Valley Reptiles
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Anyone experienced with these? I'm wanting to set up a 75 gallon and need help on what I need to put in it.
Experienced Lionfish keepers?
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Chiefmcfuz
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You could try reefcentral (dot) com.
Keep in mind that they will eat anything that will fit in their mouth.
Keep in mind that they will eat anything that will fit in their mouth.
Valley Reptiles
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Anything you can tell me will help.bohannbj said:
This is my first saltwater tank and I'm starting with nothing. I want to slowly buy everything for the tank and get it running then buy the fish.
Someone told me when it's ready buy some blue danio?, and put them in first to be sure the water is safe.
Chiefmcfuz
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Is this going to be fish only of a reef?
Fish only is very easy to set up. First get a tank, Stand, and set them up. Make a decision as to the size of the tank and choose your filtration. After that has been done fill the tank with water that has been mixed with the salt mix which ever one you choose. RO/DI is preferred by most as it is filtered to the point where all harmful minerals and additives are removed from it. Since this is your first time place about 3 inches of water in there and then add your base layer of live rock then add your sand. I prefer sand because crushed coral substrate can become a detrius trap and spike your nitrates down the road. After the sand has been added fill about 3/4's and add the rest of your rock. After that fill to the top and turn on your filtration. Take a pinch of food and add it to your tank to help jump start your cycle. After that let the tank sit for about a week and test your water. I suggest using salifert test kits as they are the most precise. After that test session test every 2 to 3 days and make sure your tank has cycled. A proper cycle will spike amonia first, then amonia will drop and nitrites will spike, lastly nitrites will level off to zero along with the amonia and your nitrates will go up. Once this occurs your tank is cycled. Do a small water change and add fish and lighting.
Keep in mind that a cycle can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months depending on the tank size and tank setup as well.
Check out Reef central, manhattan reefs, reef sanctuary and do some more research This is a blob of quick info, there is lots more stuff to know.
Fish only is very easy to set up. First get a tank, Stand, and set them up. Make a decision as to the size of the tank and choose your filtration. After that has been done fill the tank with water that has been mixed with the salt mix which ever one you choose. RO/DI is preferred by most as it is filtered to the point where all harmful minerals and additives are removed from it. Since this is your first time place about 3 inches of water in there and then add your base layer of live rock then add your sand. I prefer sand because crushed coral substrate can become a detrius trap and spike your nitrates down the road. After the sand has been added fill about 3/4's and add the rest of your rock. After that fill to the top and turn on your filtration. Take a pinch of food and add it to your tank to help jump start your cycle. After that let the tank sit for about a week and test your water. I suggest using salifert test kits as they are the most precise. After that test session test every 2 to 3 days and make sure your tank has cycled. A proper cycle will spike amonia first, then amonia will drop and nitrites will spike, lastly nitrites will level off to zero along with the amonia and your nitrates will go up. Once this occurs your tank is cycled. Do a small water change and add fish and lighting.
Keep in mind that a cycle can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months depending on the tank size and tank setup as well.
Check out Reef central, manhattan reefs, reef sanctuary and do some more research This is a blob of quick info, there is lots more stuff to know.
Lionfish are fun and if you stay smart about it they are not as dangerous as you may think. Don't miss read me, if you get hit by a spine it will be an unpleasant day, but they don't try to get you. The best thing to remember is to always locate the lion before doing any work inside the tank. If you want to do a reef tank, I would suggest getting a dwarf lion or a fu man chu. They are both smaller lions and they are different from the typical volitan so your reef friends will probably have never seen them. The really cool thing about this is that the last time I bought a dwarf lion, ten years ago, it only cost thirty dollars. They have smaller mouths so they can only fit small fish in them and they are bottom dwellers (less chance of getting stung). All in all, I would go for one of them.
Good luck man and have fun,
Brent
Good luck man and have fun,
Brent
Valley Reptiles
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For now probably a fish only with the fake reefs. I want to keep it as simple as possible but still look nice.
I'm probably not going to get the fish for 4 to 5 months. I'm going to get a few things at a time for it so it's not too expensive all at once.
I thought about the Dwarf and saw one at pet co when I worked there but I really like the volitan. I do like that the Dwarfs can stay in smaller aquariums though.
