Who Gives A Fish Forums

hi all, just a quick intro, im new to fish world and havent got any fish yet, but ive got a tank set up and its currently cycling, thinking of starting with somethin easy like a betta, but my long term goal is to move onto marine fish, i really wanna keep clown fish and a regal blue, would they be happy together?

i know its a big jump from a betta, but i wanna make sure i can provide the best environment for them, so if someone could give me a list of what i need for a tank that would be great, for example:

- bigger tank, prob around 50-60g
- good quality filter
- heater
- protein skimmer
- live rock
- uv sterilizer
- saltwater mix
- water test kits
- hydrometer
- etc

any help would be appreciated, thanks guys

oceanix_ wrote: ↑Sun May 11, 2025 12:25 pm hi all, just a quick intro, im new to fish world and havent got any fish yet, but ive got a tank set up and its currently cycling, thinking of starting with somethin easy like a betta, but my long term goal is to move onto marine fish, i really wanna keep clown fish and a regal blue, would they be happy together?

i know its a big jump from a betta, but i wanna make sure i can provide the best environment for them, so if someone could give me a list of what i need for a tank that would be great, for example:

- bigger tank, prob around 50-60g
- good quality filter
- heater
- protein skimmer
- live rock
- uv sterilizer
- saltwater mix
- water test kits
- hydrometer
- etc

any help would be appreciated, thanks guys

I think a regal tang would be way too big for a 30 gallon tank - they need a lot of space to swim. For a tank that size, you could have a pair of clown fish and a few small fish, maybe 2-4, depending on the type.

For equipment, you'll need:

Live rock is a must for filtration, especially for beginners like our new friend oceanix_.
You'll also need some power heads - I'd say around 600-800GPH.
Get some good quality salt - reef salt if you want to keep corals.
Coflake sand is another must-have.
A refractometer is also essential for measuring salinity.
If you want to keep corals, you'll need some good T5 lighting.
A sump can be useful, but it's not essential.
You'll also need some test kits - ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH and phosphate are the basics. If you want to keep corals, you'll also need to test for magnesium, calcium and alk/KH.
A good phosphate remover is a must.
You'll also need an RO unit or a good source of water from your LFS.
If you want to keep corals, you'll need to supplement with magnesium, calcium and alk.
And don't forget a separate bucket and heater for mixing salt water.

As for food, you'll need a variety of things, but I'll let someone else fill in the details on that one.

Anything else I've missed?

I wouldn't put a regal in anything less than a 5 foot tank. They get massive, eat a lot and produce a lot of waste. They're also constant swimmers, so need a lot of space to move around.

hey, check out blennies, reef-safe wrasses, and gobies - they're all pretty cool. also, dwarf angels could be a good choice. you can find some info on them at this site: liveaquaria.com, under aquarium supplies.