36 gallon bow front first saltwater aquarium

[brent23]

Hey guys I'm brand new to the saltwater aquarium world. I've had freshwater aquariums for over 10 years and wanted to finally do a saltwater aquarium, so i just recently purchased a 36 gallon bow front aquarium for my first saltwater. I know through reading up on a lot of this stuff that many people do not recommend anything below 55 gal but because i am a relatively poor college student and have limited space in my house so this was the biggest i could do. So far I have purchased an aqueon 30 power filter (came with 36 gal set up), a heater, seaclone 100 protein skimmer (i know after i bought it i've seen some poor reviews but i'm hoping it will be ok till i can get a better one), aquatec powerhead with 170 gph, and an air pump. I'm still researching about who offers the best deal on live rocks and i plan on using live sand as well when i finally set it all up. Also, once i allow it to cycle fully this is what i'm planning on putting into the tank and i wanted to see what u guys thought about it:
1 neon goby
1 pygmy angelfish
2 Green Chromis (plan on using them to start my tank)
1 false percula clownfish
1 coral banded shrimp (I think thats what it called)
I might be asking for too much for a 36 gallon but I wanted ur opinions, obviously i don't plan on introducing all of them at once, but over time. Thanks for any recommendations and info guys.

 

[gio28]

i have a 36 bow too. i think its a good tank. if you want more fish you could do a diy sump later on that will give you more water volume so you can add a few more fish maybe.
anyways if you use the chromis to cycle your tank they may die when the cycle is finishing up like my damsels did.
if you plan on keeping the chromis keep them in a group of three cause they feel more safe and might school. i have 3 in my tank and they school sometimes and feel safer in their group. just my opinion.
are you planning on having a reef or just FOWLR? dwarf angels are 50/50 with corals.
everything else seems good in terms of your livestock. ever consider a pair of clowns?

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by brent23
http:///forum/post/3081802
Hey guys I'm brand new to the saltwater aquarium world. I've had freshwater aquariums for over 10 years and wanted to finally do a saltwater aquarium, so i just recently purchased a 36 gallon bow front aquarium for my first saltwater. I know through reading up on a lot of this stuff that many people do not recommend anything below 55 gal but because i am a relatively poor college student and have limited space in my house so this was the biggest i could do. So far I have purchased an aqueon 30 power filter (came with 36 gal set up), a heater, seaclone 100 protein skimmer (i know after i bought it i've seen some poor reviews but i'm hoping it will be ok till i can get a better one), aquatec powerhead with 170 gph, and an air pump. I'm still researching about who offers the best deal on live rocks and i plan on using live sand as well when i finally set it all up. Also, once i allow it to cycle fully this is what i'm planning on putting into the tank and i wanted to see what u guys thought about it:
1 neon goby
1 pygmy angelfish
2 Green Chromis (plan on using them to start my tank)
1 false percula clownfish
1 coral banded shrimp (I think thats what it called)
I might be asking for too much for a 36 gallon but I wanted ur opinions, obviously i don't plan on introducing all of them at once, but over time. Thanks for any recommendations and info guys.
Welcome to the boards and the wonderfull hoby of salt water fish!!!
You will need a better filter, or a second one. The air pump you can return. Air stones cause more harm than good in saltwater.

 

[brent23]

hey thanks for the responses so far, i plan on doing a FOWLR tank and i would love to have 3 green chromis instead of just 2 and yes i have thought about having a pair of clowns but with the current set up of fish that i'm planning will adding another clown and green chromis put me over the limit? In response to the filter question, what would you recommend to add along with the power filter? Another power filter? or something else? I was just reading some other posts and saw about the air pump so i will have to return it lol, i was not aware it was dangerous in a saltwater aquarium.

 

[jackri]

