new to salt water and considering a lionfish

[fluffy9]

Hey there,

So I've had freshwater aquariums in the past, but my boyfriend's really keen on starting up a tank and he's fallen head over heels for this lion fish we saw at an aquarium. Initially, I was like, no way, saltwater is a no-go, but the more I think about it, the more I reckon we could give it a shot. It'd make an awesome early Christmas surprise for him.

I was wondering if someone could help me out with the basics - tank size, I'm happy to start with just the one lion fish, what kind of equipment I need, and what's required for the water. Just the essentials for a newbie setup would be great.

Thanks heaps to whoever responds.

[rileyon]

You'll need to decide on the type of lionfish you want, some can get really big, but the dwarf ones stay pretty small. Do some research, have a good look around online, then we can help you out once you've chosen the type of lionfish you're after.

[fluffy9]

i've just looked at the label and it only said common lionfish, i'm from Australia so we don't have a huge variety to choose from here

[felinxo]

Hey there,

So I've had freshwater aquariums in the past, but my boyfriend's really keen on starting up a tank and he's fallen head over heels for this lion fish we saw at an aquarium. Initially, I was like, no way, saltwater is a no-go, but the more I think about it, the more I reckon we could give it a shot. It'd make an awesome early Christmas surprise for him.

I was wondering if someone could help me out with the basics - tank size, I'm happy to start with just the one lion fish, what kind of equipment I need, and what's required for the water. Just the essentials for a newbie setup would be great.

Thanks heaps to whoever responds.

If we're indeed talking about a Volitans, I'd say a minimum tank size of 18 inches wide and five foot long would be necessary in my opinion. On the other hand, if you're looking at a dwarf lionfish, you could get away with a much smaller tank.

You really need to decide which type of lionfish you're after and how much you're willing to splurge on this Christmas present. I'd recommend checking out some start-up journals for both smaller tanks and the larger ones around five foot. That way, you'll get a better idea of the commitment and costs involved.

[brixo]

Lionfish can be a real challenge, and unfortunately, many are misidentified when sold. I'd recommend starting your research with this article: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/fm/feature/. I've had my fair share of struggles keeping these beautiful fish, so I've documented my experiences in my journal: http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=282326 - you might find it helpful.

From my experience, the Pterois radiata is particularly difficult to keep, while the Volitans can grow up to 18" and require a large tank. If I'm being honest, I think you'd be better off starting with a different species, but before you make any decisions, please read up as much as you can on lionfish and marine keeping in general.

[fluffy9]

thats great thanks for the advice, i've been posting here to make sure i'm on the right track and getting the right info before making the commitment. i'll be heading down to the fish shop either tomorrow or the day after to see what they have to say and then do some more research. i've got a 6 ft by 2ft tank currently not in use, it's been used for tropical fish before - would i be able to set this up as a marine tank or would that be a bad idea?

[rileyon]

6x2x2 would be a great starting point for a marine tank, and it's even better that you already have one on hand. However, I do want to caution you that if you've ever used copper in this tank during its freshwater days, it's going to be a major issue for a reef setup or keeping inverts.

[fluffy9]

no havnt had copper in the tank.
so iv got the tank, how do i go about setting it up for marine use and what equipment do i need that's different to what i had for tropical fish?

[brixo]

Hey there,

So I've had freshwater aquariums in the past, but my boyfriend's really keen on starting up a tank and he's fallen head over heels for this lion fish we saw at an aquarium. Initially, I was like, no way, saltwater is a no-go, but the more I think about it, the more I reckon we could give it a shot. It'd make an awesome early Christmas surprise for him.

I was wondering if someone could help me out with the basics - tank size, I'm happy to start with just the one lion fish, what kind of equipment I need, and what's required for the water. Just the essentials for a newbie setup would be great.

Thanks heaps to whoever responds.

If you're planning on keeping a FOWLR tank, lighting isn't a major concern. Lionfish aren't fans of bright lights, I personally run 3 T8 marine whites and 1 marine blue. A good protein skimmer is essential, lionfish are messy eaters, something like a Deltic MCE 600 would be a great choice. You'll also need powerheads, but not too many, around 15x would be okay as lionfish don't like a lot of flow. A couple of reliable heaters are a must. If you don't want to break the bank on live rock, Ocean Rock is a cheaper alternative, but you'll need a good filter to make up for it. Then there's the basics - salt, test kits, and a refractometer. You might get away with using treated tap water, but if you're planning on adding corals down the line, I'd recommend using RO water from the start.

[Bronco1]

I've had great experiences with lionfish, just remember to have a variety of foods on hand in case yours is a picky eater. Freshwater feeder fish can be used as a last resort, but it's not a good idea to make it a staple. I've seen it work in a pinch, but it's not the healthiest option. Live rock is also a must-have in my opinion. It can be pricey, but trust me, it's worth it. I've got a 40-gallon marine tank with tons of live rock and I only use a single hang-on-back filter for filtration. It's been a breeze to maintain and I've never had any issues.