A few questions

Question
QUESTION: Hi there!

I am thinking of getting an aquarium. Do you have any knowledge on keeping moray eels? I saw one, or actually two, at the local fish store and I was wondering if I should know anything important. I'm going to ask a few questions. How big of a tank should I get? What do they eat? Is there any special lighting? What types of in-tank landscape should I add? How much would the tank and all the extra items cost?

ANSWER: Hey Tedd

I know everything on virtually all fish. Moray eels need a tank of at least 150g because of their size (32"). They eat feeder fish, inverts, and some will take store bought meat. lighting wont matter, but i would go with something a bit dimmer since they dont like strong light, so i would use fluorescents or power compacts. The tank should have lots of hiding spaces built with PVC pipes and rocks

total cost-

150g tank+stand- $300-$600 (always check local ads, you can get them for even cheaper)

lighting- $100-$300

rock and PVC pipes- $100-$150

heater- $40

sand- $80

RO water machine- $100

you also will need a filter or protein skimmer. if youre just going with the eel, a simple canister filter like a fluval 405 will work. if youre planning on more, you will need a protein skimmer instead of a filter

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What's a protein skimmer? I was think on getting more, probably some other fish, like some red-tailed sharks, I think that's what they're called. Any info on them that could help me?

Answer
the redtail sharks i know are small freshwater fish

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile10.html

The only smaller saltwater shark i know are bamboo sharks, but they get 40" long so for one of those guys youre looking at a 300g long aquarium minimum

protein skimmers pull in water, and produce bubbles. thick waste gets foamed up in the bubbles and collected in a cup where when the cup is full you throw the waste in the garbage, its always good to get a good skimmer since theyre more reliable and skim better. stay away from seaclone skimmers and red sea prizms, they have a terrible reputation and i have first hand experience with their crappyness

you could throw in 1-2 fish with the moray though, they would have to be larger fish and fast fish that wont become food. try looking at triggerfish profiles and see if theres anything that catches your eye. clown triggers get 20" long and with the moray and clown the tank would have full stock