Saltwater aquarium

[Irongrip400]

Any of y’all have them in your office or home, for stress relieving purposes?  I’m typically not one to keep an animal, but I thought about getting one and keep a few fish and coral in it. It’s said they reduce blood pressure and stress.

[The Scott]

Any of y’all have them in your office or home, for stress relieving purposes?  I’m typically not one to keep an animal, but I thought about getting one and keep a few fish and coral in it. It’s said they reduce blood pressure and stress.

It's really difficult to keep those things going and they can be very expensive.  I never did saltwater but some of my cousins did and it was both frustrating and fun for them.  A certain mentally challenged kid once poured soap into one of his cousin's saltwater tanks (it was pretty big) because he thought it was dirty and wanted to help clean it so he could see the fish better.  Yeah...I got into trouble and from what I recall, my cousin was really pissed off but I was 6 or so years old and meant well.   I took out the entire aquarium but my cousin was very kind and didn't beat me senseless.  My dad helped pay for new fish and whatever else I killed in that tank and in later years he would jokingly bring it up at our occasional family get togethers. 

I think you will enjoy the hobby. 

[chaos]

Any of y’all have them in your office or home, for stress relieving purposes?  I’m typically not one to keep an animal, but I thought about getting one and keep a few fish and coral in it. It’s said they reduce blood pressure and stress.

It's expensive but the new technology with dosing is insane but they are amazing to watch and establish. I wish I still had mine.

[wes]

I`ve got 5 freshwater aquariums at the moment.

Been into fishkeeping since 1987 and have owned every fish imaginable at one time or another.

Have set up many saltwater tanks......people think it`s hard but as long as you have a Hydrometer and get the PH and specific gravity right and do partial water changes periodically it` not hard at all.

Just make sure you buy a good salt mix.

[wes]

Keeping live coral alive can be difficult unless you set up a reef tank which is very expensive.

I used to go to Boston buy an $80.00 saltwater fish and find it belly up in the AM.

They give you a 4 day return for a dead frehwater fih but if your saltwater fish dies your shit out of luck.

This was how it used to be anyway.

[wes]

It's really difficult to keep those things going and they can be very expensive.  I never did saltwater but some of my cousins did and it was both frustrating and fun for them.  A certain mentally challenged kid once poured soap into one of his cousin's saltwater tanks (it was pretty big) because he thought it was dirty and wanted to help clean it so he could see the fish better.  Yeah...I got into trouble and from what I recall, my cousin was really pissed off but I was 6 or so years old and meant well.   I took out the entire aquarium but my cousin was very kind and didn't beat me senseless.  My dad helped pay for new fish and whatever else I killed in that tank and in later years he would jokingly bring it up at our occasional family get togethers. 

I think you will enjoy the hobby. 

It`s not that hard,you get a 5 gallon bucket,add salt,measre the salinity/specific gravity with a hydrometer until you get it right then put it in your tank.

It` imperative to do partial water changes periodically for any tank this will depend on how heavily it is stocked,how big the tank is,and how often you feed your fish...........removes waste,ammonia,detritous, and nitrates.

There`s a lot to know and you`ll make a shitload of mistakes along the way until you get it down pat.

[The Scott]

It`s not that hard,you get a 5 gallon bucket,add salt,measre the salinity/specific gravity with a hydrometer until you get it right then put it in your tank.

It` imperative to do partial water changes periodically for any tank this will depend on how heavily it is stocked,how big the tank is,and how often you feed your fish...........removes waste,ammonia,detritous, and nitrates.

There`s a lot to know and you`ll make a shitload of mistakes along the way until you get it down pat.

Over the years I tried to have fish but was never successful at it.  Years ago my wife raised goldfish and some of them got quite large (about 4 inches or so in body length) and they were the fancy finned kind.  I think it is relaxing hobby but I am not good with that sort of thing. I can reliably feed a dog, cat or myself but that's about it.

