So why do people keep large fish?
- Thread starter snorvich
- Start date
For me, it was the result of being lucky with my small fish ha. I started off with two small 1-2" Blue Hippos, 2" Sailfin Tang, 1-2" Rabbit Fish, 2" Naso, ... and now they are pushing 8". Not sure that qualifies as large.... Fortunately I have them in a 280, so hopefully I will get to enjoy them a while longer. I also noticed that I have gone from emptying my skimmer every 7-10 days to every 3 or 4 days....
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Large fish like tangs , Pomacanthus Angels, etc., or large fish like sweetlips, titan triggers, sharks 2' groupers, etc? I like tangs, large angels, large lions, larger wrasse, etc.; mainly, because I can see the fish throughout the room and have large tanks. Most sitting spots in my living room will let me (or kids & visitors) see fish in 3 tanks, 660 gallons worth. If I sit next to a tank staring at 2" fish; I ignore anything and anybody else.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
As a food source for large fish, I assume.
I like small fish because I can simulate their natural environment and love fascinating behaviors especially commensalism, symbiosis, and other relationships.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Yeah, this is a big part of reefkeeping, IMO. I have a nice little 55 reef and can study the little things for hours. I've tried to keep bigger reefs a couple of times; but just don't have the patience. There is a lot that goes on in a well-stocked 55 reef tank, though. My oldest daughter calls my big tanks, all are built in, "Living Murals"; that's the way I see them too, much of the time. Sometimes I see the entire tank as one big picture, but I can focus in on individual fish too.
A very interesting & thought provoking topic!
Allmost
New member
I set up alot of tanks for friends, family, and their friends ...
always, give them a list of fish and corals to keep, based on tank size and filteration and so on.
noone, EVER, follows it.
why ? cause 99.9% of ppl see a 2" tang, and say it is indeed a small fish ! they do not realize its needs.
many ppl say ... "but the tang is only 2", when it gets bigger, I will give it to you to put in your larger tanks" but what they do not get, is that in order for a 2" tang to grow, it will need swimming room, alot of food, and good water, none of which can be met in a smaller tank ! most of the times ! a new reefer cant feed a 40G ALOT, and have EXCELLENT water ... so they will fail !
this is honestly starting to make me feel bad .... I have been reefing for over 10 years and breeding stingrays[freshwater] for 10 years before that.... I can do alot, and sense alot with my fish that many newer reefers cant ! [not bragging, please donot get me wron] which is making me think, in short future, we will either get our hobby banned, or it will have to follow some sort of licensing ! my LFS, who is also a friend, is a very nice guy, and cares for fish ... he often refuses to sell bigger fish to ppl with smaller tank, but at the end, he cant do much !!! if the customer wants it, he has to sell it ....
sorry about the rant ....
always, give them a list of fish and corals to keep, based on tank size and filteration and so on.
noone, EVER, follows it.
why ? cause 99.9% of ppl see a 2" tang, and say it is indeed a small fish ! they do not realize its needs.
many ppl say ... "but the tang is only 2", when it gets bigger, I will give it to you to put in your larger tanks" but what they do not get, is that in order for a 2" tang to grow, it will need swimming room, alot of food, and good water, none of which can be met in a smaller tank ! most of the times ! a new reefer cant feed a 40G ALOT, and have EXCELLENT water ... so they will fail !
this is honestly starting to make me feel bad .... I have been reefing for over 10 years and breeding stingrays[freshwater] for 10 years before that.... I can do alot, and sense alot with my fish that many newer reefers cant ! [not bragging, please donot get me wron] which is making me think, in short future, we will either get our hobby banned, or it will have to follow some sort of licensing ! my LFS, who is also a friend, is a very nice guy, and cares for fish ... he often refuses to sell bigger fish to ppl with smaller tank, but at the end, he cant do much !!! if the customer wants it, he has to sell it ....
sorry about the rant ....
Chris27
New member
My wife wants larger ......... so she can wear certain dresses. Much the same, I want larger fish so I can keep getting bigger tanks.....that said, I'm hoping to have both a 10' tank and a happy wife in the next few years....both of which I'm certain my son's friends and myself will thoroughly enjoy.
just sayin, don't judge
just sayin, don't judge
Allmost
New member
My wife wants larger ......... so she can wear certain dresses. Much the same, I want larger fish so I can keep getting bigger tanks.....that said, I'm hoping to have both a 10' tank and a happy wife in the next few years....both of which I'm certain my son's friends and myself will thoroughly enjoy.
just sayin, don't judge
HAha :fun5:
be sure to post pics !!
of the new tank lol
D5HP
New member
Dr Colliebreath
New member
Many of the more attractive fish are large (tangs and angels) and people don't understand the impact or think it will be easy to address later. People are pretty shortsighted on just about everything.
Kahuna Tuna
Active member
I guess it all depends on a persons defination of large. Most folks dont think of a fish that gets to be 12 inches as large, even though that is certainly large for most of the tanks we keep fish in. I also think a lot of newbys get a fish without any clue to its ultimate size.
I always get a mix of both large and small fish, but I have a 180 so I can house some of the bigger species among reef fish.
I always get a mix of both large and small fish, but I have a 180 so I can house some of the bigger species among reef fish.
Chris27
New member
Thank you for that...coffee just went through my nose.
jcw
Active member
very nice perspective. I like the term living mural.
Oh, I don't know, a picture of the wife is not a bad thing.
