I've kept fresh water aquariums for the past 7 years but recently took the plunge into marine tanks. I've had the tank up for two weeks now (cycled in two days with live Fiji Rock and sand) and got a snowflake moray eel last week and today just got a juv. Clown Triggerfish. I'm one happy man, those suckers are hard to find when they are babies.

Pictures coming soon, if anybody is interested...

 

I think that evan does if I'm not mistaken.

 

I kept as many as 6 freshwater tanks for many years....one community, and several cichlid tanks. Had a beautiful electric blue that fetched $70 when I had to sell him, as well as a Green Terror that loved my wife -- she could hand feed him and scratch his head. I was really into the various plecostamuses (plecostami ?) at the height of my hobby. Then I moved across several states, sold my stock and haven't gotten back into it. I've everything I need for up to a 250 gallon or so if I ever get motivated to buy another tank. I've been considering Discus (esp. several of the Jack Wattley's that are downright gorgeous!!) Get those pics of your saltwater tank up -- I'd love to see it! Do you run a UV sterilizer?

 

here it is...

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The ocean is huge and there isn't as much (any)variation as there is will the lakes and rivers the freshwater fish come from. But, so far so EASY! The trick is to do plenty of research BEFORE you begin and then start. You'll save alot of money and time that way.

As far as cichlids, they are the coolest freshwater fish IMO. I have a small 10g tank in my room here that is reminisent of Lake Mali (sp?) I have 2 Jeweled, 2 Aratus (still juv.), Kenyi, True Electric blue Johanni and Bruchardi (sp?) Those are all cichlids. Also, I have a synodontus multipuctatus (aka Bull Shark) This think is sweet!

As far as my new saltwater setup, no UV sterilizer needed. I'm doing a fish only tank with some of the most hardy trigger fish available which are practicaly immune to diesease and ick. When stocked my small 30L with contain a Clown Trigger, Huma Huma (aka Picasso) Trigger, Flame or Emperor Angel and the Snowflake moray eel.

I say you get that 250g up and running. The more gallons the easier it is, especially with saltwater. If you do a Fish Only tank it won't be much work! Reef tanks are when it starts getting hard and plus you can't have any really aggresive fish like the trigger fish. If you want I'll give you the sites I used for research.

Pictures coming soon....Gotta wait two days until I can turn the light back on. Gonna let my little $200 clown trigger realy aclimate.

 

Ok, what you got in there?

 

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Is the height of the gravel I see what you got or is there more below? Interested to know what you got in there and if you have a DSB (deep sand bed)?

 

Naso Tang
Banggai Cardinal
pair of Ocellaris Clowns
pair of Purple Firefish
2 clams, one crocea, one derasa
open brain coral
closed brain coral
2 rose anemones (E. Quadricolor)
various Acropora
Trumpet coral
Frogspawn coral
Torch coral
Hynophora
Green star polyps
7 varieties of mushroom anemones
3 types of starfish
hermits
snails
120 lbs of Savaii (Samoan) live rock
160 lbs of sand
probably some things I forgot
a whole lot of gizmos
a generator (I live in California.)

 

Hey Ted, how did that generator setup turn out?