[chaos]

It`s not that hard,you get a 5 gallon bucket,add salt,measre the salinity/specific gravity with a hydrometer until you get it right then put it in your tank.

It` imperative to do partial water changes periodically for any tank this will depend on how heavily it is stocked,how big the tank is,and how often you feed your fish...........removes waste,ammonia,detritous, and nitrates.

There`s a lot to know and you`ll make a shitload of mistakes along the way until you get it down pat.

It's even easier than that now with the right investment everything has gone digital and automatic, all levels are monitored electronically and nutrients are added automatically as needed. It's become super easy but more expensive for set up. Out here tons of fish and corals are captive bred and fragged.

[ThisisOverload]

I have a 100 gal fresh with Cichlids.

Amazing fish.

[wes]

I have a 100 gal fresh with Cichlids.

Amazing fish.

I love Cichlids but some get huge and are very territorial.

When I first got into the hobby I mixed a bunch of large Cichlids together..............it was like a warzone.

I know better now.

[IroNat]

I had a goldfish once but he died.

[Darren Avey]

I have a pet great white shark in a massive aquarium on my ranch

[Humble Narcissist]

I have a pet great white shark in a massive aquarium on my ranch

Racist!  Are you calling him great just because he's white?

[deadz]

As much work as a dog, no thanks.

[Ssxa]

Lots of good options to start out with smaller tanks. Biocubes and nano reef tanks are a good place to start. Bigger tanks are easier to maintain over the long haul though.

[ThisisOverload]

I love Cichlids but some get huge and are very territorial.

When I first got into the hobby I mixed a bunch of large Cichlids together..............it was like a warzone.

I know better now.

They are aggressive and very territorial!

That's why i like them.

You can only mix certain breeds together or it gets nasty.

I had a massive Cichlid (don't remember the breed) that was the size of my hand.

It was killing everything. My friend had a tank with Oscars and other huge freshwater fish.

I gave it to him and he placed in his tank.

Within 2 weeks it killed almost everything.

There is a website, i forget the name, that helps you mix and match them.

They can also breed very fast. Had some convict cichlids that multiplied exponentially.

Ended up having to get a new tank to transfer to and then get rid of all the convicts.

[Grape Ape]

It’s said they reduce blood pressure and stress.

I'd guess there are better was to accomplish this.

[ThisisOverload]

I'd guess there are better was to accomplish this.

Indeed.

They do help you to relax and just focus on the fish, but i doubt there are any real health benefits from having a fish tank.

[funk51]

get a real pet.

[POB]

I love Cichlids but some get huge and are very territorial.

When I first got into the hobby I mixed a bunch of large Cichlids together..............it was like a warzone.

I know better now.

Same and to feed them I’d throw 100 good fish a week in there they got big fast and started eating each other

[Van_Bilderass]

Which getbig members would you like to have in an aquarium?

[wes]

They are aggressive and very territorial!

That's why i like them.

You can only mix certain breeds together or it gets nasty.

I had a massive Cichlid (don't remember the breed) that was the size of my hand.

It was killing everything. My friend had a tank with Oscars and other huge freshwater fish.

I gave it to him and he placed in his tank.

Within 2 weeks it killed almost everything.

There is a website, i forget the name, that helps you mix and match them.

They can also breed very fast. Had some convict cichlids that multiplied exponentially.

Ended up having to get a new tank to transfer to and then get rid of all the convicts.

Believe me,I know which ones to mix and match thee days after many fights and some killings back in the day.

Have had 2 Oscars over 12 inches long.....had an Arrowanna that was 27 inches long.....had to sell him to a Chinese restaurant that had a 300 gallon tank....all I had at the time was a 100 gallon tank which got too small for him.....he was looking at my expensive fish like they were on the menu....I used to feed him live mice.....Google Arrowana if you`re not familiar with the fish.

