I need help with my first tank setup. PLEASE

[rookie07]

I have a 24 gallon aqua pod.
Im doing a reef tank......

If I have live rock(19 lbs) and live sand(20 lbs), do I need a filtering system(I have a skimmer on order,Sapphire NanoSkimmer AP24)? I was given blue square sponges and black carbon balls(or thats what they look like to me) as a filtering system with the aqua pod(I guess Ill throw out all the filter stuff they gave me).

I plan on having (mated or paired,2 total) percula clown fish. A psychedelic mandarin fish(after awhile so the copeipods grow, or whatever he eats). 2 anemones(maybe bubble tip, and something else for the 2 clowns, like green carpet), a standard clean up crew with a purple lobster, and a bunch of low maintanence/easy care coral( star polyp zoanthid mx, lps mix{for top part of reef}, and a few other frags).

and, how much sand should I use, I have 20 lbs now, about 2 inches. Should I double this amount???

The tank has been going for a few days now, but I just added the live rock(10/01/07). I tested the PH, its was 8.0, which is low. Im going to let it cycle for a while.

Thanks for your help
The rookie

 

[chazertis]

i'd say the amount of rock and live sand is ok. keep in mind you'll add more live rock as you add corals. also, the skimmer is a good choice. between the skimmer and the live rock, thats all the filtration you're likely to need. i'd ditch the sponges and bioballs.

 

[Timbo]

Depends what you are looking to put in the tank. 2-3" is usually good for a sand bed. Those balls you got are probably bioballs. Throw them away or give them to your cat to play with. Once your tank is filled take it slow and let the tank mature at least one month before adding any livestock to it. You can replace the bioballs with rubble. Post some pics for all to see and you can get some better advice on the set up.

 

[rookie07]

 

[rookie07]

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Welcome to MR!

Yeah throw the sponge in the spare parts box along with the bio balls and the ceramic pipe bag. Take a look at my tank thread I have a 24 pod setup as a reef tank.

Along with my skimmer I put a bag of carbon (chemi pure) in the return chamber and live rock rubble in the overflow chamber as well.

Set the tank up and let it cycle for a month and then check it to see if it's ready for livestock.

I would say the clowns are ok but that mandarin is going to be a tough keep. They require an established tank with lots of pids in it for them to survive. They can eat a 75g tank clean of pods in about a month and then you have to buy pods to supplement their diet. That in and of itself can become expensive.

 

[LeslieS]

Be careful with the rubble in your overflow. It can collect detritus and cause nitrate problems.

Also, each typ of clown prefers a specific type of anemone. You should do some research to find out what the best pairing is for you.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Yeah I should state I rinse my rubble every 2 weeks when I do a water change.

Oh and speaking of Water changes, I do 5 galloons every 2 weeks and that is enough to keep everything nice and thriving.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/tank-threads/26175-chiefs-24-pod.html
Here's my tank thread

 

[rookie07]

You guys are awesome, thanks for the help, and keep the advice coming.
The rook

 

[kenske]

I have a pair of mandarins in my 24 nanocube. They are doing great. They both eat frozen mysis and cyclopeeze. Last week fed them frozen blood worms and they went for it immediately. I am happy that i can add another food type to their diet.

 

[Timbo]

Fill the tank up to the top.

 

[crox99]

Welcome to MR and IMO I would stay away from a green carpet. They get very big!!!

 

[cali_reef]

Green carpet anemone(and most anemone) loves to have mandarins as tank mates, fresh fish food for them :lol2:.

 

[ellebelle]

Green carpet anemone(and most anemone) loves to have mandarins as tank mates, fresh fish food for them :lol2:.

I was just about to say that.

Also, IF you go for the mandarin, you will need one eating frozen foods unless you are planning to cultivate pods (a time consuming and annoying process). If you find an LFS or vendor with one that they claim is eating frozen foods, BE SURE TO ASK FOR A DEMONSTRATION. I made that mistake - I was told my mandarin would eat cyclopeez, and it was not true. This led me to all sort of strategies to improve pod production in my 29g, but nothing really worked.

 

[mstrofdisaster]

What kind of lighting do you have in the tank? I'm pretty sure anemones will not thrive under PC lights, which is the stock on these units. Did you order a MH light for this?

 

[rookie07]

The lighting is as follows.
1x32w SunPaq Dual Daylight & 1 x 32w SunPaq Dual
Im waiting to fill the tank till Ive put everything in the tank, Ill be adding alot more rock/coral, so the water lever will rise.
....So you guys are saying that anemones will kill the mandarin?
Should I buy small clown fish, or a med/large pair? The little ones look so small and they might be the only fish I have. or should Ibuy them small and have more time for them to grow.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

You really need to upgrade the lighting before thinking about an anemone. The stock lighting isn't good.

All anemones eat fish.

 

[rookie07]

What type of lighting do I get?
Should I get the SUNPOD PRO 20" HQI from fosters and smith (250 w with 6 blue/6 white led 's $330)?

Thanks

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

The 150 should be fine for the anemone and for most corals esp sps. I upgraded to the 250 because I had some higher light requirements for some of my sps.