Bjoe23's 29g Tank Diary
- Thread starter bjoe23
- Start date
kanicky
Member
Here are my comments:
1. Get your own testing kit. A liquid one is recommended, as the test strips are not reliable. Salifert is the best, but Red Sea is good, as is Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I've had fish stores tell me that my parameters were fine just to make a sale...
2. Definitely add some more LR. I know you might be doing this on a budget, but if you look on local selling boards or even on these boards, you might find someone in your area that wants to get rid of their LR for cheap. We got 50 lbs of LR for $100. $2 a pound "ain't" bad at all. You probably need about 35 lbs. of LR...
3. Take it slow when adding fish, especially since you'll be adding more LR down the road. You could re-start a cycle and then any fish or inverts you have in your tank would be hurt in the process.
4. Your stocking list sounds good. For a nice burst of multi-color, you could do a Purple Firefish or a nice Fairy Wrasse (although the Sixline may have an issue with one, since he was added first.) A Midas Blenny is also a good choice; gorgeous and a really cute personality to boot. I wouldn't do more than four or five small fish, and that's with regular water changes and/or a kick-butt filtration system/skimmer.
5. Looks good so far. Have fun!
(And don't worry about not getting a lot of comments. The boards move fast, and especially during the day, a lot of people aren't on.)
1. Get your own testing kit. A liquid one is recommended, as the test strips are not reliable. Salifert is the best, but Red Sea is good, as is Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I've had fish stores tell me that my parameters were fine just to make a sale...
2. Definitely add some more LR. I know you might be doing this on a budget, but if you look on local selling boards or even on these boards, you might find someone in your area that wants to get rid of their LR for cheap. We got 50 lbs of LR for $100. $2 a pound "ain't" bad at all. You probably need about 35 lbs. of LR...
3. Take it slow when adding fish, especially since you'll be adding more LR down the road. You could re-start a cycle and then any fish or inverts you have in your tank would be hurt in the process.
4. Your stocking list sounds good. For a nice burst of multi-color, you could do a Purple Firefish or a nice Fairy Wrasse (although the Sixline may have an issue with one, since he was added first.) A Midas Blenny is also a good choice; gorgeous and a really cute personality to boot. I wouldn't do more than four or five small fish, and that's with regular water changes and/or a kick-butt filtration system/skimmer.
5. Looks good so far. Have fun!
bjoe23
Active Member
Originally Posted by Kanicky
Here are my comments:
1. Get your own testing kit. A liquid one is recommended, as the test strips are not reliable. Salifert is the best, but Red Sea is good, as is Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I've had fish stores tell me that my parameters were fine just to make a sale...
2. Definitely add some more LR. I know you might be doing this on a budget, but if you look on local selling boards or even on these boards, you might find someone in your area that wants to get rid of their LR for cheap. We got 50 lbs of LR for $100. $2 a pound "ain't" bad at all. You probably need about 35 lbs. of LR...
3. Take it slow when adding fish, especially since you'll be adding more LR down the road. You could re-start a cycle and then any fish or inverts you have in your tank would be hurt in the process.
4. Your stocking list sounds good. For a nice burst of multi-color, you could do a Purple Firefish or a nice Fairy Wrasse (although the Sixline may have an issue with one, since he was added first.) A Midas Blenny is also a good choice; gorgeous and a really cute personality to boot. I wouldn't do more than four or five small fish, and that's with regular water changes and/or a kick-butt filtration system/skimmer.
5. Looks good so far. Have fun!
(And don't worry about not getting a lot of comments. The boards move fast, and especially during the day, a lot of people aren't on.)
1. I going to get my own test kit soon. and my LFS that i got the fish from is
not a ***** and i really trust i since ive been goin there for like 5 years. they no im gunna by it there so im not worrying about that.
2. Im gunna get alot more LR ( maybe some more this week). I need to check some boards, but i dont no how im gunna get it. do people mail it or do i have to pick it up?