 I bought him as a baby with an egg sack which they feed from when young still on him for 6.99 at 4 inches long.... and the Chinese dude gave me 100.00 when he was 27 inches long.................tha nks buddy. 

Another aggressive fucker is the Red Devil and a Texas Cichlid can be mean too and Green Terrors.

My monster fish days are all gone................my only Cichlids these days are Angel fish................my Jack Dempsey killed my Chocolate Cichlid and that`s when I quit the monster fish obsesion...........why get them if they are just gonna` beat the fuck out of each other...............and kill each other?

Great hobby though................it helps to keep me sane..... and I`m legit crazy....got the papers to prove it..... so I need all the help I can get.  LOL 

[ThisisOverload]

Believe me,I know which ones to mix and match thee days after many fights and some killings back in the day.

Have had 2 Oscars over 12 inches long.....had an Arrowanna that was 27 inches long.....had to sell him to a Chinese restaurant that had a 300 gallon tank....all I had at the time was a 100 gallon tank which got too small for him.....he was looking at my expensive fish like they were on the menu....I used to feed him live mice.....Google Arrowana if you`re not familiar with the fish.

 I bought him as a baby with an egg sack which they feed from when young still on him for 6.99 at 4 inches long.... and the Chinese dude gave me 100.00 when he was 27 inches long.................tha nks buddy. 

Another aggressive fucker is the Red Devil and a Texas Cichlid can be mean too and Green Terrors.

My monster fish days are all gone................my only Cichlids these days are Angel fish................my Jack Dempsey killed my Chocolate Cichlid and that`s when I quit the monster fish obsesion...........why get them if they are just gonna` beat the fuck out of each other...............and kill each other?

Great hobby though................it helps to keep me sane..... and I`m legit crazy....got the papers to prove it..... so I need all the help I can get.  LOL 

The arrowana looks cool, but don't think i'll get one anytime soon.

I've had Jack Dempseys, beautiful fish. Had plenty of Firemouth Cichlids.

I still have a 100 gal with Cichlids, but they are very selective breeds. I buy them from a guy in Arizona, they are expensive but never die. Some of them are over 8 years old.

I like the colors they get when the water is right and the food works. Certain times of the year they glow.

There is a 10" ghost knife fish in there too, but he has a lot of places to hide.

The only fish that can legitimately swim backwards in a straight line.

Looks like an eel.

I have this awesome castle i bought like 15 years ago, the knife fish fits inside perfectly.

The cichlids seem to leave him alone, plus he's really fast.

I've had tanks since i was an infant. Parents were big into animals. I grew up on a farm.

Just watch the fish for a while, it does have a calming effect for a short period of time.

[wes]

The arrowana looks cool, but don't think i'll get one anytime soon.

I've had Jack Dempseys, beautiful fish. Had plenty of Firemouth Cichlids.

I still have a 100 gal with Cichlids, but they are very selective breeds. I buy them from a guy in Arizona, they are expensive but never die. Some of them are over 8 years old.

I like the colors they get when the water is right and the food works. Certain times of the year they glow.

There is a 10" ghost knife fish in there too, but he has a lot of places to hide.

The only fish that can legitimately swim backwards in a straight line.

Looks like an eel.

I have this awesome castle i bought like 15 years ago, the knife fish fits inside perfectly.

The cichlids seem to leave him alone, plus he's really fast.

I've had tanks since i was an infant. Parents were big into animals. I grew up on a farm.

Just watch the fish for a while, it does have a calming effect for a short period of time.

Yeah male Dempseys get beautiful.

For some reason I could never get Firemouths to grow or to live long.

I`ve had a ghost Knife and a Clown Knife......the Clown Knife has spots and gets fucking huge.

Right now in one of my tanks I have four  Ctenopomas Google them.....I can pet their sides and handfeed them earthworms.............. ...fuckers got big ....got them at one inch size now they have to be at least 8 inches.........great fish you should look into them.......they are also called a Climbing Perch.....no clue as to why, and some call them African Leaf Fish.