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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Luturb
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 4042
Location: Livermore, California
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 Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:15 Post subject:
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Hehe, if it's your first tank try to find some cheap fish to put in it because some of those suckers are probably gonna die. Saltwater isn't really for beginners, but buy all the test kits and read up on it and you will probably be ok. Message boards are your friend, most of the fish message boards I have read are pretty good about trying to help if you post something like "why is my fish swimming on it's side?" or something like that.
If you can talk her into a freshwater tank you can probably cut your price in half, even more than that on the cost of the fish, and a planted freshwater tank looks very nice if you ask me, although nothing compares to a really nice reef tank.
Also, you will definitely want to get some Bio-Spira. The stuff is pretty new, but it really works, and takes care of cycling for you, which is the most critical period for a new tank and where a lot of people kill their fish. Don't get any other brand, you want Bio-Spira...it has to be refrigerated, so you will have to get it from a local fish store...won't be able to get it online. It's expensive, but worth it.
Last edited by Luturb on 04/07/04 - 18:25; edited 1 time in total
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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:23 Post subject:
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what are some good fish forums ?
and i think there is no going back , she wants salt water fish bad.
Think the main fish she likes are clown fish , lion fish , snowflake eels, engineer gobies and umm i forget all the rest ....
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Luturb
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 4042
Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:28 Post subject:
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I have never tried saltwater fish, so I don't know too much about the forums for them, but http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/ has saltwater forums. There are a lot of kids there, but some knowledgeable people as well, especially the moderators.
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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:29 Post subject:
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on a side note we get to start filling the tank with water tonight . will take forever though . stupid $215 water filter only does 60 gallons a day and the tank is 90 gallons. Can't even put any fish in it untill the end like june first as our books say you need to let the water cycle in there for a month before you put fish in it and we are going to Italy from may 11th to 27Th.
again , this better be worth it.
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Luturb
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 4042
Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:31 Post subject:
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If you've got the money, the big tank will be a good idea. Things go to shit in a 90g much slower than they would in a 10.
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themy
Sir Postalot
Joined: 14 Oct 2002
Posts: 1153
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:35 Post subject:
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depending on where oyu live you can buy salt water as opposed to making your own. There are creatures (bacteria) which break down the amonia in real salt water. Also live rock is a good idea to get instead of fake coral, since it also helps maintain your system.
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Sakii
Rookie
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 64
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:36 Post subject:
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Ive got a reef aquarium Ive been keeping up for about 4 years... live corals, shrimp, one or two fish... once you get everything balanced, things fall into place.... If you are introducing too much food or nutrients, prepare for thew worst....
That protien skimmer isn't at all designed for your aquarium... try one like this....
EBAY protien skimmer listing
also recommend a hydrometer for mixing salt...
Last edited by Sakii on 04/07/04 - 18:41; edited 1 time in total
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Luturb
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 4042
Location: Livermore, California
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:38 Post subject:
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| themy wrote: | | depending on where oyu live you can buy salt water as opposed to making your own. There are creatures (bacteria) which break down the amonia in real salt water. Also live rock is a good idea to get instead of fake coral, since it also helps maintain your system. |
That's basically what that Bio-Spira stuff is. Live bacteria. You just pour it in the tank when you put your fish in and bam, tank is cycled. Just used it for the first time on my new african tank, worked like a charm. There are other products out there that claim to do the same thing, but they don't work.
Last edited by Luturb on 04/07/04 - 18:39; edited 1 time in total
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themy
Sir Postalot
Joined: 14 Oct 2002
Posts: 1153
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:39 Post subject:
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that's cool, reef tanks own 
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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:45 Post subject:
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| themy wrote: | | depending on where oyu live you can buy salt water as opposed to making your own. There are creatures (bacteria) which break down the amonia in real salt water. Also live rock is a good idea to get instead of fake coral, since it also helps maintain your system. |
buying real salt water in minnesota costs way to much. far as the live rock and sand. the books i have say to use it also but the guy at the store says we should stay away from it untill we know what we are doing. My girl wants everything to be as easy as posible and thinks it will be easier with fake shit. i dont think so but what ya going to do ....
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Sakii
Rookie
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 64
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:48 Post subject:
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live rock by itself can cycle an aquarium... plus it can introduce many types of small creatures to the aquarium... do not use fish if you use live rock to cycle the aquarium, and i dont recommend prepackaged cycling kits... you get the same bacteria from uncured live rock... and it onlly takes 5 to 10 pounts to establish the nitrogen eating bacteria...
Damsels are good cheap SW fish to cycle an aquarium... they take about 3 weeks to cycle the aquarium... If you dont use live rock, use a bio wheel type biological filter (usually attached to the penguin 400)...
Be prepared to return the damsels when you cycle the tank and want new fish... they are homocidal bastards and are more territorial than any african cichlid...
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Sakii
Rookie
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 64
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 18:52 Post subject:
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Oh yeah, I used to work in an aquarium shop for 3 or 4 years, and started a maintenance company for taking care of aquariums in doctor's offices for another 2 years... took all the fun out of it turning what I enjoyed into a business, but was fun while it lasted.... good money too
Suggested reading,
The Reef Aquarium vol 1, 2. by Julian Sprung
cant recall any good ones on fish...
