making the switch to SW...

ok, so I have a 41 gallon bent glass fluval osaka that is just BEGGING to be a salt tank.

first question, being that i've never done salt, should I just go with a FOWLR tank to start? I really think I will want to get in to reef stuff down the road, but I don't wanna back myself into a corner.

second, the tank is only about 20 inches wide. it's pretty much a cube. so if I do get into corals and such, then obviously they will have to go up top. but what is considered "high" lighting? are we talking like 4 WPG or what? I found a lighting rig that is 108 total watts. 6x18 T5 bulbs. but everything else is too long. I suppose if I really wanted to, I could get two of them, but that is 500 bucks in light fixtures alone. bulbs would be another 200. I know, I know, saltwater is expensive....

also, how can you keep your tank from looking so "dead" if you just do FOWLR? the live rock is just plain old rock that almost looks like dead coral. if I could get the "reef" look with FOWLR, that would be fine, but I don't really want an awesome colored fish in a boring gray tank, know what I mean?

anyway, just kinda kickin it around right now. currently it has a 2 bulb T5 on it. and I have a fluval 205 for filtration.

also lookin for stocking ideas. I like firefish. the long skinny white ones. and harlequin shrimp. but other than that, i'm open to anything really.

 

Good luck. I'm afraid of salt - the hobby costs enough already. My girlfriend want me to do a saltwater tank. Maybe when the economy turns around....

 

The tank doesn't have to look "dead" if it's a FOWLR tank. The live rock will turn purple eventually from coralline algae growth, and there are all kinds of little critters that live on/in the rock. If you don't want to pay for a lighting upgrade, IMO FOWLR is the way to go.

A firefish is a good choice as far as stocking. Smaller species of clownfish would work too, as well as fairy wrasses, small gobies, etc. Stay away from damsels (other than clownfish) if you want the firefish.

Harlequin shrimp are really cool looking, but unfortunately IMO they are not suited to a beginner. Harlequins are obligate feeders on starfish and won't survive without them. I know an experienced aquarist that keeps a pair of them and must buy a chocolate chip starfish every 2 weeks to feed them. It's doable, but quite a commitment to meet their needs.

 

yeah. just read about the harlequins. bummer.

well...off to do more research.

 

If you like colorful shrimp, maybe you would like a fire shrimp. They are quite beautiful and would do great in a FOWLR (as long as you choose fish that won't eat it, lol).

Have you looked into fairy wrasses yet like I mentioned? They are really colorful and active. Some get larger than others, so make sure to do your research beforehand.

 

Ah - I was terrified to go saltwater, but I did, FOWLER is definitely the way to go, IMO, learning about the critturs on live rock and the fish is the most interesting part, so I did that first, and started my FOWLER, and once i've got enough experience keeping this tank, I will upgrade the lighting and keep corals too, once i've done my research OFC.

Also - a really attractive fish which (is quite hard to feed, but will be oaky if you spot feed it) is the mandarin fish, but just use a pepete to fire the frozen food at it, and it should 'take the bait' as they say, I haven't got one myself, but its definitely the next fish on my list, and i've heard this is how people feed them!
Another fish is the coral beauty, but it might be a bit to big for your tank? I'm not sure, because I work in litres.. But its fairly cheap as marine angelfish go