small setup.. Corals???

[Ansphire]

Hello peps...

I set up a 29g simple... 50lbs of LR.. 50/50 55w compact fluorescent and a HOB Cyclone skimmer rated for 90g.. Also a maxijet 900 powerhead...


Would you guys please advise in a couple of things...

I want some cleaning guys... but I don't want to see 20 snails in my tank.. what do you recommend?... Mexican turbo snails??.. I wouldn't like more than 5... maybe a sand shifting star?...


And second.. Besides a clown pair.. what fish would you put in there..

Thanks in advance..

 

[camaroracer214]

don't get a sand sifting star...they get a foot across and will slowly starve to death in your tank.

as far as fish...look into the smaller gobies/dartfish. i like red and/or purple firefish, yellow watchman gobies, jawfish, etc.

as far as snails...get a variety. i'd go with sand cleaners (cerith or nassarius) and some form of "turbo" (mexican, astrea, or maragarita).

 

[Ansphire]

Can I put mushrooms or something under a 50/50 55w compact fluorescent light on a 29g???

 

[Anonymous]

I have a 29 gal that's been up and running for 5 yrs now. It's too deep for compact flos. even if it has double bulbs. As for cleaners get whats available to you. A few assorted snails and a couple hermits is all you need. I would also suggest that you go no more than the couple of clowns that you intend. A 29 looks large but in reality it is a small tank and will not take more than a couple fish.

 

[cindre2000]

I suggest Orchid Dottyback or maybe a pistol shrimp/goby. The biggest issue is clowns are mean.

You can probably keep most soft corals and some LPS up high, but not much along the bottom, maybe a bed of 'shrooms.

Turbos are good snails and stay hidden during the day.

 

[norward]

Just a few snails would probably be fine as adding more later is easier that having too many to start. I agree the mushrooms are about as good as you could safely get with 65w of light. Double your wattage for a broader spectrum of corals. Not all clowns are mean. As for stocking your tank, here is a good general guide: www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=74703&hl=

 

[Ansphire]

OK.. so at the very top of the tank... 3" under the light.. I can put a soft coral????... and then in the bottom mushrooms.. right?


As far as fish.. I was thinking...

Pair of clown (already have)
Lemon Peel Angelfish
Lawnmower bleny
Fire fish
Pseudochromis (half purple half yellow???)


As for cleaners... only sand cleaners,, since the bleny will probably destroy the algae... right??

 

[hfurtner]

ok Hi I`m also new to reefkeeping, but know about freshwater.
I hitch a ride here becaus i have also a 29g Bio Cube 3 weeks old. I have since a week 1 yellow fin damsel, a banded coral shrimp and 8 blueleged hermit crabs.
Everything is fine so far just went to a brown phase on the Rocks and sand, with some areas also hairy brown. Its much better now. after about 4 Days. I added a bag with Carbon on top of the bio balls so it can drip trough it.

How old is your setup?

I need some more color in my tank and think of some mushrooms, how much of a waste do corals or anemones produce? I`m to early ? Have no skimmer, the man in the store said for what I have I can do without, true?
They have one specially for that Bio cube, $70. is that reasonable and it looks small in overall size.
My water looks good in all the tests, but Temp is high, around 82F.
Still looks a slight bit hazy with the lights on, looks very clean/w tank lights off.
I add daily some calcium and alkalinity buffer. When will I see more Corraline algae on the rocks, how fast or slow of a process is that?

What would be next
a skimmer, then Corals or better more cleaners (Snails for the rest of the brown stuff) and wait till x month pass with that setup?
I will do some more research in here.
Thanks for replying.

 

[mr_X]

easy does it hfurtner...wait till the tank is done cycling before you add anything else or things are going to die on you.

don't add anything to your tank unless you need it. are you sure you needed the calcium and alk buffer?
coralline algae grows depending on it's enviornment.
if your calcium and alk isn't right, it won't grow at all.
what are your calcium and alk readings with your salt mix?
chances are, you can get by with regular water changes.

give it another month before you add anything, you'll be glad you waited :wink:

 

[jt481]

My Astrea Turbos never fall and die on their backs like the other big guys.

