questions ... i'm new 2 salt

[new2natives]

i've been tossing around the idea of trying out saltwater this winter when i get bored. i have A LOT of planning and research to do between now and then, but i do have a couple questions.


my plan is to do a FOWLR system, but i'm not 100% sure. that may turn out to be a little TOO boring???


1) if i'm torn between using a standard 75g, or a 100 (72"x18"x18"), which would you recommend using for someone brand new to salt?

2) i haven't thought a whole lot into my stock yet, but its going to be pretty basic i think. but if i have 6-10 small-medium nonaggressive fish, can i keep any kind of trigger? i really like the way they look, but if i cant keep it, i wont be heartbroken.

3) if i go with the 100, how many fish can i get in there? i know i want 1 goby, 2 clowns, a tang or two, i would like one of the fancy colorful lobsters, maybe a puffer/cowfish/boxfish, and possibly a trigger. and thats as far as i've gotten ...

4) if i decide to do corals, or a reef tank, is it possible to have anemones, other stuff growing without having several hundred dollars wrapped up in lighting?

5) i've noticed the small "frags" for sale at a local reef retailer, and they are pretty small pieces. how fast do they typically grow?

 

[BIGgourami]

i've been tossing around the idea of trying out saltwater this winter when i get bored. i have A LOT of planning and research to do between now and then, but i do have a couple questions.
good

my plan is to do a FOWLR system, but i'm not 100% sure. that may turn out to be a little TOO boring???
if you stock it like a reef tank you can just get good lights then add coral later... just a suggestion

1) if i'm torn between using a standard 75g, or a 100 (72"x18"x18"), which would you recommend using for someone brand new to salt?
bigger is always better (i'm assuming you can AFFORD either)

2) i haven't thought a whole lot into my stock yet, but its going to be pretty basic i think. but if i have 6-10 small-medium nonaggressive fish, can i keep any kind of trigger? i really like the way they look, but if i cant keep it, i wont be heartbroken.
sure, a blue jaw is fairly small and fairly peaceful/reef safe

3) if i go with the 100, how many fish can i get in there? i know i want 1 goby, 2 clowns, a tang or two, i would like one of the fancy colorful lobsters, maybe a puffer/cowfish/boxfish, and possibly a trigger. and thats as far as i've gotten ...
small fish and large preds like puffers and triggers don't mix... pick one or the other (unless you wanted a sharpnose puffer instead of the porc/box and a file instead of a trigger)

4) if i decide to do corals, or a reef tank, is it possible to have anemones, other stuff growing without having several hundred dollars wrapped up in lighting?
not really
T5's are fairly powerful and fairly cheap.. depeding what corals you wanted a 4 bulb would do and only cost about $400

5) i've noticed the small "frags" for sale at a local reef retailer, and they are pretty small pieces. how fast do they typically grow?

depends what kind of coral really... some relatively fast some very slow

 

[mr.reef24]

i've been tossing around the idea of trying out saltwater this winter when i get bored. i have A LOT of planning and research to do between now and then, but i do have a couple questions.


my plan is to do a FOWLR system, but i'm not 100% sure. that may turn out to be a little TOO boring??? It depend's on your like's and dislikes do you like a reef or predator or fish only?


1) if i'm torn between using a standard 75g, or a 100 (72"x18"x18"), which would you recommend using for someone brand new to salt? I would start with the biggest tank you can afford due to the tank will be more forgiving with more water then a small tank which can crash easily.

2) i haven't thought a whole lot into my stock yet, but its going to be pretty basic i think. but if i have 6-10 small-medium nonaggressive fish, can i keep any kind of trigger? i really like the way they look, but if i cant keep it, i wont be heartbroken. I would research, research as much as you can on the type of fish you like and compatibility.

3) if i go with the 100, how many fish can i get in there? i know i want 1 goby, 2 clowns, a tang or two, i would like one of the fancy colorful lobsters, maybe a puffer/cowfish/boxfish, and possibly a trigger. and thats as far as i've gotten ... puffer and trigger would eat lobster for lunch cowfish and boxfish are very very very difficult for new hobbyist even experienced one's as well

4) if i decide to do corals, or a reef tank, is it possible to have anemones, other stuff growing without having several hundred dollars wrapped up in lighting? depending on what coral's anemones move alot and can sting your prized coral's so consider that when thinking about an anemone. Your lighting will depend on the type of corals' you plan to keep.

5) i've noticed the small "frags" for sale at a local reef retailer, and they are pretty small pieces. how fast do they typically grow? Depend's on water quality, lighting, food, care, etc...

need anymore help send me a private message.

mr.reef24

 

[snyder810]

i've been tossing around the idea of trying out saltwater this winter when i get bored. i have A LOT of planning and research to do between now and then, but i do have a couple questions.


my plan is to do a FOWLR system, but i'm not 100% sure. that may turn out to be a little TOO boring???
nah salt tanks are hard to make boring

1) if i'm torn between using a standard 75g, or a 100 (72"x18"x18"), which would you recommend using for someone brand new to salt?
as stated bigger is better, but salt tanks get expensive quick with live rock, bigger skimmer, etc
2) i haven't thought a whole lot into my stock yet, but its going to be pretty basic i think. but if i have 6-10 small-medium nonaggressive fish, can i keep any kind of trigger? i really like the way they look, but if i cant keep it, i wont be heartbroken.
no you can't keep just any trigger with small fish, and there really aren't the "aggressive" and "non-aggressive" labels in salt more like this will go with this but not that
3) if i go with the 100, how many fish can i get in there? i know i want 1 goby, 2 clowns, a tang or two, i would like one of the fancy colorful lobsters, maybe a puffer/cowfish/boxfish, and possibly a trigger. and thats as far as i've gotten ...
do some more research on specific fish you'd like because tangs (well all groups) come in a broad range of temperments and size, and as stated i'd stay away from cow/boxfish.
4) if i decide to do corals, or a reef tank, is it possible to have anemones, other stuff growing without having several hundred dollars wrapped up in lighting?
things like mushrooms and polyps wouldn't need extreme light but even say t5 lighting for a 6ft tank is gonna cost ya a bit.
5) i've noticed the small "frags" for sale at a local reef retailer, and they are pretty small pieces. how fast do they typically grow?

as stated depends on type of coral