How much is too much?

rykna

rykna

Active Member
Hi all.
I helping my friend Beth set up her first saltwater tank. Since my experience lies mainly with reef tanks and seahorses, I need a refresher course about the max critters/fish can you put in a 29g. The tank is a week old.(Please note that I've kept saltwater for 8 years, I am aware of the precautions of setting up a brand new tank with the following contents. I also live next door and I'm monitoring/helping Beth with her tank.)
Tank Contents:
40lbs LS(20lbs of cycled LS from my tanks)
8lbs LR cycled
2lbs DR
Aquaclear 70 power filter
Florescent Coralife bulb
1 decorator crab
6 hermits
6 snails
pods
1 blue damsel
feather dusters(hitch hiker)
pack of reef plants
one button polyp(hitch hiker)

I am comfortable with these:
1 decorator crab
6 hermits
pods
feather dusters(hitch hiker)
pack of reef plants
one button polyp(hitch hiker)
Beth wants to add:
1 shrimp
1 clown fish
colony of button polyps
If it were my tank I would trade the damsel for a another bunch of marine plants, upgrade the light unit, and wait at least a month before considering adding anything else.
What, if there is room, would you suggest adding to this 29g?
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
As far as fish go, if there is a damsel and a clown to be placed in there, then IMO 2 more fish of equal size would be max.. like a six line wrasse, maybe bi color, or lawnmower blenny would be other possible options. In my 29 I have 5 fish 2 Ocellaris and a six line. I also have a green clown goby, and a neon goby but both will not exceed 2" in length. As far as bio load is concerned I am definately maxed but my trates are 0-5 so I am happy. My other concern was territory, the ocellairs will stake claim to a certain area, so when I decided to get tank mates for them I made sure that there would be fish that would compete for territory with the ocellaris. The 2 small fish are LR and coral hoppers the clowns dont even recognize them. The six line grazes everywhere and is quite calm so the relationship is great.
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Thank you.
That was more along the lines that I was thinking. Do you have a picture of your tank you could post? I think seeing a successful set up would be very helpful for her.
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member

Now, now...I don't want to over whelm her...but WOW that is a fantastic tank!!!! I'll definitely show her
How big is the tank?
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by Rykna
http:///forum/post/2760296
Thank you.
That was more along the lines that I was thinking. Do you have a picture of your tank you could post? I think seeing a successful set up would be very helpful for her.
Yep... The sixline is in front of the anemone a little to the left. The 2 clowns are clearly visible the green clown goby is on the zoa rock in the front and unfortunately the neon goby is hiding in this pic.
 
fcatch76

fcatch76

Member
Originally Posted by Rykna
http:///forum/post/2760296
Thank you.
That was more along the lines that I was thinking. Do you have a picture of your tank you could post? I think seeing a successful set up would be very helpful for her.

My mandarin is not in the picture (hunting down some pods) and I have two emerald crabs, fire shrimp a some nudibranches..
 
paintballer768

paintballer768

Active Member
Originally Posted by aloysiusii
http:///forum/post/2761362
12 gallon nano cube moded
Jeeze zoom made it look like a 24-29 gallon haha.
I have a sixline wrasse and 1 small blue chromis (well, 2 of them... but one decided it didnt like his buddy and he's on his last leg). I plan on adding some type of small goby/blenny and possibly an uncommon clownfish, like a n a k e d one or a black and white one. Thatd be maxing out the tank though.
For a beginner, I would try to add things very slowly and all that. You already know how to go about this so no worries. Just like 4 smallish fish max.
 
rykna

rykna

Active Member
Great pics everyone. Thanks for sharing, Beth loves the pics. There's only one problem.....she confessed that she doesn't like chatting online
But she did the the fish choices in your tanks, and her eyes glazed over when she saw all the nano cube pics
I'll keep bringing her back here. Hopefully soon she'll realize that SWF is better than any book you could buy.
Any other words of wisdom for Beth?
~Rykna
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top