Welcome, I had 4 chromis (down to 1) and I've heard they can kill each other --- but I also had my fish eating carpet anemone at the time so all my blame goes there.
Love the chromis choice over the other damsels -- great schooling fish and have a very pretty color and great disposition towards other fish.
I had a seaclone protein skimmer once upon a time -- be careful of the cup overflowing and onto your floor.... the only place I would put a skimmer anymore is in a sump for just such an occasion as for a week it can skim fine, the next day overflows for some reason.
As far as live rock try and look locally if someone is getting rid of some.. otherwise it can be quite expensive to buy at 5 - 9 bucks a pound. I picked up about 30lbs free once upon a time.. deals are out there on occasion.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by brent23
http:///forum/post/3081817
hey thanks for the responses so far, i plan on doing a FOWLR tank and i would love to have 3 green chromis instead of just 2 and yes i have thought about having a pair of clowns but with the current set up of fish that i'm planning will adding another clown and green chromis put me over the limit? In response to the filter question, what would you recommend to add along with the power filter? Another power filter? or something else? I was just reading some other posts and saw about the air pump so i will have to return it lol, i was not aware it was dangerous in a saltwater aquarium.
You could get another HOB filter or go for a canister filter. I use HOB myself, and have for many years, but others swear by canister. On my 55 I have two filters each rated for 65 gallons.
You shouldn't add more than one fish at a time into your tank. Adding three chromis into a new tank will be a very large bioload on a new system. Do you really like them or just like the fact that they are hardy? They will not be very kind to your other new fish. You have plenty of time to think about your stock. Your rock and sand are the next purchases.

 

[gio28]

i agree with sep bout the chromis. if you dont really like them then get another fish...if you only wanted them for cycling. i added my three chromis at the same time but they were real small and my tank was established so the bio load was ok. despite what people say about them about picking eachother off until 1 is left...my three have been living together for a month or so. mine get aggressive during feeding time a little bit but besides that are pretty mellow.

 

[brent23]

Thanks for all the responses so far, I'm gonna look into getting another HOB if it will fit, if not i will probably go with a canister. I was also possibly considering getting a more powerful HOB filter rated for a 50+ gallon aquarium instead of having 2? Would this be ok? As for the chromis, i think they are pretty cool fish, but if they are gonna cause problems then maybe i should reconsider using them. Should i use the clownfish then to cycle the tank? I know the fish additions aren't for awhile, but i like planning everything ahead of time. Also, I purchased a hydrometer and now i'm seeing posts about them being worthless? and instead use a refractrometer? Is this true?

 

[gio28]

clown will die it you use it to cycle a tank. they are hardy fish but wont survive the cycle. too much to waste on a cycle. hydrometers are ok..refractometers are just way better. they are the way to go.
my chromis dont cause any problems and are very active.
get a HOB filter rated for at least 50 gallons...more maybe if your tank will be heavily stocked. HOB skimmers might also be good.

 

[brent23]

hey thanks again for the responses, I just got back from the LFS and I purchased a Marineland Penguin Bio wheel powerfilter 350. It says it has a 350 gph turnover and is rated for up to a 70 gallon aquarium. i'm hoping this will be enough to do the job. Also, i had a question about the seaclone 100 protein skimmer, i saw that someone posted about it having a problem overflowing? Was this because the cup was full? or because it was malfunctioning? The last thing i need is dirty saltwater falling onto my floor. Thanks again guys.

 

[pete159]

i think chromis are a huge waste for a 36g saltwater tank. I would only add them in a big school in a big tank.
Also you should not cycle with any fish, there are better ways. I would cycle with live rock. if you have no live rock then you can cycle with pure ammonia.
I would add 2 percula clowns, no angel fish, 1 purple firefish in place of the neon goby, and maybe a type of blenny.
Also i would add a emperor 80,or 400 HOB filter instead of a canister.

 

[dsmccain]

hey man, congrats on starting with a saltwater tank! that 36 bow you have is fabulous, i saw it at the fish store, thats a good size for someone who doesn't want something too big, but its also not small.
for me, i just started about a month and a half ago, everything is perfect. i actually have a 20 high. i started my cycle with bio spira, its concentrated bacteria, along with a domino damsel, who survived the cycle with flying colors, but hes been long gone since i now have my true perc, i gave the domino back to the LFS.
for my specs, i got me a basic florescent light(which is actually made for a 10 gallon tank), but works fine, i have no corals or invertabrates, well...just hermit crabs, my filtration is a penguin bio wheel filter 150, does 150 gph, you will be perfect with the 350, thats gonna turn the water over in your tank almost ten times, general rule of thumb is to turn it over minimum, 5 times, and i got a couple small basic powerheads for flow
in my opinion, my tank is running perfect and will see many days, with not overfeeding, or overstocking, its perfect, i am actually buying a valentini puffer tomorrow, its a little puffer that grows maximum 4", it would be perfect for your tank if you are into puffers
but yea, i envy your setup, its what i would love to have! keep doing the good work! and keep researching!! good luck!!

