Salt Water Reef Tanks
We all have our hobbies and passions and I wanted to begin sharing some of mine with you guys in a new category named ” Out of Bounds ” As golfers I think that some may be intrigued by bit of info & opinion here and there about different topics that may suit your fancy and that definitely suit mine.
Besides Golf I have a bunch of different hobbies and one of them is Fish, yes of course eating them but also relaxing in front of my display tank. Growing up in Hawaii I have been around the reef and ocean since I was a child where its very easy to drive down and snag rocks and fish for your own tank.
Being in Hawaii also causes some difficulties when your a salt water fish tank enthusiast as they have coral reef laws that make it difficult to source or harvest exactly what you want. I no longer live on the islands but that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying salt water fish tanks. In fact being stateside I found the selection and availability is much larger. Now days with Craigs List and the economy not in the greatest of shape your able to take advantage of great deals on what would otherwise be a very expensive hobby to start up if you were to pay brand new at retail prices.
Research & Paitence
It’s not an easy hobby and requires a lot of patience, planning, and research. I have failed countless times for more reasons than I can remember and it is painful to the pocket book and your heart because each one of these fish over time becomes a part of the family, well almost. They do have their own personalities and if your kind they will eat out of your hand follow you when you walk by and some even kiss your fingers.
There are two types of tanks worth considering in my opinion, Reef tanks which I think are the most desirable or Fish tanks which are also stunning but don’t cost quite the same in up front investment. I personally think its a form of therapy and like animals can increase your life span, just my thought don’t know how much truth there is in that.
A reef tank costs more overall because you need much stronger lights, a chiller for summer months, expensive corals, and to many other devices to get into. A fish tank does require a little more maintenance because fish produce more waste but you can skimp out on some of your equipment. The main reason why you cant have both is because most fish pick and eat the reef.
You can also build an aggressive fish tank or a community tank. I personally enjoy community, you get to watch tribes of hermit crabs go to war, cleaner shrimp become friends with certain fish, and even the occasional goby + shrimp love affair where they build a home and live together. Aggressive fish are also very stunning, a giant lion fish or clown trigger can mesmerize just as well.
It’s basically an ecosystem and you must monitor things like ammonia, nitrate, PH balance, temperature, salinity, calcium and over a dozen other minerals to make sure your tank is able to support itself for the most part. Maintenance can be hectic if your tank is out of whack but if your tank is in tip top shape it boils down to some glass cleaning and a 20% water change every couple of months. The down side is that when you go on vacation it’s not like a dog or a cat where you can put them up in the pet hotel, someone must come to your house and hand feed your aquatic family members and that’s not as simple as dropping some pellets into the water. certain fish require different types of frozen foods, while anemone’s need to be feed shrimp at the end of a stick.
If anyone is interested in learning more or starting a salt water tank and need help please let me know…
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Very much enjoyed this post Chris. Growing up I had as many as 5 tanks going at once, all freshwater though. Always wanted a saltwater tank just never had the means nor time as as a kid. Your fish look simply awesome. Please share more when you’ve got the time.
I, too, really enjoyed your Post, Chris. While in College, I had a Community Fish Tank. To say I developed an attachment to the wonderful inhabitants in the Tank is an understatement. While traveling on a College Tourney, someone (without evil intent, I believe) unplugged everything in the Dorm room and when I returned all of my friends had perished. I was crushed. I never did replace the fish…just dismantled the tank.
Now years later, you have peaked my interest to again build up a Tank.
Hey Guy’s Awesome to hear that you guys have expereince in this. I wasnt sure if anyone would be interested in one of my hobbies outside of golf but besides you guys a few people emailed me with some awesome tanks. Even one very active member who used to build and install them.
Blader > I like fresh water also, If I did have one I would want a 180 – 200 gallon with 1 gigantic Red Dragon Arowana in it. Not legal in the states but if you have a good connection they can be easily brought in. Very expensive but it will grow to the size of your tank and stay that way. A fish that big is like having another member of the family. They have been rumored to eat children in the Amazon!!
Goodsie > Yea Community rules, I’m kinda itching for a reef tank as well but I just can’t get away from the little social interactions that comes with community. My problem has always been owning multiple tangs. My faves are Achillies Tang, Purple Tang, Powder Blue’s and Browns. I have gotten up to 3 total but when adding the 4th two ich’d out and died. Black Percula Clowns are awesome too!
Hi Chris
nice tank!
i use to have a reef system for a few years. not the easiest to maintain but once you get it BALANCED, it’s pretty easy. Unfortunately I lost electricity during the san diego fires a few years back and my 120g tank was gone. lots of money. had lots of high quality marshall island rocks with tons of coralline, a 24in deep tank with starfire glass, mature clowns, school of anthias (one male), a pair of cleaner shrimp that would molt often, cucumber, mean little sump with a calc reactor, 900w of hqi/actinic lighting. the list goes on and on. i use to spend so much time staring and searching and waiting for all the pink at one time i even got an anemones to stay put! wow, i can go on forever. got me all excited. good luck with this new hobby. takes more time than golf!
if you’re ever in san diego, i’m sure we can trade reef equipment for clubs and make it worth your while =)
Hey,
Great looking tank,
I’ve kept tropical before and was thinking of getting into saltwater….
Can you tell us some more info on what fish you have and how the tank is set up…?
chris if you have any time to chit chat I would love to I have had horrible luck with my tank. and would love some advice, or to share some knowledge with me..
thanks linda
I have a 110 gal tank that I had sitting for years. Would like to get it going again with a reef tank, any ideals?
Hi Chris – it;s wonderful to see your pasion for salt water tank. I have a 180 gallon salt water tank with some beautiful fish and few coral and a beautiful tubular ceriantharia. In the past few weeks i bougth a goat fish that dies the following day. Since then I have lost a black and white clown fish ( he had slim all over him). I have started to notice my other fish are have spots on them. We have put some sort of soluction in the tank hoping for the best. Iam starting to question the person who build our underwater sub with a laguna biological filter pad. The sad thing is that the tank ables me to relax and keep in Crohn’s disease somewhat under control. At this point iam so discouraged that any advice from some who knows about the salt water tank would be appricated.
Sincerly Franca Jackson