If I were to get the dwarf can two live together or do they usually fight?
I'm probably not going to get the fish for 4 to 5 months. I'm going to get a few things at a time for it so it's not too expensive all at once.
I thought about the Dwarf and saw one at pet co when I worked there but I really like the volitan. I do like that the Dwarfs can stay in smaller aquariums though.
If I were to get the dwarf can two live together or do they usually fight?
Chiefmcfuz
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Dwarf Lions can be tough to get eating.
Condaman74
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I kept two dwarf lions together in a 20 gallon mini reef tank for 6 years without incident.
Chiefmcfuz
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Like the sand debate here, there are plenty of debates on tank size and fish to put in those tanks on reef forums. The bigger the tank the better, or as many like to put it the key to pollution is dilution. Also if this is your first tank of this type the more hardy fish are the best to start with.
Valley Reptiles
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Chiefmcfuz said:
So would the volitan be a better choice since it's my first tank? I was going to go with a 75 gallon tank, would that be ok for one? I read some places that said a minimum of 50 gallon and other sites said 75 gallon.
Chiefmcfuz
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A 75 gallon tank would be perfect, make sure you get a great skimmer cause due to their eating habits they can be kind of messy. Volitains are a great starter lion make sure you buy from a good vendor. Reef Central has lots of local clubs listed you might be able to find one close to you that has advice on quality dealers.
Just like reptiles make sure you do your research, Reef central, reef sanctuary manhattan reefs, and many more are out there. I can vouch for MR because I hang out there quite a bit.
Just like reptiles make sure you do your research, Reef central, reef sanctuary manhattan reefs, and many more are out there. I can vouch for MR because I hang out there quite a bit.
since your not planning on getting the lionfish for a couple months i would set the tank up. let it be for a week then add 2 or 3 cheap saltwater fish like domino damsel or green chromis. let them cycle the tank then you can add your lionfish and since you only have around 12-15 dollars in the starter fish it won't matter if they get eaten.
M
-_Mindless Destruction_-
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If you have any questions about lionfish, go to dfwmas (dot) com, everyone ther eis nice and they all pretty much know each other.
My mother is on there and she had a lionfish about a year ago, they are easy to take care of and they become friendly quick. When my mother got the fish, she couldn't stick her hand in the tank, mind this was a reef tank as well, and after awhile he started to get used to us being around. So whenever he saw a hand come into the water he just went to the other side of the tank. It is best to only have one in a tank but you can have other fish as well, just make sure they are bigger then the lionfish's mouth, which can be pretty big when you watch them eat.
Also give them silversides, I think that is how you spell them. If you get the big tongues, in the reptile section, you can feed him a lot easier and not have to worry about getting stung. They are beautiful fish, no matter what size or shape, and they are cool to watch. But just make sure to keep the tank steady and feed him, or he can get aggressive.
My mother can really help you out on lionfish, we are going to be getting a second one along with another puffer, so if you join that site, her name is sgoldinger. She is really sweet and always there to help people out if they can't keep their fish. You should see our house, I really mean it. But yea, just send her a message on that site and she can help you out anyway possible. And that site is good for anything you need as well.
My mother is on there and she had a lionfish about a year ago, they are easy to take care of and they become friendly quick. When my mother got the fish, she couldn't stick her hand in the tank, mind this was a reef tank as well, and after awhile he started to get used to us being around. So whenever he saw a hand come into the water he just went to the other side of the tank. It is best to only have one in a tank but you can have other fish as well, just make sure they are bigger then the lionfish's mouth, which can be pretty big when you watch them eat.
Also give them silversides, I think that is how you spell them. If you get the big tongues, in the reptile section, you can feed him a lot easier and not have to worry about getting stung. They are beautiful fish, no matter what size or shape, and they are cool to watch. But just make sure to keep the tank steady and feed him, or he can get aggressive.
My mother can really help you out on lionfish, we are going to be getting a second one along with another puffer, so if you join that site, her name is sgoldinger. She is really sweet and always there to help people out if they can't keep their fish. You should see our house, I really mean it. But yea, just send her a message on that site and she can help you out anyway possible. And that site is good for anything you need as well.
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