Anyone know about keeping marine fish?

[YUN]

I've had experience with owning just standard gold fish tank. Hubby has owned a tropical fish tank and Koi pond before.

I've always loved coral and marine fish and naturally after watching "Finding Nemo" a few years ago (one of my fav Disney films)...I wanted a tank of my very own.

Due to lack of funds and knowledge - I hesitated in getting a marine tank as I know they are a) hardest fish to look after, b) very expensive, c) need to dedicate a lot of time and effort.

I can't put it off anymore...so have decided to invest.
After research - my "Nemo Tank" isn't going to happen as most of the fish cannot actually live together in the same tank (very disappointed in Disney for portraying 'fake' info!). The idea is to probably get some Clown Fishes, Basslets and Chromis.

Anyone else have experience or own a marine tank?
Any pointers??
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Meet the team that will win, Blade, Razor, Blazer and my personal assistant, Michelle and from Romanovia - Fran Stalinovskovichdavidovitchsky
~ * CBT - 13/01/08 --> Theory 24/05/08 --> Squished by lorries, brand new CBR125(2000miles) write-off 04/06/06 --> DAS booked 02-04/08/08 * --> DAS passed 05/08/08 * --> VFR400 (aka 'Mike') ~

[Bloggsy]

I have only kept Tropical fish, have you searched for a Marine Fish site on the net.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I've had fresh water tropical in the past.

Yes they are very hard to keep from my understanding.

There are several useful sites on the net about it, so a simple google should see you submerged in info about them.
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[D O G]

I had a marine tank for a couple of years.

My advice is don't do it. You need massive filtration, a lot of salt and water changes (which are a pain), time and money. Fish are expensive and you will probably kill a lot initially.

Get a tropical setup first, much easier than marine, but more interesting than goldfish and a decent step up. If you think you can handle more, then go marine.

How big is your tank? Ours was just over 100L, which I reckon is about half what you really need. It could only take 4/5 fish, which is not particularly great.

[Darth]

Have been keeping tropical for a couple years now and look into marine set ups now and again but each time i come to the conclusion that i cant really be bothered with the expense and hassle involved in attempting to set one up. Swear i will do it some day though!
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Harold_Shand wrote: I suppose it's like anything, you get your fingers burned when you start out, you learn from it and eventually become a complete arsehole about the whole thing.

[SlimRick]

I have a marine tank with a Blue Tang (Dory), Clown (Nemo), Valentini Puffer, cleaner shrimp, loads of crabs & starfish living quite happily together.

[instigator]

I can confirm that they are indeed an awful lot of hassle. Sure they look fantastic, so much better than a tropical tank - but on a moderate income, the cost of the fish, salt, equipment and time to keep it in ship shape is too much. I used to have a few clown fish, cleaner shrimp, mandarin goby (£50!!!) and a regal tang if i remember correctly. I had all of that as a teenager, quite how I got by I'll never know.

And I would certainly only get one if I owned the house I was living in, not renting. The idea of having to move a mature marine tank to a new location would give me a cold sweat. I shudder at the thought.

[YUN]

Thanks guys for all the advice
I've been putting off getting a tank for YEARS....so thought now would be best time to start one up.
I'm starting SMALL ...so probably just 3-4 fish and a few vertebrates.
Of course, if it goes well...i'll upgrade to a bigger tank with corals etc too.

INSTIGATOR: I own the house and won't be moving until a few years time but, I'm with you there......my idea is to get the smallest tank ideal for a few SMALL marine fish for a few reasons. But the idea of moving to a new home is one of them - how do I take the fish??

SlimRick: How big is your tank? I was advised that I shouldn't get a Blue Tang as they grow pretty big and they need minimum of 180L tank to swim!! I was under the impression that Puffers could not live with Vertebrates as they eat them!!
____________________
Meet the team that will win, Blade, Razor, Blazer and my personal assistant, Michelle and from Romanovia - Fran Stalinovskovichdavidovitchsky
~ * CBT - 13/01/08 --> Theory 24/05/08 --> Squished by lorries, brand new CBR125(2000miles) write-off 04/06/06 --> DAS booked 02-04/08/08 * --> DAS passed 05/08/08 * --> VFR400 (aka 'Mike') ~

[D O G]

[SlimRick]

[YUN]