Okay, I need input!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the deal, I've recently picked up at least 1 job, maybe 2. I found a job so I could support my tank habit. Now I need to start planning my next build. That's where you fine poeple come in. I can't decided, I love all kinds of tanks. I will have a seahorse tank, as well as sharks and other predators. No not in the same tank. This is where I'm getting stuck. What do I want next?

I've only been in the hobby 8 months, so it can't be that advanced. I like a small challenge though. I'm thinking I can get something bigger and move tanks, leaving my 55gal open as maybe a species tank. Or I can still get a bigger tank and do something different. Wow I'm really preoccupied w/ size, you'd think I was a guy. Really I just want a lot of room.

I need all input. Everything from size of the DT to sump size and planning of live stock. Please give suggestions.

 

LOL.

How big of a tank can your budget afford? Pick what you like best and go from there. The size of your sump/fuge will depend on the size of the tank. I say, the bigger, the better!

 

Well first off your going to need a very large tank if your thinking about sharks. I would say 200G plus. with a lot of sand bed.

 

How much space do you have to work with?
No matter if you're a guy or a girl, size ALWAYS matters in this hobby

 

Seahorses are supposed to be very fragile and imo you need a 300+ tank for sharks so they don't get too crammed in and have enough room to swim and grow.

If you are looking for a small challenge I'd set up a tank that would be good for a mandarin or 2 and get one a year or so after it has been established. Or if you want something more hands on, look into finding a peaceful green spotted puffer maybe, since you have to often feed him snails or something else with a hard shell.

 

If you looking for a challange maybe some high end corals to grow and frag and feed your hobby.

Exotic saltwater animals such as sharks and seahorses are more of a long term commitment than a challange.

Corals you can experiment with: Chemistry, lighting, flow............. fragging techique.

 

Whoa sharks? You can always buy like a 6000 gallon pool that you get from like toysrus XD but im saying that because on the forum monsterfishkeepers this guy kept like 2 iridescent shraks like 3 feet each in there with a pretty big red tail catfish. but anyway that'd probably be too much work for a shark because they could easily jump out and keeping the heat in the pool and a good level might be tough. Anyway why not a mantis shrimp tank? If you want to be "different" I'm thinking jellyfish, seahorses, mantis shrimp, stingrays, and sharks.

 

Try a mantis shrimp! They're awesomely smart and will recognize you through the glass after it gets used to you. Very interesting creatures. All you need is a 10 gallon tank, for a super roomy habitat for it. You can feed him snails, hermits, crabs. Reefmonkey had one and he was very happy with her. She died since his little 4 year old gave her a salt overdose when showing another kid how to mix salt and add to the tank.

Here's his thread: http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/rms-halfmoon-mantis-palace-r-i-p-carnicera-88509.html

 

This is planing and ideas. Sharks are probably years down the road. Researching sea horses at the moment. Not ready for them yet, but I do like the puffer idea. If I moved my reef to a bigger tank, would a 55 gal be good for a puffer? And what else can live in peace w/ puffers?

(the shark tank is the dream down the road) I won't consider them w/ less than a 500gal. I don't want to start w/ a 200gal and than have to upgrade, I'd prefer to be ready all the way when I take on the sharks. sounds cheaper to start them w/ a big tank, than to build a new 1 when they out grow 1

Keep the ideas flowing. IDK what size tank to get, w/ a job to pay for the hobby I can do a lot. Maybe 225gal?

 

Puffers are very individual. In general, puffers are recommended to be kept with anything besides each other like most marine fish. Some green spotted puffers (not to be confused with figure eight puffers which need brackish water but don't do well in full marine) will get along with anything that isn't natural food. When I first got Ralph, I actually picked up 2 but as soon as I fed them, the other started to harass Ralph and from then on constantly searched for him in the corners and bit him. Poor Ralph never tried to fight back. Within an hour of them not working things out I took the aggressive one out and returned it. Luckily Ralph wasn't really hurt yet but I'm sure he would have died if I hadn't removed the other. If you want a green spotted, I suggest it be the second fish so you can see from the beginning how aggressive it is. Green spotteds get 6" though which might not fit a 55 the best, since they are football shaped and can't bend like most fish. A 75+ would be good so he/she could turn around more easily. I have a smaller tank but I'm in college and luckily these guys grow slow (they can't even reproduce for the first 7 years of their life). I love these fish though. They have A LOT of personality and their bellies turn white when they are happy and gray when they are upset. You can't keep any crabs or shrimp with them because they will either eat them or if it is too big it will hover around one and tear off its legs. Some people can keep giant turbo snails with them but I put one in the size of Ralph and he started to harass the thing even though he couldn't eat it so we had to return it. You also might get one in freshwater but you can convert them to saltwater in a day without problems.

Porcupines are cool too but they get 1-2 feet depending on inner species so they are probably out since as far as I know no one knows how to tell them apart.

Valentinis are also popular and I believe some of them don't go after shrimp or crabs, maybe all. I don't know to much about them except they only get 3-4".

Spiny box puffers are really cute too. They get 10" but if you get a 200 tank that should be fine I would think. I saw one at Petco and he wiggles his butt as he swam. I was never so tempted to buy a fish I couldn't have. I have a video of him on youtube I'll find the link.

YouTube - Spiny Puff