new to saltwater, questions...

[jayguad]

hello, my name is jay, and i am thinking about getting into the marine fish world.
i've had african chiclids for sometime now (going on 3 years), and i want to "step it up".
i have a few questions, as i am planning on starting a saltwater tank this june.
first, i have been pricing out some tanks and i think i am gonna start with a 37G (i have a stand for it already)
i wanted to know what fish i sould consider to start with.
FIRST, my fiance told me "I MUST HAVE A NEMO" in the tank.
but i was looking at some ideas for other tankmates.
what i have come up with so far on my wish list is as follows:
1. clown fish
2. fox-faced rabbit fish
3. 2 tangs (i would love a blue AND yellow tang)
4. green mandarin
5. bicolor pseudochromis (2)
6. yellowtail damselfish (2)
(i would love a trigger too, but it might be too many fish)
i was also thinking of an Electric Blue Hermit Crab to "clean the house"
i don't know if its too many fish, or not, keep in mind i am going to be getting "babies" and will upgrade the tank when i need to.
this will be my first saltwater tank, so i think i will start with the damselfish first
as it is my first tank, i am trying to keep the prices as reasonable as possible JUST INCASE - under $20 a pop (i know the tangs are more)
if i am starting off with WAY TOO MUCH, please let me know, i am asking for help.
thanks for your time, and i look forward to hearing your thoughts.
sorry for the long post.
--jay

 

[sepulatian]

Hello Jay, welcome to the boards!!! This list for a 37 gall on would not work. The clown and pseudo are fine. Tangs need a much larger tank, six feet or more is best. It is not so much the size of the fish, but their activity. They are open water swimmers and must have plenty of room. Their health declines without proper space. A foxface will get far too large. Mandarins, while small fish, need ample amounts of mature live rock. They eat copepods, which breed in the rock. They eat hundreds of them per day. Without a large amount of rock the pods will not be able to breed fast enough for them to eat. It is best to stock only those fish that your tank can safely accommodate. If you upgrade, then we can talk about these other fish then. The best thing to do, to ensure a healthy system, is to stock very slowly. Unlike freshwater, everything in salt takes time. Saltwater fish are not as forgiving when it comes to water quality or change. Please feel free to look around this site and ask any and all questions that you think of. Again, welcome!!

 

[bgbdwlf2500]

i dont have many posts because i just found the site and am no means an expert but i would say stay away from the yellow tail damsels. they are by far the MEANEST fish i have ever seen. they will kill their own kind in less than a night.... they dont seem to bother other damsels (clowns) though... just my .02. the only yellow tail damsels ive lost were either sold or killed by their own kind...

 

[turningtim]

I had 2 electric blue hermits. (not the reg blue guys). These are the Hannibal Lecture of hermits. They wipped out all the snails and other hermits in my tank. Needless to say they found another home at the LFS!