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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 19:16 Post subject:
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anyone give me some info on what you need to do to cycle your tank for the first time
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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Occulis
RealPoor Jedi
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 13293
Location: Moral Relativity Central
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 19:43 Post subject:
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You must make at least 65k+ per year to throw away that much money. Holy crackers.
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Guest
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 19:49 Post subject:
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Get a fish that looks like this, there are a few different varieties. They are very hardy and hard to kill. Just make sure when you are moving it around, in and out of the tank for whatever reason, to use your hands. Never use a net to move this fish, the fins are very fragile and will break off in a net. Remember, always use your hands.
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Occulis
RealPoor Jedi
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 13293
Location: Moral Relativity Central
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 19:55 Post subject:
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| Kbarr wrote: | | Remember, always use your hands. |
*shudder*
eeew slimey
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Frashii
Sir Postalot
Joined: 11 Oct 2002
Posts: 1338
Location: Anchorage, AK
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 20:00 Post subject:
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My friend had a 120 gallon tank that broke..
In an upstairs apartment...
The fish dying were the LEAST of his worries..
Kbarr... isn't that a nasty poisonis fish ?
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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 20:09 Post subject:
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| Fattguyy_Inlilcoatt wrote: | | Lol yes Frashii , that fish would k33lzor him. |
more like a bad bee sting
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Guest
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 20:10 Post subject:
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| Brash wrote: | | Fattguyy_Inlilcoatt wrote: | | Lol yes Frashii , that fish would k33lzor him. |
more like a bad bee sting |
These fish are not poisonous at all.
Remember to use your hands.
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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 20:15 Post subject:
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| Occulis wrote: | | You must make at least 65k+ per year to throw away that much money. Holy crackers. |
I don't know how much my girl makes but it is prolly around that much . she works at the steak house with me. i made 40k last year so i'd guess she made around that. She is also a realtor and although i have no real idea , im sure she makes over 25k a year doing that.
To top it off she invests smart and learned how to save when she was very young so she owns her house and car outright. Infact i think she 100% owned her house by the time she was 26. With no house or car payment and 65K + a year you can spend your money on shit like this and not think twice i guess . This whole time i was trying to save her money everywhere we could and she could really care less.
god i better not f**k this one up .....
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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 20:20 Post subject:
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| Kbarr wrote: | | Brash wrote: | | Fattguyy_Inlilcoatt wrote: | | Lol yes Frashii , that fish would k33lzor him. |
more like a bad bee sting |
These fish are not poisonous at all.
Remember to use your hands. |
thanks for the info kbarr.
because you were so nice i sapose i had better give you a bit of advice to. puffer fish is f*****g tasty. best shit you can get . just make sure to panfry it with flour and butter
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Paco
RealPoor Jedi
Joined: 13 Oct 2002
Posts: 12939
Location: Jacksonville, FL
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 22:23 Post subject:
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| Brash wrote: | | Kbarr wrote: | | Brash wrote: | | Fattguyy_Inlilcoatt wrote: | | Lol yes Frashii , that fish would k33lzor him. |
more like a bad bee sting |
These fish are not poisonous at all.
Remember to use your hands. |
thanks for the info kbarr.
because you were so nice i sapose i had better give you a bit of advice to. puffer fish is f*****g tasty. best shit you can get . just make sure to panfry it with flour and butter
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actually, the puffer fish are rather tastey indeed
hehehe, nice try, but they really are good eatin 
This one time, at band camp:
I went deep sea fishin once and caught a buttload of em, and ate em fer dinner.
The End
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Sakii
Rookie
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 64
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 23:10 Post subject:
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| Kbarr wrote: | Get a fish that looks like this, there are a few different varieties. They are very hardy and hard to kill. Just make sure when you are moving it around, in and out of the tank for whatever reason, to use your hands. Never use a net to move this fish, the fins are very fragile and will break off in a net. Remember, always use your hands.
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hahaha:) and keep the hospital emergengy room on speed dial:)
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Guest
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 23:11 Post subject:
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Everyone ruins my fun.
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Sakii
Rookie
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 64
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 23:16 Post subject:
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Lionfish are actually pretty cool... most are picky and will only take live fish or shrimp for food, but they can be trained to eat frozen shrimp..... If i didnt have so much invested in my corals I'd probably keep a lionfish myself.... and not in a blender
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Sakii
Rookie
Joined: 18 Nov 2003
Posts: 64
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 23:20 Post subject:
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one advantage of reef tanks = no feeding.... I haven't put a single bit of food in my tank on over 2 years... they survive off light, well, algae living in the coral's tissue does and keeps them alive.... some of my soft corals do reproduce, and I can usually sell them back to the aquarium shop to help pay for the initial costs... If you're good at it, you can get hard corals or even giant clams (Tridanca sp.) to grow and possibly reproduce.... some of these specimens sell for over $100 each....
Alan
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Paden
RealPoor Master of Posts
Joined: 23 Oct 2002
Posts: 9362
Location: North CAROLINA!
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Posted: 04/07/04 - 23:51 Post subject:
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what ever happend to buying a fish bowl and a gold fish
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Brash
RealPoor Guru
Joined: 20 Oct 2002
Posts: 3958
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Posted: 04/09/04 - 16:16 Post subject:
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well everyone tells me to scap the emp 400 bio wheel filter and go with live rock and sand . they say i need like 150 pounds of rock . shit is $6 a pound , that is f*****g $900 before over night shipping .....
this tank is going to cost over $3,000 for sure . jesus....
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