Advice

[amandanw89]

Hi, I have already purchased my 12 gallon aquapod but I do not want to begin setting it up until after the holidays. Anyway, I want to make sure that what I'm planning on doing sounds okay before I do it. I have read several books and researched different websites but I think that the best information will most likely come from other SWF owners.
I'm going to start my tank with live rock and sand, and then I want to start adding corals. I am kind of lost when it comes to the corals I am not sure when to add them or what type would be the best for a nano tank, any advice? I plan on letting tank cycle for about 3-4 weeks after adding the coral, and then I want to begin adding invertabraes. Now, I want a lot of inverts in my tank, but its only a 12g so I dont want to overcrowd. Please let me know if it sounds like I will have to many inverts.
About 4-5 Crabs- Hermit, Horse shoe and teddy bear
1 Cleaner Clam
1 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Queen Conch
I am planning on letting just the inverts live in the tank for another month, and then slowly add fish. The three fish I am planning on having are: Small Yellow Tang, Mandarion Dragonet, and a Scooter Blenny. My books say that the dragonet and blenny are very compatable, but the internet says use caution. Do you think they would be okay together? Also, I am to to the SWF world so I want to start off with the easier breeds.
Do you think I will need a lightng upgrade? Any other info i need to know???? and i was thinking 15lb of live rock.

 

[amandanw89]

scratch the madarin, ive just now read about the troubles with them, any other suggestions?

 

[petjunkie]

Not to rain on your parade but none of those fish are suitable for a 12 gallon, both the mandarin and scooter are dragonets with the same diet, pods, and any tang is out of the running because of their size. I wouldn't put more than two fish in a 12 gallon, some good ideas would be royal gramma, firefish, percula clownfish, clown goby, neon goby, green banded gobies are cool looking, trimma gobies, tailspot blenny. Fish that stay small, preferably under 2.5 inches and aren't overly active.
Add your live rock 10-15 pounds, same about of sand and let the tank cycle until ammonia and nitrite spike and hit zero and stay there for a few weeks, then add a couple hermits and snails, maybe one or two of each. Bluelegs or scarlets are good, for snails get a nassurith to stir the sand. Cleaner shrimp is fine, you probably won't need a cleaner clam in that size tank and conch grow too large.
What kind of lighting is your tank coming with? Power compacts or halide? I would recommend buying a refratometer to test salinity, hydometers are pretty inaccurate. Some easy corals to start with would be any mushrooms except ricordia yumas, zoanthids, green star polyps, maybe a toadstool leather or candy cane. You'll learn plenty here I promise!

 

[amandanw89]

Thanks! Your not raining on my parade at all, I'm here to learn! I went to my LFS today, and looked at the different fish. The fish guy said the same thing about all three fish! Although he did say that three fish in a 12g should be okay. The fish tank comes with:
12 Gallon, 54W Compact Fluorescent System - Includes: Surface skimming filtration system, 1-27W square pin Dual Daylight 6700°K/10000°K Daylight bulb, 1-27W square pin Dual Actinic 420nm/460nm Actinic bulb, 2 blue LED lights, cooling fan, mechanical sponge filter, 160 gph submersible pump with flat nozzle, and complete instructions.
I am not sure if I need to upgrade anything? Any suggestions.
I will scratch the conch and cleaner clam, and start with the hermits and a cleaner shrimp. Thanks a lot!
Also, the fish store sells sea water, thats already mixed and ready to use. Any one use this?