my fish

[firefish3]

I am still in the planning stage of my reef tank. I was wondering if someone could help me out with what fish to get. I want to put the following in a 30 gallon tank: 2 firefish gobies, 2 scissortail gobies, 3 neon gobies, 2 blue chromis, 3 horseshoe crabs, 2 porceline crabs, 5 Emerald crabs, 5 clams, 1 serpent star, and possibly a purple and/or blue velvet nudibranch.
Would it be overcrouded? howmuch live rock would I need? Should I cut anything out. all comments appreciated
Thanks

 

[birdy]

Waaay overstocked_
In a thirty gallon you could put two firefish gobies, two blue chromis and maybe one other small fish.
Inverts- NO horseshoe crabs, they get enormous and have no place in any but the largest of tanks. You only need one emerald IMO, and one or two porceline, I would say no serpent star either (they can eat fish). Nudibranches are also not recommened. What kind of clams are you talking about, if the are the cleaner kind then fine, but any other type requires very strong lighting.
The VERY first thing you need to do is get a good book, like
The New Marine Aquarium, by Michael S. Palleta or
The Consceintious Marine Aqurist, by Fenner
Your question makes me wonder if you are joking or if you just haven't read anything. I will give you the benefit of the doubt, but try to get some basic knowledge before you start this hobby .

 

[firefish3]

I am very new at this hobby and I gt all of my information online and everything online tells me something different and I dont want to spend thousands of dollars on a fish tank minus all the supplies so thanks very much. I appreciate it. I meant the little horseshoe crabs the sell on SWF.com. And I did mean cleaner clams what about shrimp how about a couple peppermint shrimp? thanks

 

[birdy]

The tiny horseshoe crabs get enormous. And yes you could get a couple of peppermint shrimp, they are very cool. I don't know anything about those cleaner clams so I cannot advise you on them.
I was not trying to put you down, we occasionally get people on here who say they are overstocking a tank, just to get a rise out of people.

 

[firefish3]

thanks for the help. Thats ok. I needed the advise. I cant find any cheap tanks everyone else finds 100g for life 150 I was finding them for like 1000 bucks:help:

Thanks

 

[ricecookie]

If you want to find a decent setup just be patient and check the classified section of the forum. There are always nice tanks for sale. One will probably come up for sale in your area. If you want, you can post a wanted ad. Someone who might not have been selling thier tank may sell it to you.

 

[firefish3]

how do I access the clasified section of the forum. Thanks

 

[fishphreak]

I would stay away from the purple nudibranch, they will most likely die in your tank from starvation.
They tend to eat one specific type of algae and once that is depleated it will starve.
I have a Berghia Verrucicornis (Aiptasia- Eating Nudibranch) that was a hitchhiker on my live rock that I got about 2 months ago. I just noticed him about 2 weeks ago. He seems to be doing well. And food isn't a problem since Aiptasia is ready available at the pet store where I shop and I just bought 5 for $1.50.

 

[firefish3]

Ya they are cool to. Thanks for the advise. Anyone know about spanish dancers I found one for 16 bucks thanks
Firefish Goby

 

[firefish3]

My new proposed tank
1 scissortail goby, 2 firefish gobies, 3 neon gobies, 5 cleaner clams, 2 porceline crabs, 2 emerald crabs, 5 peppermint shrimp, 15 pounds of LR and 3 inches of live sand in a 30 gallon tank
Are anenomies worth the money?
Does anyone know about newpaper nedibranches, they remind me of white twinkies.
Any comments welcome.
if you know anything about any nudibranch please tell me.

 

[ricecookie]

The classified section of the forum is of the main page towards the bottom. It says trading and classifieds.
Just out of curiosity, what level of school are you in? And what are your interests in robotics? I am majoring in MECH E, with a focus in robotic design.

 

[ricecookie]

That is a LOT of livestock for such a small tank. I have a 44 and only have about 8 inches worth of fish in it. 5 damsels and a fire goby. (I inherited the damsels and havent traded them in yet. Evil little $#!%s. I also have 3 camel shrimp and a coral banded shrimp. Plus a small army of cleaners.
If I were you I would get 1 Fire Goby, maybe one scissortail, and some interesting inverts. Also, I would only have one of the crabs that you mentioned. As for the clams.. I have no idea.
If you want to keep Corals, you need really good lighting, which does not come cheap. I would recommend at least 120 watts of lighting. 175 watt metal halide light would do wonders in a 30 gal.

 

[firefish3]

I am still in grade school stuck in the First lego legue I want to major in robotics though it is so fun that of biology or something like that.

 

[ricecookie]

Good luck with your Lego League. I actually coached some kids in one of those competitions when I was in high school. Look up U.S. F.I.R.S.T. robotics on google to see what you have to look foward to in high school.

 

[birdy]

I agree still overstocked.
go with- one firefish, two neons, and one other small fish, I don't think you should mix the scissortail goby with a firefish goby they may not get along as they have similar body types, pick another species like a small perc clown.
You do not need any more than two peppermint shrimp, 1 emerald (they can eat fish if there is not enough for them to eat). and you could go with the two porceline crabs (although you won't see them much, they hide in the LR), As far as the cleaner clams, they also bury in the sand and you will not see them. Better yet, get some turbo snails and some hermit crabs (scarlet hermits are the best).
Get at least 30# of LR.
Cycle properly and go very very slow.

 

[firefish3]

Thanks how about a 3 stripe damsel for the other small fish. Thhanks I know what I have to look foward to and I cant wait. It is so fun. Thanks

 

[firefish3]

Do i need any plants for my tank and I am not going to get the emerald crab. how about a flame scallop. How about the zebra hermit crab they are my favorite.

 

[firefish3]

How about a mouse cowrie?

 

[birdy]

I wouldn't go with a damsel they are really aggressive and in a tank that small they will terrorize your other fish.
Flame scallops typically do not do well in our aqariums, most waste away after a while.
Plants are a great thing for a tank, but they can overtake the tank very quickly, research a refugium if you want the benefits of plants.
I don't know anything about mouse cowrie's so I cannot really advise you there.
As long as you have 30lbs of LR you could go with a royal gramma or maybe a sixline wrasse.

 

[firefish3]

Here is my new line up
2 Firefish Gobies
3 neon gobies
3 cleaner clams
2 Peppermint shrimp
1 mouse cowrie
10 zebra hermit crabs
45 pounds of live rock
3 inches of live sand
possibly a brush plant