New Reef Aquaruim and have some questions?

[gregbva]

What is the best supplements and how often do people add these really. I have a 29 Gallon Tank with a Clarkii Clown, Percula Clown, Pigmy Angelfish and a small purple Tang with 8 crabs, 5 snails, Emarld Crab and a Cleaner Shrimp. Oh ya, a Mantis Shrimp which I can not catch. I try to do water changes weekly and add Idione, Tech M, Calcuim, S & M, PH Buffer and just bought some coral food which I add every 3 days.
I would like to hear what other people do or their schedules for adding these supplements into the tank. I do weekly water changes of 3 gallons of my 29 gallon tank which I know the salt has some of these supplements in the salt.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[Gatortailale1]

Welcome to the boards.

I notice that you don't list any corals in your tank and you don't mention what your lighting is and what whater test parameters are; PH, salinity, calcium, nitrates ect. ... We will need this info. Are you running a skimmer?

Second, if you don't have any corals, then not really much need to dose all those things, especially if you are not testing for iodine, calcium and the like. Yes they do replace what is used, but as far as I know, a fish only with live rock (FOWLR) tank doesn't need much, if any extra trace elements

Third, adding coral food without any corals is just going to add food to algae especially if your tank is new and still going through the cycles that will occur for the 1st six months.

Fourth, you might want to put on a flame suit; most on all the boards will advise that a 29 gal tanks is too small for a purple tang. IMO and most others, a tang needs 4 feet minimum (6 is better) to swim, Hopefully you will be like others in the hobby and get hooked and upgrade to a bigger tank w/in 6-9 months and give the tang some room.

Mantis, you can buy mantis traps for $15 or less.

Craig

PS: looking for a good local club? check out wamas listed in my signature. Club is only 15 months old. We had over 55 people at our last meeting.

If you do plan to make a mini reef, there are a lot of us who will help you and trade/sell/give you stuff for your tank.

 

[JohnD]

Gatortail is right on with his advice. You really do not need to add any suppliments if your tank is a FOWLR.

Besides the Purple tang (spectacular fish), I am not sure if a tank your size can handle both a Clarkii and Perc. Maybe somebody else on this board can answer to that concern.

A great reference to use in buying fish is Scott Michael's Marine Fishes: 500+ Essential...

Here is a link to Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1890087386/qid=1020185819/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-4096040-5536649

Besides telling if the fish is reef compatible, the author also lists minimum tank requirements. I have had the book for over a year and NEVER purchase a fish without first consulting this book. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Welcome to reefs.org

 

[Anonymous]

In fact, if you are doing water changes weekly that is all you need regarding supplements. Most people here with reef tanks only add calcium supplements if they don't have a reactor. Fish food takes care of all the rest.