Preparing for First Tank

koifishy · Nov 10, 2015

I'm starting a job where I work from home soon and I'm thinking that this might be the best time/reasons to start my first saltwater tank. I'm not sure where to start in planning process, or how much time is required to plan before starting to buy.

What I want the tank to be
-cat safe
-colorful
-have fish and coral
-desk size

I like clownfish and shrimp, and blue corals. How do I go from wanting a s/w tank to having a healthy aquarium. Is a QT tank necessary? Could I propagate corals from a small tank for the purpose of selling?

melypr1985 · Nov 10, 2015

Hi there! Yes a QT is necessary if you want to keep disease and parasites out of your tank. OR you can feed live foods like PaulB does and keep them so healthy they never fall prey to the parasites they carry (that's not a joke, he really does that and it really works for him). Yes, you can propagate corals in your small tank, but depending on the size of the tank, half of it will be taken up by frags and frag racks. I say that, because when we start fragging and buying corals, none of us can really keep that in check lol. It's an addiction. Here is a great thread to help you get started. It should at least give you a working knowledge of the basics so you know where to start.
http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-su...ater-reef-aquarium.138750/page-3#post-2527723

Hi. My name is Meredith and I'm a coral addict. CKA (coral keepers anonymous)

Bradw18 · Nov 11, 2015

How small you talking when you say desk size?

koifishy · Nov 15, 2015

I took a look at a duplex today and it has a fairly large office room. Now I'm thinking a sleek corner tank, around 36 gallons.

Ideas On Fish Stock List:
Pair of Clownfish (Black Ice Snowflake or Picasso)
Watchmen Goby and Pistol Shrimp Pair
Eventually a Mandarin
Blenny - Red Sea Mimic Blenny
Firefish

Also want rock and coral.

koifishy · Nov 20, 2015

My fiancee and I have agreed on a tank, the Red Sea MAX C-130. The tank itself holds 27 gallons and the total water volume is 34 gallons. Now to research on livestock (live rock, sand, fish, and inverts). Does anyone have any experience with this aquarium?