3. Im not getting another fish till after my birthday ( THANKSGIVING!), because im takin it slow, with the extra money ill by some LR
4.i think i have my fish list- 6line wrasse, false perc, royal gramma, (maybe purple) firefish, and maybe a watchman goby
5. Im havin a lot of fun with tank, ijust want comments so i can no wat im doing right and wrong. and thanks for the comment
Here are my comments:
1. Get your own testing kit. A liquid one is recommended, as the test strips are not reliable. Salifert is the best, but Red Sea is good, as is Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. I've had fish stores tell me that my parameters were fine just to make a sale...
2. Definitely add some more LR. I know you might be doing this on a budget, but if you look on local selling boards or even on these boards, you might find someone in your area that wants to get rid of their LR for cheap. We got 50 lbs of LR for $100. $2 a pound "ain't" bad at all. You probably need about 35 lbs. of LR...
3. Take it slow when adding fish, especially since you'll be adding more LR down the road. You could re-start a cycle and then any fish or inverts you have in your tank would be hurt in the process.
4. Your stocking list sounds good. For a nice burst of multi-color, you could do a Purple Firefish or a nice Fairy Wrasse (although the Sixline may have an issue with one, since he was added first.) A Midas Blenny is also a good choice; gorgeous and a really cute personality to boot. I wouldn't do more than four or five small fish, and that's with regular water changes and/or a kick-butt filtration system/skimmer.
5. Looks good so far. Have fun!
1. I going to get my own test kit soon. and my LFS that i got the fish from is
not a ***** and i really trust i since ive been goin there for like 5 years. they no im gunna by it there so im not worrying about that.
2. Im gunna get alot more LR ( maybe some more this week). I need to check some boards, but i dont no how im gunna get it. do people mail it or do i have to pick it up?
3. Im not getting another fish till after my birthday ( THANKSGIVING!), because im takin it slow, with the extra money ill by some LR
4.i think i have my fish list- 6line wrasse, false perc, royal gramma, (maybe purple) firefish, and maybe a watchman goby
5. Im havin a lot of fun with tank, ijust want comments so i can no wat im doing right and wrong. and thanks for the comment
bjoe23
Active Member
On the 18th day already! i cant believe how fast its goin by. well today just a little more to the developing tank. I got 2 pieces of LR (im guessing about 3 or 4 lbs, forgot to ask them to way it. One of them is on 2 of the big peices giving it some hieght and another is on the kinda bare end of the tank. Ill get some pics either tommarow or saturday. My sixline is also doin great! he likes the new rocks and is finding paths between all rocks. Hes swims in and out of them all the time.
bjoe23
Active Member
Well i got pics kinda rushed so they arent great, but i got some. Ill try to get better ones tomarrow when they are more confortable. But here they are.....
Full Tank
2 True Percs
Clown and Sixline
Sixline under new LR
Like i said they arent great, but they will have to do for now. Ill get better ones tommarow
and plz can some1 comment?
Full Tank
2 True Percs
Clown and Sixline
Sixline under new LR
Like i said they arent great, but they will have to do for now. Ill get better ones tommarow
and plz can some1 comment?
bjoe23
Active Member
Well my tank is offically 3 weeks old and i got some OK pics of the baby clowns. I dont think i mentioned it but they are 2-3 months old. I got them at my LFS and they have 2 more of they're brothers/sisters there. I like them so much i want the other 2 but i wont get them because i want some different fish. I think it will be really cool to watch them grow up and have them in my tank most of their lives. anyway ill post some pics in a second
bjoe23
Active Member
tank is goin great! i really love the baby clowns! after thanksgiving ( my brithday!
) i will order some LR from swf.com. I tihnk ill have to get 12 lbs because if i got the 25lbs it would be too much. So my brithday is in 2 days and i think i could be getting some LFS/swf.com gift cards/money. The person at my LFS said the clowns liked swimming into the power heads so i will get 1 or 2. I also am going to upgrade the lighting and get corals down the road too.
zerorossi
Member
Tank looks great!!!
like others have said... check your local reef boards and craigslist for people getting rid of live rock.
