many questions...no answers

[chadman]

i am new to the fish thing...i have a 29 gallon tank with about 15lbs of live rock so far...the people at my lfs also had me put in some green hair like algae...was this a good idea? also i bought a current satellite 65w 24h lighting system...will this be sufficient?and if so how the heck do u work the thing... i have many more questions but hopefully someone will be able to help me get started

 

[chadman]

i would eventually if possible like to have a number of small fish,some shrimp and coral...like i said i am new to this so i do not know when i am pushing the limit...i realize that this is a small tank but it is my first tank ever and i wanted it for my bedroom so it was just the right size...once a tank is cycled and i add more live rock how much life can i support in my 29g tank?

 

[weberian]

Are you doing a fish-only with live-rock (FOWLR) or are you planning to have corals (reef)??
Do you know the name of the plant you bought?
I have a different light so can't help you there. Welcome to the boards!!

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by chadman
i would eventually if possible like to have a number of small fish,some shrimp and coral...like i said i am new to this so i do not know when i am pushing the limit...i realize that this is a small tank but it is my first tank ever and i wanted it for my bedroom so it was just the right size...once a tank is cycled and i add more live rock how much life can i support in my 29g tank?
Not many, just a few small fish. Inverts are fine, just be sure there's enough food to go around. You need a well established tank for corals, plus some good filtration system going!!! Another thing you need is flow! Some powerheads will do the trick. Just put your lighting system on a timer on a 12hr day basis. Just do some more research on lighting on the type you have, you might change a few bulbs here and there to finally reach the correct stage where you like to be. Also, welcome aboard!!!!!!!! :happyfish

 

[chadman]

thank you! i have been reading everyones elses for days and finally figured out how to post!
i guess what i am looking to do is a reef set up...is it possible to do this in my size tank?

 

[chadman]

the algae was just labeled loose algea portion...it is green and looks kind of like thick green fishing line wound up in balls

 

[weberian]

My tank is 30 gal and it's been going for about 6 months. I have two fish, a pajama cardinal and a royal gramma. Have been considering a third, thinking about a sixline wrasse. But that would be my limit for max fish in the tank.
I bought a light with two 96W bulbs, one daylight 12,000K color temperature, and one actinic blue, and it came with 3 moonlights. Total watts = 192, for a watts per gallon of 6.4. I'm not sure yet but I have been told that my light will only support lower-light types of coral.

 

[chadman]

if by powerheads you mean a filter i purchases a tetratec pf 150...sorry i am new to the tropical fish lingo

 

[chadman]

so if i only have 65w then that is just over 2 watts per gallon which is not going to cut it huh?

 

[weberian]

I have that "macro" algae too - cheatomorph. If you want reef, could you tell us more about your light - how many bulbs and total watts, etc.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by chadman
if by powerheads you mean a filter i purchases a tetratec pf 150...sorry i am new to the tropical fish lingo

I mean by stuffs like a Maxi-jet! I think a maxi-jet 600 would work fine in your tank, maybe something smaller? Don't remember how small they go. Also a nice protein skimmer would be good too. Search on it and see! :happyfish

 

[weberian]

Sorry - we're both typing at the same time. Yeah total of 65 W is - how to break it to you - not too good.

 

[chadman]

is a protien skimmer something that mounts to the back of my tank similar to the filter? like i said i am very new to this

 

[weberian]

I have a maxijet 1200, and it's too powerful, so I just ordered a 900 and a 600, so I could have some choices of lesser flow, plus I need some extras for mixing chores etc.

 

[chadman]

i wish i would have spoken to you guys before i went and spent a small fortune on stuff that will not even work....OY VEY!

 

[weberian]

This stuff is pretty expensive to me too. Take lots of time looking around and researching before purchasing. You could return stuff right?

 

[chadman]

so you think i will be able to have max 3 fish???

 

[chadman]

yeah i guess i can return the light but i already took the plastic off the bulbs and everything i don't know if they will take it back...i always hate returning things but they did tell me that it would be good for what i was looking to do....

 

[jeepman3sk]

Here is another site that will give you alot of great information. www.reefcentral.com
If you cant return anything that you bought sell it to someone. There are always people looking for equipment espically on reef central. I think you can do 4 fish. Start off by getting good cleaner crew (snails and crabs) Get a shrimp if you want. They are fun to watch. Then decide on what kind of fish you want. ALot of people get a pair of clowns or a pair of firefish. Both are great fish I have never had firefish but I wouild love ot get some. MAke sure you have a test kit for the water (conditions are very important). Um if there is anything else you need you can use AIM is you have it Sailcoboy is my AIM screen name

 

[weberian]

Local fish stores are a crapshoot for advice. Especially with lighting I would think. I was shocked when I found out how much lighting costs, and they just want to make a sale.
I did freshwater for years and was also surprised when I found out you could not keep as many fish in saltwater as in fresh.