 

[dsmccain]

also, don't worry about your protein skimmer, as long as you have one, you're doing better than most!!! i don't have one and i'm doing just fine
then again, i just do fish with some live rock, not much live rock, but some

 

[pete159]

a protein skimmer is one of the most important parts of a saltwater setup..... you will regret buying a cheap one.
saltwater tanks are judged in months and years... not days.
I went to this mans house, he told me he had a saltwater tank.... he told me how everything was " perfect"...
i saw a lion fish clinging to the bottom corner of the tank, hair alge everywhere, an almost dead butterfly fish...
a low budget is not a good thing if you want to keep a healthy saltwater tank.

 

[dsmccain]

well pete 159, i have to disagree that a low budget will not keep a tank healthy, i would say the main part of keeping a tank healthy is in the actions of the owner, with proper feeding, taking care to not overstock, routine water changes, using the best possible water available (i think just doing water changes with RO water alone keeps away the problems with algae)
there are many more aspects also, but on a budget the most crucial part is to know and understand your limits as the caretaker, and follow through with them..........and patience
with your buddy that had the lion fish and butterfy fish in the "perfect" tank, ok, maybe it was perfect in his eyes, just as a protein skimmer is a necessity in your eyes, but everyone is different, when dealing with a budget, sometimes its not possible to obtain everything that is deemed necessary, honestly i'd love to have a protein skimmer but its just not gonna happen right now, i gotta pay the house bill so i can have a place to put the fish tank, and pay the light bill to power everything in the fish tank
but in the meantime, i'm gettin by without the protein skimmer, i just got more limits on what i can do, and i'm ok with that, all i got is my clown and two firefish, i almost bought that puffer fish, but i decided against the risk
we'll make an analogy, in regards to having the finest equipment, as opposed to having mediocre equipment, its like driving a brand new cadillac, compared to an 80's corolla, no matter what, you're gonna make it from point A to point B

 

[brent23]

Thanks for the responses guys, i am on a somewhat limited budget being that i am a college student but i will be able to maintain the tank without any problems (i hope lol). I'm setting it all up tomorrow with probably around 10-12lbs of live rock because thats all the LFS has at the moment with some sort of base rock if i can find some. I found some white reef rocks i think they were called that i might use as baserock not sure yet. I am also planning on putting in 20lbs of live sand and probably between 10-20 lbs of base sand or argonite.

 

[brent23]

Well I set up the aquarium today, I ended up getting 20lbs of live sand and 15 lbs of crushed coral and argonite which i used mostly as a base with the live sand on top. For the rock work I got 12 lbs of fossilized coral for base rock and decor and one fairly large piece of live rock (between 12-15 lbs maybe more) I plan on adding a little more live rock within the next week or two while it cycles, but for now thats all i have in the tank. I started up my marineland pengiun 350 to clear up the cloudiness (its really cloudy but starting to show signs of clearing). I did not start up my seaclone yet i think i'm gonna wait a day or two before i do because i read if you start it up after using water conditioners such as aquasafe, which i did, it will overflow. Also, I took a reading of my tanks specific gravity and temperature and its around 1.020 and 1.021 do you think thats a good area to keep it at or should i raise it to 1.022? Ideally, that is what i was shooting for but using a hydrometer its a little bit tricky. And the temp is around 78 degrees. I haven't tested any of the parameters beyond the specific gravity and temp. The only test kit i have at the moment is for ammonia. I plan on getting the kit this week to start monitoring the levels. Thanks again guys.

 

[gio28]

my LFS says the SG should be at 1.023. but its fine for now.

 

[brent23]

I just saw my first signs of life this morning on my live rock. The water has cleared overnight and when i turned on the light this morning i saw what i'm assuming was a bristleworm (looked like a worm/centiped) scurry into one of the holes of the live rock, and i also noticed 2 small plant looking things that slowly inched their way into the crevice they are growing from, not sure what kind of plant it is. Its really small and it looks like a flower without any of its pedals. I will hopefully have some pics soon to share. The decor needs some work since the tank is so tall it looks really empty even with 20+lbs of rock in it. Just thought i would update you guys on the progress. Thanks

 

[brent23]

Just got back from the LFS and i purchased a koralia 1 and i just finished installing it. I don't see those 2 little plant looking things anymore not sure if they died or they receded into their little holes? Not sure but i'm hoping they are ok.