new to the game.. SWF my new home you guys are my new family

caomt

Member
hey all new to the forums.. new to saltwater..loving it
i just bought my setup about a month and a week ago...heres a picture of my setup after a week and a half... i know i kinda rushed but i couldnt help it..
i got some gunk on my rock ill get a updated picture up soon!
http://www.tmcao.com/images/Tank.jpg
- 29 Gallon Tank
- Marineland Eclipse 3 Filtration and Illumination System
- Marineland Penguin 1140 Power Head
- Fine White Sand
- Lots and Lots Of Rocks
- Food is seaweed and pellets
- 1 Marine Glo Light Bulb
- Red Sea Salt
Fishes
- Scopes Tang
- Yellow Tang
- 3 Stripe Damsel (2)
- Yellow Tailed Blue Damsel (2)
- Clarki Clown
- Chocolate Chip Starfish
I just added the 3 stripes and clown the other day.. my yellow tang really hates the clown and doesnt want him to bum around ANYWHERE on the bottom floor..i tried to rearrange all my rocks so they can all have their own little rooms.. the scopas tang is protecting the clown when the yellow tries to poke on it...well.. my clown needs a bed.. if anyone can help me out thatll be great.. im new to corals... but im just loving the fact that i can sleep so good at night now.. had a dream everynight for the past week
 

fishmamma

Active Member
Welcome!! I think the problem you are having is a poor stock list. IMO you have too many fish (too soon) and two tangs in a 30 gallon is not a good idea, they need much more room. The clown and the damsels may also be a problem not too far down the road as well. This can be a tough hobby when 'the rules' are not followed........stick around and see if anyone agrees with what I have said, I think you may need to trade in many of your fish for some more compatible tank mates.
The CC star is not reef compatible if you eber decide to start with some corals. Sorry to be such a downer, it just sounds as though by rushing in you were misled by LFS or not educated enough on what can live successfully in a 29 gallon. Just for an example I have a 29 tall with a pistol shrimp/shrimp goby pair, a dwarf pygmy angel, bi-color blenny and 2band clown. Best of luck to you, and congrats on starting this addictive hobby.
 

laust

Member
welcome to the club caomt!! :cheer:
couple of suggestions,
with all that rock, i would suggest another powerhead
grow some thick skin because you are going to get flamed for the tangs in such a small tank. before your headaches become migranes, i would suggest returning the tangs to the LFS and use the credit to get another PH.
i hate to say it, but youre borderline overstocked (even after you take the tangs out) if it were me? i would take all the damsels back and trade them in on a gobie and another clown.
i didnt see you mention anything of a clean-up crew? no snails, no crabs?
last bit of advice.. before you buy anything.. before you make any more decisions on your tank... search these boards, educate yourself as much as you can, it will save you lots and lots of money in the end, and tears.
i wish you all the luck in the world though, this can be a great fun hobby, if you study up on what you are doing first.... if not... you'll be draining and adding oscars before you know it.

have you tested your water? what are the params?
 

symon

Member
Welcome to the Boards! And to Saltwater ( it's not a hobby ,It's a way of life! )
I have to agree, you are really rushing things, And I know how hard it is to wait!
2 tangs in a 29 gallon is a bad move, I have 1 yellow in a 60 and he is already growing out of room!
Not everyone is going to agree with what you are doing, Nor will everyone agree with what i say.
To control alge, cut back on feeding and lighting, feed everyother day and cut lighting timer down, that should help!
Good Luck , be Patience and Enjoy!
 

caomt

Member
thanks for the welcome and input everyone... i know i know
i kinda rushed.. but my first saltwater tank...i dont think the fishes are going to grow anymore in a tank this size...it was a bad move for the tangs..the first week or so they got along fine.. the bigger one which is the scopas didnt try to bully the yellow for space or anything.. but now the yellow is a bully to everyone in the tank..i thought about getting another tank just for him..but i did a little research..and thought maybe i wasnt feeding them enough..so they become agressive..i did do a little reading on the starfish and i read up it might not attack the corals if i keep it eating other stuff..ahh ill never go back to my oscars! had two of them..both about 8-9 inches ..had golfishes at a point.. had angelfishes..had bettas..had chiclids..had alot of different fishes and phazes when i was younger..i really learned something in my first post.. thats all im looking at... and a future investment in a few years... check it out guys www.tmcao.com/images/tank1.jpg and www.tmcao.com/images/tank2.jpg
 

laust

Member
RE: your dream tank pic....
(laughing)...dream big caomt!! if there is another way to dream, i dont know it...
 

fishmamma

Active Member
This is not a lecture:
The fish will grow in any size tank. That is an old myth.....people in small houses do not stop growing- that idea sounds silly for us, why not for fish?? :hilarious They will just be under constant stress, and constant stress leads to illness, decreased appetite for some tangs and aggression. These factors will lead to less than optimal helath which may significantly slow the growth process, but too tight quarters will not make a 5 inch fish stop growing at 2 inches.
Dream tanks.......... :thinking: :joy: :happyfish
 

birdy

Active Member
Agree with the others on the tang issue, they don't stop growing just because you put them in a small tank. they really need to go or there is a good possibility they will get ich and wipe your entire tank out. I don't even like to put two tangs in a 75gallon tank.
My personal preference is not as much rock as you have, ESPECIALLY with two tangs, you have cut the very limited swiming room that they had into almost nothing, tangs love a lot of swimming room.
With so much rock in a reef tank you are going to have trouble with water circulations, you will have dead areas that will collect detritus and deteriorate your water quality. I would get rid of some of that rock.
Not trying to knock you down, just give some advice before you get in too far, espcially with corals you do not want a lot of fish or a large bioload, get rid of the tangs, and just keep the damels (clownfish are damels too).
good luck, hope things work out for you.
Welcome to the boards, I hope you don't think we are picking on you, just hate to see someone and their fish learn the hard way.
 

caomt

Member
i also got a live rock..2 1/2 lbs for 16 bucks... kinda alot but it was a nice one better then any of the lfs have around here in kansas city.. probably try to get more.. from the internet somewhere bc they seem to have better ones...
 

farmboy

Active Member
One big family. . . .WIll you all stop squeezing the toothpaste from the middle of the tube!!
J/K

WELCOME
 
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