 

[hfurtner]

thanks for the reply.
I have found a verry informative forum within here, thanks.
I just finished reading about the brown stuff what is not realy an algea then a bacteria, and why I have it. Very interesting.
I see now more the need of an protein skimmer.
Now there are some available and where not better to find out then in here if the cheaper one for my Bio cube 29 is worth the money.
I found two with an price of 35 and 160 Dollars, the one for 35 looks flimsy compare to the one for 160 bucks, but that one is good for up to 90 Gal Tanks and still fits in the second part of the back sump.
Can a small one realy be enough or is the bigger one even a overkill?
How long will it take to be able in best conditions to see optical difference in Carollinic algea growth?
Just to make clear to me what kind of patience is to be calculated.
Oh these Germans, everything by the book......so let me know, please.
Thanks.

 

[mr_X]

the small skimmer will be enough if it's a good quality skimmer that functions well.
some cheap skimmers don't work at all. there is a reason why it's 35 dollars. i would ask in the nano forums about the smaller skimmers.
i have seen coralline progress in a matter of weeks. and die off just as fast.

 

[hfurtner]

Thanks,
in my LFS they have 2 nanos running with quite an nice amount of coral and Fish in it, I will have a second look what kind of skimmer they running in it and after all my reading I might be able to see the health status of the inhabitants.
I have not yet measured the calcium and alk. as yet, will have that done today at the LFS.
I read a lot about the food diversity to offer. I have right now only Mysis. How Important is here the water separation before adding it in the Tank? Because of only one fish, I just shave a little off at a time from the frozen cube and let it drop right in the tank. Makes optical a lot of food for just one Fin and a shrimp.
What do you recommend as addition to the food offering? Flakes I guess are always user (feeder) friendly.
Last night I found more Life in the Tank as well. I could see a 1/2" snail and some other Shrimp like creatures what I know from Beach Sand. Another little snail with a tiny cone shaped house, about 1/8".
The 1/2" snail looked not to appealing and has a shield looking plate instead of a house and was gray-greenish in color. Is this a pest? As long as there is only one I guess not. Just helps to clean up, right.
Thanks.

 

[hfurtner]

Thanks,
in my LFS they have 2 nanos running with quite an nice amount of coral and Fish in it, I will have a second look what kind of skimmer they running in it and after all my reading I might be able to see the health status of the inhabitants.
I have not yet measured the calcium and alk. as yet, will have that done today at the LFS.
I read a lot about the food diversity to offer. I have right now only Mysis. How Important is here the water separation before adding it in the Tank? Because of only one fish, I just shave a little off at a time from the frozen cube and let it drop right in the tank. Makes optical a lot of food for just one Fin and a shrimp.
What do you recommend as addition to the food offering? Flakes I guess are always user (feeder) friendly.
Last night I found more Life in the Tank as well. I could see a 1/2" snail and some other Shrimp like creatures what I know from Beach Sand. Another little snail with a tiny cone shaped house, about 1/8".
The 1/2" snail looked not to appealing and has a shield looking plate instead of a house and was gray-greenish in color. Is this a pest? As long as there is only one I guess not. Just helps to clean up, right.
Thanks.

 

[mr_X]

1. i think it's very important to drain the misis before adding it to the tank.
2. flakes are ok, but alot of flakes have a large phosphate content, which will fuel algae.
3. if you do regular waterchanges (perpaps weekly 25% or better changes) you can do without a skimmer, and most likely suppliments.
4. that grey/greenish snail, without a, picture, sounds like a limpet, or stomatella. they are both ok.

 

[hfurtner]

researched that immediately....stomatella varia.
thanks
Not limpet.

 

[Ansphire]

Hey thanks guys for all the help... but can someone please answer the questions in MY Thread????....lol

Im pressing charges hfurtner for hijacking!!!!!!!!!!!...lol...

All I want to know wether I can put a soft coral (or any coral) 4" under a 55w 50/50 compact fluorescent ....

Mr X... chavo???.... Help??

 

[hfurtner]

sorry, met`s fan.
hope it was still interesting to read..

 

[hfurtner]

How about Water from the supermarket? Purified or Destilled? Is a Britta filter Pitcher good enough filter for waterchanges?
Got my tankwater tested today and the Cal. is at 460.
thanks again and sorry again, ansphire.

 

[Ansphire]

the reading was fine.. but what I really need is someone to help me with my question..