I want to start an Aquarium...

The saltwater Pico is already clearing up nicely...and I found a hitchhiker in the tank! A little tiny copepod, and where there is one, there must be more!

I was thinking about adding a bamboo shrimp to the freshwater tank, with just the 2 goldfish in there, do you think this is a bad idea?? I desperately need to get some decorations in there too, rocks and stuff.....

Gastanker said:

Tank is looking killer! Uhg, I am really going to have to get a salt water set-up at some point - damn their high expenses!! Looks like you didn't have to fragment your live rock but for the future - yes you can break it up.

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Yeah, my rock is a little large, I have 4.5lbs. of live rock in that tank, but it comees close to the surface in the middle...Oh well, I have plenty of open sand in the front left for a zoa garden...lol...It's a 3 gallon tank, but the rocks and sand were 60 bucks alone! Well, I like it, and a pico reef is definately a cheaper initial investment than a larger saltwater tank. I can't imagine trying to buy 55 lbs. of live rock...lol...into the hundreds just for rocks and sand....

Goldfish will try to eat/gnaw on anything that fits in their mouth. There is a good chance a bamboo shrimp would survive with the goldfish but I doubt it would be very happy about it. I can't imagine the goldfish not trying to pick on it.

Gastanker said:

Goldfish will try to eat/gnaw on anything that fits in their mouth. There is a good chance a bamboo shrimp would survive with the goldfish but I doubt it would be very happy about it. I can't imagine the goldfish not trying to pick on it.

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I'm at petco, and decided to check if you responded before I make my purchase, glad i did, I'll wait till the tank is cycled and I have my community fish in there... Thanks!

[video=youtube;5AkLQAMDJaM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AkLQAMDJaM[/video]

So excited about my brand new $45 pet rocks!! Tank clearing up nicely, and the guy at the fish store swears that with the live sand, cured rock, and water straight out of his display tank I don't need to cycel and I can stard adding corals and livestock right away...While wary about this, I'll get my Marine Master test kit, and if water levels are stable for the next few days, I might try to add some stuff Saturday...More likely Monday(my day off)

Looking awesome!

Id agree with your local guy - you added 100% cycled water, live sand, and live rock. All of these are already biologically active and with such a small filter it should be up and running almost immediately. The live sand itself acts as a huge filter so even if your HOB isn't completely colonized you should still be safe.

Its still always smart to start with cheap livestock

Gastanker said:

Looking awesome!

Id agree with your local guy - you added 100% cycled water, live sand, and live rock. All of these are already biologically active and with such a small filter it should be up and running almost immediately. The live sand itself acts as a huge filter so even if your HOB isn't completely colonized you should still be safe.

Its still always smart to start with cheap livestock

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Awesome! Pluis, it turns out one of the leading mail order services for corals is located like 30 seconds from the LFS I got my live rock at! Vivid Aquariums! So these guys have TONS of frags and everything else I need for saltwater...I looked for them yesterday, but couldn't find them...But now I know exactly where they're located...I might even bring home a piece of coral and some inverts today!!

P.S.-The water and live rock were cycled, and the live sand came in a bag, but the bag had water in it and says instant cycling on it...

EXCITING P.S.-I was checking out the pico last night and I saw 2 bristleworms...Not sure if they're the nuisance type or not, but one of them was moving FAST! Stoked to see any sort of life in my tank at all!!

fuckin bomb bro im hella jealous!! i want salt water so bad!! but hey good for you buddy shit looks great! glad you wer able to get live everything for a quick set up.

nice job. the music on that video was a little dramatic but i like.

medicalmaryjane said:

nice job. the music on that video was a little dramatic but i like.

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It's underwater music

Here's the tank my mother in law gave me. 70 gal. with 2 360 bio-wheel whisper's. It's in my garage. Sorry my other woman got in the way lol. I have it in the garage cause we'll be moving withing the next 3 months so no sense in setting it up & tearing back down when I'm just getting biological filtration established. I plan on stocking it with some Frontosas, a Gold Nugget, Maybe a couple of fire mouths, & some Clown Loaches.

Calidadd said:

Here's the tank my mother in law gave me. 70 gal. with 2 360 bio-wheel whisper's. It's in my garage. Sorry my other woman got in the way lol. I have it in the garage cause we'll be moving withing the next 3 months so no sense in setting it up & tearing back down when I'm just getting biological filtration established. I plan on stocking it with some Frontosas, a Gold Nugget, Maybe a couple of fire mouths, & some Clown Loaches.

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Man, that thing is freaking sweet...lol...one step at a time, though I'm already dreaming of my next Pico reef...lol...I'm digging the freshwater fish, but since I love growing pot soooooo much, I think growing corals is what I'm the most excited about! So funny that my 3 gallon tank is giving me so much more joy than the 36 gallon tank, but thats just because I'm stuck with just goldfish till my cycle is over on the freshwater.....

Thanks Metasynth. I had a 36 corner aquarium. I had fancy goldfish in it. It was one of my favs. Growing herb has taught me to be patient lol. I would love to set my tank up right now!!! lol. Best of luck.

Calidadd said:

Here's the tank my mother in law gave me. 70 gal. with 2 360 bio-wheel whisper's. It's in my garage. Sorry my other woman got in the way lol. I have it in the garage cause we'll be moving withing the next 3 months so no sense in setting it up & tearing back down when I'm just getting biological filtration established. I plan on stocking it with some Frontosas, a Gold Nugget, Maybe a couple of fire mouths, & some Clown Loaches.

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That's badass. I got a couple Clown Loaches to rid my tank of nuisance snails. They did the trick and have become some of my favorite fish.

Thanks Neo. Imagine what it will look like fully stocked. Great way to enjoy a fresh harvest!

I wonder if there are any small aquarium fish that would taste half decent salted. Not sure why but a large tank full of a massive number of live bearers sounds like a ton of fun as a practical source for organic tea water as well as a source of food. Some fish breed like nuts - why not treat them like freshwater anchovies?

just be sure to use live or freeze dried food (worms, feeder fish). No chemical base food (flakes, pellets).

My salty tested 0 for ammonia and 0 for nitrite, some nitrates but I just did a large water change...Specific gravity is at 1.024, I'm gonna add a CUC tomorrow...The freshwater tank is still going, my goldfish are loving the 36 gallons to themselves...Shouldn't be long now till I can set it up the way I want to!

lol, im not sure i want to get a bigger tank than my 48 gallon till i settle in a permanent home carrying it up 3 stairs was "fun" ("careful! careful! i really dont to sacrifice my bathtub for months while i save for a new tank!"really expensive around here..)

I'm same as you SSO, I have a 70gl. in my garage. I know I'll be moving within 3 months, so kinda pointless to set up right now :/