I just set up my 29 gal setup, I got ~60 lbs of LR, 50 lbs of LS and ~40 lbs of Base Rock all for $75.
(deals are out there, and they are worth waiting for)
like others have said... check your local reef boards and craigslist for people getting rid of live rock.
I just set up my 29 gal setup, I got ~60 lbs of LR, 50 lbs of LS and ~40 lbs of Base Rock all for $75.
(deals are out there, and they are worth waiting for)
sfoister
Member
Had I seen this thread before you started adding fish I would have advised to add all your LR before adding any fish or you'll run the risk of cycling while you add rock. What's done is done, just make sure you're buying cured rock.
I would recommend a background on the tank. It's just a film that you can stick to the back of the tank so the wall, wires, and all that stuff is covered up. I personally think black is better than blue because it adds an illusion of dept to the tank.
I would also recommend that you get the surface of your water moving really well, after a while (especially when adding new LR) you'll notice the surface of your water getting filmy or almost soapy looking.
Just remember that fish grow, and you will become attached to them. I only have 2 fish in my 24 gallon. And thank god for that because they are outgrowing it. Here's a pic of mine.
I also have a diary thread, or moreso a before and after thread on this forum, check it out for more pics.
I would recommend a background on the tank. It's just a film that you can stick to the back of the tank so the wall, wires, and all that stuff is covered up. I personally think black is better than blue because it adds an illusion of dept to the tank.
I would also recommend that you get the surface of your water moving really well, after a while (especially when adding new LR) you'll notice the surface of your water getting filmy or almost soapy looking.
Just remember that fish grow, and you will become attached to them. I only have 2 fish in my 24 gallon. And thank god for that because they are outgrowing it. Here's a pic of mine.
I also have a diary thread, or moreso a before and after thread on this forum, check it out for more pics.
bjoe23
Active Member
my tank is now 4 weeks old. Got a background that is black on 1 said and blue on the other. anybody have any prefernces? Black or blue? Fish are doing great! i got some frozen shrimp ill feed them tommarow. Also i have some brown algae on my LS and i no that is common but should i siphon that when i do my water changes? should i touch the LS or will all the stuff in it come out?
tferrante
Member
your tank is coming along great....my only word of advice to you is to be patient and do not rush it.....get yourself a test kit and monitor the water. I was new to this hobby this past summer and I truly believe the secret to saltwater is to have plenty of water movement and live rock.....good luck to you and your tank
bjoe23
Active Member
Thanks for the advise and im taking it slow. if this was a fresh water tank i would have about 10 fish in it already.
I went with the black background, i put the blue up and it was ok, then i put the black up and i really liked it. the clowns are swiming up against the back wall and are like " wat happened here?" the sixline is also inspecting it. it was a pain putting it up. then i had it all taped up and i had to trim it alot. when i switch it around it was a little easier. i took a picture and it looked alot better. I dont think i posted a pic since i got 2 small pieces of LR about a week ago.
on the side note i dug up my old 20L to put under my 29. im thinking of moving my tiny red eared slider from my 10 to it OR moving my freshwater fish in my 10 to it OR get new fresh water fish in it OR get new freshwater fish it it OR get african chiclids. i dont think ill make it into a SW tank because im saving money for a better lighting system. but that doesnt mean i dont want another SW in the future tho!
I went with the black background, i put the blue up and it was ok, then i put the black up and i really liked it. the clowns are swiming up against the back wall and are like " wat happened here?" the sixline is also inspecting it. it was a pain putting it up. then i had it all taped up and i had to trim it alot. when i switch it around it was a little easier. i took a picture and it looked alot better. I dont think i posted a pic since i got 2 small pieces of LR about a week ago.
on the side note i dug up my old 20L to put under my 29. im thinking of moving my tiny red eared slider from my 10 to it OR moving my freshwater fish in my 10 to it OR get new fresh water fish in it OR get new freshwater fish it it OR get african chiclids. i dont think ill make it into a SW tank because im saving money for a better lighting system. but that doesnt mean i dont want another SW in the future tho!
