I HAVE A QUESTION??????

[yelllowtang]

I just bought a 29 gallon all glass aquarium kit. Anyway i have had it up and running for about a month and I have 7 damsels 1 percula clown 1 coral beauty and 1 yellow tang in the tank and 2 scooter blennies. But anyway
I have a question I wanted to add maybe some anenomes or some live coral.But can I use the lighting that came with the tank it's a 20 watt florescent bulb. Or do I need like a 40 watt bulb?
I was thinking about special lighting but I went down to my lfs and that kind of lighting was like $300.00 wayyyyy out of my budget. Anyway can I have anenomes or coral or invertebrates in a tank with just normal lighting?
And also just to mention there is also like 6 pieces of LIVE ROCK in the tank. There doesnt seem to be anything live on 5 peices of the rock but on one rock there are 2 FEATHER DUSTERS.

 

[paulytee]

IMO- I believe the only corals (to my knowledge)to keep is some leathers. Inverts will be fine but I would take your tang back and a couple of the damsels. IMO(again) the tang needs a bigger tank esp. because they love to swim a whole lot! And with the amount of fish you have now, I think you might be pushing your nitrite/nitrate levels too high.
Test your water and buy yourself a couple of reef books! email if you need some good book titles...
my email is paulytee@hotmail.com
good luck and patience in a reef is a virtue!

 

[nm reef]

First...welcome to the board.....glad to see you are learning about this wonderful hobby
Second...slow down a lil....you are getting over-loaded for a 29 gal tank....I've got a 29 with only 2 damsels........so for one you may need to adjust your stock......then consider carefully adding corals......polyps and mushrooms are nice to start with but you may need to look closely at additional lighting....best bet for now would be to slow WAY down......get a couple of good sw books.....read....ask questions......and be patient........

 

[jond]

I couldn't agree more. You need to take that yellow tang back. Your LFS should have never sold it to you if they knew you only had a 29gal. tank. Your tank is only a month old and you are heading for a big disaster IMO. I do wish you luck and have fun. It is a cool hobby.

 

[flydan]

Hey,
I agree with what you've been told so far. I didn't see in your post if you had any kind of clean-up crew? (Snails/Hermit crabs?) If you want to add something to your tank without increasing the bio-load I would suggest some of these critters for you. (A good amount for you would be 8-10 turbo snails and 6 or so hermit crabs.)
If you have questions, this is the place!
Welcome aboard.
Take care,
Dan'l

 

[salisbury a d]

I agree with the above.
Take back the tang.
Damsels, well that seems risky to my once established they become little devils and tail nippers.
YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN.
Last do you have live rock?
If not I would not sugjest getting any corals.
Even if you did I still wouldn't.
There are to many fish for corals they would die with the amount of fish waste.
The reason for no life on the rock is it is still cylcing. Give it a month or two before anything else.
Your lightning IMO is insoficiant.
If an anemone is introduced they require optimum water quality and should be introduce aroun the 6th month the tank has been in operation.
Welcome to an expesive hobby and like all of us knowledge and patients is key.
Adam
[ July 18, 2001: Message edited by: Salisbury A D ]

 

[playtime]

Welcome.
So far it seems your getting pretty good advise. The tank is too small for the tang. You will definately need more lighting for corals and anenomes. If you decide you want to add corals at some point you need a protien skimmer first and of coarse more light. I know that a 29 gal might not seem small but keep in mind that you have cut down on the room in your tank with the live rock. After you have purchased more live rock, more lighting, and a protien skimmer, try starting with some mushrooms. They are a great beginner coral and they are awesome. In case you aren't sure, you should test your water regularly with a tank that size. I have a 25 gal and a 32 gal and I know from experience that the levels can change overnight. You should do frequent water changes to keep up the quality. As everyone else here stated, Slow Down. The more you rush, the more money your gonna flush, if you know what I mean. Pick up a few good books and keep up with the BB. Ask lots of questions, and remember that we were all where you are once and sometimes even more. I hope I helped
playtime

 

[yelllowtang]

A big thanks to everybody who gave advise.

 

[yelllowtang]

To answer somebody elses question about if I have any kind of cleanup crew: my lfs were sold out of snails and hermits so I have to wait until they get those in but when they do how many and what kinds should I get?
And should I have shrimp?

 

[yelllowtang]

Just to answer on the comments about me having to get rid of my yellow tang because I have a 29 gallon tank.
I got my Tang for onlt one reason. My lfs told me I could have him in a 29 gallon tank.
And today after I logged on and read to replies on this disscussion board. I didn't know what to think. So I called a differnt fs
and they told me I could have him again in a 29 gallon fish tank. they told me the rule of thumb is 5 gallons for every inch of fish.
I didn't know that or I wouldnt of got him.
my lfs never told me that even though I had asked them many question before I even started my tank.I am now planning on getting rid of my yellow tang and some of the damsels or possibly all of the damsels.I am hoping that my lfs will take them back.
I thank everybody for all of there great info. And now I think the people at my lfs have lost their minds for telling me that I could have a Yellow Tang in a 29 gallon tank.