturity.
I also have 2 10 gallon tanks, one I use as a hospital/quarantine tank and it's setup without substrate so as to be easily cleaned. The other 10 is a shrimp only tank that houses a breeding colony of red cherry shrimp. They are soooo interesting to watch and I can't reccomend them any higher. If anyone has a freshwater tank and would like some I would be glad to share some as my population is getting kinda outta hand These shrimp are in a sandy bottom tank with some plants growing as well that they like to graze on.
In similar fashion but on another spectrum I have a 29 gallon turtle tank that houses an adorable juvenile red eared slider turtle. He's about 1.5 inches and is so cute. He shares the tank with some feeder guppies and is entertained by chasing them on a regular basis.
I have a 1.5 gallon betta tank as well.
I change about 25% of the water in all of these tanks about once a week. I have a DIY python setup to do water changes and it makes things easy on me. These tanks require hardly any maintenance at all and I've grown to love this aspect although I know saltwater will be another story.
So here's my ambitions as a saltwater keeper....
I've wanted a saltwater tank for the last few years and have always thought it would be too much trouble or too much money... I have since learned that once you get a good system set up the maintenance isn't too bad. I don't mind adding water on a daily or near daily basis and the money won't be a huge issue as I plan on taking it slow and buying it all slowly as to not feel the hit as hard on the pocketbook (I am 21 and in college you know )
My initial plans were to buy a 28 gallon cube and get it all in one shot. This is still an option but I've thought about going other routes as well. I don't have the space for anything too big but I want it to be at least a 20+ gallon tank as I know the sensitivity to changing levels is seen much higher in smaller tanks.
I've thought about converting the 20 gallon fry tank to a saltwater tank, and still might.. Although my biggest hope is that I can find a disgruntled fish keeper who has a 28 gallon cube with the rock and sand and wants to get rid of it cheap (who wouldnt like that :rollface: ) I am in no hurry to get the tank setup as I would rather take the time to know what I'm doing instead of rushing into it. If anyone knows someone trying to get rid of said setup let me know!
My initial thoughts are to go with the hardier fish from the beginning, your typical clowns more than likely, I especially like their personalities and their colors. I will also go with easy to care for soft corals and compatible specimens for my ligthing as well as tank. I find it really silly to pay a lot of money when I'm first starting, and that's why the frag exchange and raffle sounds so appealing to me.
So that's kinda where I'm at ATM... I know it's not a set plan that I have setup right now but I hope to have something going by around christmas time. I spend hours that I should be studying on Reef Central as well as another fish forum I frequent more for freshwater just reading different journals as well as reccomendations as products go.:strooper: :strooper: