Lifespans of flora and fauna in a reef tank

[AustinVines]

So I have quickly become semi-obsessed with the idea of getting into this hobby. I only say "semi" because while I thought I really wanted a 150+ gallon reef tank, I am currently thinking about a 12-24 gallon reef tank with live rock, soft corals/zoos and maybe one or two small fish. I'd rather have a garden of corals than a fish tank right now. Who knows what it will be after I read the two books that were delivered today from Amazon - Tullock's Natural Reef Aquarium and Fenner's Conscientious Marine Aquarist- and view some more tanks.

A question that keeps coming into my head is what are the life expectancies of these animals and corals in captivity from hobbyist aquarists? I see on RC that even experts have tanks crash on them for myriad reasons, which is why I think a $600(?) "getting my finger wet" small stocked tank with only one or two, small, small fish would be the way to go. I don't even have enough knowledge to be dangerous at this point and I expect to plan even this small tank for a few months if I can keep my enthusiasm at bay.

Is my question so general as to only warrant an "it depends" response? Also, I am trying to figure out if corals I see at the LFSs are picked over which is why they generally look "blah" or if corals don't do so well at an LFS and will perk up in a better environment like my meticulously cared for 12g nano ;-) or if I should only consider a reputable on-line retailer for corals until I find a group of generous friends in the hobby.

I have been lurking this board for a few weeks and have tried to read every sticky, link etc. that I could find but the amount of information is daunting (and sometimes contradictory) so I may be confused about some of this so please, let me have it if I missed something important. I will say that the amount of great info both on this forum and from the individual participants made me pony up a subscription first thing.

 

[Amphiprion]

Many of the more common fish you see live average life expectancies of around 5-10 years+. If the animals are well cared for, then ten years is not uncommon at all. Inverts can live an equal or greater amount of time (once again, a very long time if good care is given).

 

[MiddletonMark]

Hi AustinVines
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>
Though I see you've found your way around, learned a lot already.


You've got a great pair of books to think about what to do with.
Really a great start, as planning and research will pay off a lot [my wife got me into this hobby, so having time to read and understand before making `her' nano `my' 58g helped a ton].

Honestly, I've found it's easier to keep good water quality for corals with lower fish stocking than you'll see online, or you'll see others do. Your plan is great that way.

Fish lifespan was pretty well covered, though I'm no expert. I'm a `third owner' for a Maroon clownfish, just a beauty, that I understand to be over 7 years in aquaria. Hope to keep it many more.

As for corals lifespan ... while the polyps may divide and grow new stalks [so it's not the exact same polyps], you can keep that colony for longer than we'll live. [at least for some, and there's inverts like anemone are said to never grow old/die]
My wife got two corals that we still keep ... going on 8 years ago. IMO, longevity of my livestock is my #1 goal.

I think it's more in my ability to be around if/when any mechanical problem would occur in the aquaria - and to learn to manage the tank so that is a healthy environment for them for that long ... but I'd love my kids to see the same ones I have now, just all grown huge.

It's more about my ability to do that, than in their ability to live that long ... or as far as I understand. I might talk a lot, and try to read ... but don't take my post count as a suggestion that I've got all the answers. I know my tank, and while I'd love to help you know yours - you're the best expert for your tank.

Check into a reef club in your area, look around at captive propagated corals [and anemones] - as beyond being a great way to meet others in the hobby + see more successful tanks in person, it can also be a source of great, hardy, nice colored corals. There's frag swaps, coral conferences [IMAC near Chicago, MACNA's in Houston this year I think, also many other gatherings all over].

The LFS can be a good source of coral - but it really depends on the LFS. I've generally found corals do better at home vs. there - don't expect any miracles and do your research first - but that most look/do far better in my tank, if suitable for my setup. I don't bring home ailing corals, but feel my tank is healthier than theirs.

Personally, I'm not big into mailorder livestock. I've ordered a couple times, no complaints - but prefer to see it healthy in front of me, or more prefer to meet the reefkeeper who grew a huge one and had to cut off pieces to share [and can tell me how they've found that success with this exact coral].

Like you may have already learned - there's a million opinions, and most of them may be partly correct in that reefkeeper's tank. We keep different livestock, find fascination and beauty in many things. Don't feel the need to crowd in more and more into the tank [though it's hard not to] - don't feel the need to do what's `hot' right now. A thriving tank is beautiful, whether one coral or many, whatever variety.

Take it slow, nothing good happens fast in this hobby. But you know that already.

Glad to have you here, pardon my long-winded-ness

 

[AustinVines]

Thanks so much, Amph and Mark. I have just read several threads talking about fish loses or tank inhabitants and had never seen anyone mention they had livestock that was over 4 years old and even those over 3 were the rarity. I don't want to go from fish to fish or frag to frag and an ever changing tank.

I have to say that my "grail" tank is (I think) Anthony's over on the nano forum who posted about his tank at one year. It looks like a perfect bouquet of corals and from an almost entirely stock NC. If I keep the fish load minimal and keep up with the water chemistry and water changes, I can only hope mine looks half that complete. Thanks again.