New 28 Gallon Tank

[uberlink]

After five or six years with a freshwater tank, I am starting over with saltwater. I would like to establish a reef tank with a handful of docile and hardy fish, including hopefully a couple of clownfish. I'd love some advice on how to get from where I'm at to where I'd like to go.
Where I'm at:
I have a 28 gallon bow-front tank leftover from my freshwater days. I have placed a mixture of live sand and crushed shells in the bottom about three inches deep. The tank has been full of saltwater for about a week, and I'll add a 20 pound piece of live rock tonight (ordered from saltwaterfish.com). The tank is fitted with a 170gpm cartridge-type filter with a biowheel, and a 250gpm Skilter (mechanical filter plus protein skimmer).
Where do I go next?
I understand it can be good to start with a couple of hardy fish before adding any corals or inverts. Is that good advice? Could I do a couple of clownfish now? Would something else be better?
Or would it be better to start with corals and other inverts?
If you were setting up a tank like mine, what would be your next step? And what after that? I would love to hear what has worked for other people, and if you have a book or two to recommend (other than the Dummies book, which I've already read), I'd appreciate those suggestions.
Feel free also to direct me to prior posts. I've searched (admittedly, probably not very well), and I found a few things that addressed some of my questions. But I'd love to see people's thoughts in one place. Thanks so much.
-Mark

 

[littlebuck]

well 1st of all i would like to say you should look at getting rid of the shells. and just do all sand. Because you will haev probs with nitrate later on. You also need to cycle your tank which will take around 4-8 weeks oro so. i would not put anything in there until this is done or you will kill everything and have to rebuy stuff.

 

[uberlink]

Thanks for the reply. Do others agree that the shells are a bad idea? They came strongly recommended by my local aquarium shop in Minneapolis as a means of increasing the calcium content in the water, but I am certainly open to contrary advice.
Also, I should clarify, I didn't mean to suggest that I would add anything right now. I meant to ask what I should add first. I plan to wait at least a few more weeks before I add any fish or inverts of any kind.
Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[littlebuck]

well i would look at some green chromis but make sure you do wait untill your tank is fully cycled and everything is at 0

 

[uberlink]

Many thanks for the advice.
Any thoughts on adding a shrimp to enhance the cycling? Necessary? Wise? Better to consider some other alternative (like fish food)?

 

[littlebuck]

i never did it i just let my tank run but everyoen says it speeds it up

 

[bonzaiblit]

IMHO your 3" depth of shell/sand is excessive and harmful. This will provide for collection of waste thus creating more toxin. Reef Notes writer Julian Sprung has even recommended NO sand/gravel/crushed coral/shell/etc. or if for asthetics then only 1/2".
As per your fish population on a 28 gal. be careful. If you have not cycled the tank do not add the clownfishes. Upon launching my new 55 about 9 mos ago, I waited 15 days before adding (3) 1" yellow tail damsels. They are known in the industry as a very hardy fish.
Keep a journal of water tests to better understand where your tank is on the nitrogen cycle. Keep in mind of the ammonia spike after adding your first fishes.
Good Luck

 

[uberlink]

Thank you for your reply and advice.
I will certainly wait to add any fish or anything until the tank has cycled a while longer. It has been up and running for about ten days. I'm checking the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate numbers daily. It is progressing through the cycle quite nicely, but I plan to wait another week or two before adding anything. At that time, I'll likely just add a couple of fish--maybe percula clowns. I'll give it at least a couple more weeks, and then might add some hermit crabs. A bit later, I may add some snails. I'll wait at least a few months before considering corals of any kind.
Does that seem appropriate?
As to the sand and crushed coral/shells, I may consider reducing the coverage, particularly by selectively yanking out some of the chunks of coral and shells. Seem like a good approach?

 

[fishmamma]

when all your rock is in the tank a small cycle should occur naturally lasting 2-4 weeks. Once you have maintained levels of zero ammonia and nitrite for a few days to a week do a 20% water change and add that pair of clowns. You can lightly feed the tank some fish food through out the cycling process if you wish. Some inverts to consider adding after the cycle would be a small clean-up crew consisting of a variety of snails and some hermits. You could also add some type of shrimp. Skunk cleaners are very popular and a pair will add some color and interest as well as pick up any food missed by the fish.
I have never used a shrimp to cycle, just live rock. This creates a smaller cycle to to speak so the need to stock slowly is even more importnat IMO. Adding a pair of fish at once may cause a slight increase in ammonia (negligable amounts) so it is wise to keep some water ready for small frequent water changes during the first couple of weeks should you see a small ammonia spike occur. Best of look in your switch, have fun!!

 

[jacknjill]

i would take the shells out for reasons stated previously. you can put however much sand you prefer, it doesnt really matter unless you have burrowing fish.
for the cycle, once you put your rock in, there will be no need for a shrimp because the rock will start it off for you.
for fish, you could consider getting a couple of clownfish, a royal gramma, a firefish, chromis, goby of somesort, or any fish that will stay small. probably 3 or 4 small fish would be good
once your tank finishes cycling, i would get a couple of snails, hermits, and some sort of shrimp if you want. then i would get 1 fish. you can add 1 fish every 2-3 weeks. then, if you have the correct lighting, you could start adding easy corals to start with. mushrooms, zoos, xenias, basically any softies would be good. did you say what kind of lighting you had?

 

[uberlink]

Thanks so much for the great advice! It's so helpful to have some concrete suggestions as to what might work. Really appreciate it.

 

[uberlink]

Originally Posted by JacknJill
did you say what kind of lighting you had?

Sorry, I didn't say what kind of lighting in this thread. I have a 24" Orbit Sunpaq with a 65w actinic and a 65w full spectrum compact fluorescent.

 

[jacknjill]

then you will be fine with some softies to start off your reef. good luck and keep us updated

 

[bonzaiblit]

Good Luck it looks like you are off to a good start.

 

[37g joe]

to me its sounds like your being smart not rushing it. which is very difficult to do i have rushed things in the past and let me tell you its hard to slow down once you have started. My opinion is only to get fish that you want to keep in the long run its hard to part with any fish unless its a real problem maker. some damsels are very beutiful but they can tank over your tank. if you want clowns than do clowns they are pretty hardy once they get settled in. remember that when you get your fish most likely there adolecents and it well take a while to get full size especially clowns. I would put some more live rock in their befor you put fish in thier. at least another 40 lbs. because once you add live rock in a tank that size you well have some spikes. ultimatly you would want all the live rock you would ever put in there which would be about 60 total or more for a good healthy aquarium.
also i see you have the orbit 65 watt setup Im thinking of buying those or the coralife equvilent what is your opinion on this lighting system I know its early but what color does it produse in the tank is it prety easy and versitile to work with?

 

[uberlink]

Originally Posted by 37g Joe
also i see you have the orbit 65 watt setup Im thinking of buying those or the coralife equvilent what is your opinion on this lighting system I know its early but what color does it produse in the tank is it prety easy and versitile to work with?

It's beautiful light. Very bright and with just a bluish tint. I particularly like the effect of the lunar lamps at night. So far, I haven't had too much algae growth (some...but not terrible), for whatever that's worth. And it's a very nice looking unit. Runs cool and extremely quiet...very little fan noise.
Obviously, it will be a while before I can really speak to how well they work with livestock. It's still just hermits and snails right now!