"newbie" questions ;)

[newbie333]

I have a couple "newbie questions" because I am interested in getting a saltwater tank. If you have the time , please answer them.
1) I think I am getting a 30 gallon fish only tank, Is this a good starting size?
2) I have a tetra eternal ilter with the built in heater, it turns the water 5 times an hour, I might also get a protien skimmer, is this filter good?
3) How many, and what kind of fish can put in my tank?
Thank you

 

[michaeltx]

1) there are a lot of good looking 20 or 30 gallon tanks but get the biggest that you can it gives you more leway in water chemistry the smaller the tank the more a minor flucuation can effect it.
2) in a reef tank people try to go a more natural filtration method live rock and live sand. the external filters work for surface agitation but in a reef setup the filter media doesnt really have a permanant role. I would switch that filter to another. you are going to need a more reliable heater that is going to last keeping the water at around 80 degrees for a long period of time. alot of those internal heaters arent that acurate and can go out very easily. some even have exposed metal( dont remeber which one though). protein skimmer is almost a have to have. I suggest that you get one it will help out in water quality/
3) really depends on what type of corals that you want and what other fish you want. do you have an idea of some fish that you want?
you found a good site just keep asking questions and take things slow. it will save moeny and time in the long run along with a lot of fish and invert lives.
Mike

 

[daniel411]

I believe that filter is actually stated to be for freshwater only. Its good that you want to start with fish only first. A 30 gallon can be an alright starter tank. Will require more careful attention versus a 55-90. Start really slow, and maybe a couple chromis, damsels, or clown fish should be find. Best of luck! Oh and ask away, I can't believe how much I've learned from this site in the past two months... versus "ALL" of the sw books I've read.

 

[steven the fish]

I agree with both of them, this site has healped me a lot, and saved me a lot of trouble. The key to saltwater fish is patience.

 

[newbie333]

It's actually a fish-only tank, so i think If I have that filter, with a protien skimmer, it should be fine. I hope to cycle it with 3-4 damsels, then my lfs will take them back, I hoped after it was cycled to add a clownfish, yellow tang, gramma, and 1 other fish. (what other fish would be good?) and can I add all those fish at the same time?

 

[steven the fish]

IMO after you cycle you're tank you should slowly add you're fish, if you add them all at once this could cause a spike and therefore kill you're fish. And about the damsils i have only had luck with the green chromis, all the other ones kept killing each other.

 

[michaeltx]

check with how makes the filter there may be parts that arent SW safe I am not sure of that model. I would still suggest even if that filter will work to get a different heater. the can real cause alot of damage if it fails on ya.
also with a cycle instead of waste money and the lifes of the fish use a grocery store shrimp you will actually get a better cycle out of it. the fish some make it but alot dont.
the cycle starts with ammonia (very toxic to fish and inverts) which is coverted to nitrite( which isnt as toxic but still toxic) that is converted to nitrate (toxic only at high levels)
if you subject a fish to this and it dies the store more than likely will not replace it. something to think about.
if you add all the fish at once your ammonia will go up and be in the same situation as above. but if you add one fish at a time then the tank has a week or so to build up to take care of the bio load. ideally wait about 3-4 weeks between adding fish.
also the yellow tangs can get aggressive so I would add him last what ever you do .
HTH
Mike

 

[sandman12]

Iam have started a 30L as my first tank and so far so good. I cycled my tank with 3 blue fin damsels,live rock, and an anenome(I wouldnt try it with the anenome again i got lucky). E-mail me with more ?'s if u want u have to e-mail me though milkmanf12@aol.com

 

[kev]

Newbie,
QT all of your fish!! If you dont you'll just be waiting for a huge outbreak of ick or some other type of fish disease. IMO, QT'n fish is one of the biggest things that most new hobbists skip(or dont know about.)

 

[cowbuoy]

hold the boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Isn't anyone gonna say anything about a yellow tang in a 30 gallon????????????????????
NOT a good idea at all

 

[nacl-man]

Originally posted by newbie333
I hope to cycle it with 3-4 damsels, then my lfs will take them back, I hoped after it was cycled to add a clownfish, yellow tang, gramma, and 1 other fish. (what other fish would be good?) and can I add all those fish at the same time?
Do not cycle with Damsels, your LFS will not take back a dead damsel. Use a dead raw shrimp or LR if at all possible. It's just not fair on the fish... and it is an un-neccessary pain especially if you do not intend to keep them.
Be careful with a Tang... they need a lot of swiming room to be happy. I think a tank with a pair of perc clowns and a Bi-color blenny would be awesome. Just my opinion!
Cheers!

 

[michaeltx]

I was thinking of another tank for some reason I completely missed that when I posted above.
im slippin LOL
the yellow tang is a very very very bad idea for a small tank.
if it doesnt have enough room to swim it will get a diease clalde HLLE along with stress the fish to a point that it will more than likely die in the long run. any tang in a small tank not just the yellows are a bad descion.
Mike

 

[newbie333]

Ok, if my lfs says it ok, I will cycle with the shrimp (dead), anyone with personal experience with cycling with theses please reply . Umm my lfs said the filter was fine, so Im ok, on that, especially since theres no corals (fish-only). Ummm how about a cardinal, false perc, gramma, damsel, and a bi-color angel or a yellowhead jawfish?
any people with jawfish experience or with experience on any other fish I mentioned please tell me about them, about there feeding habits, and what they eat
thanks

 

[austingirl]

I'm also new and have a 30gallon hex, you will have to choose your fish very carefully since you will only be able to have a few. I have a clown and I love him, very cool to watch. I also have a bi-colored blenny and he is also very interesting. From what I've read so far the jaw fish has a tendency to jump from just about any opening that it can find and it will also need enough sand and mixed substrait to make a burrow. Try to stay away from other bottom dwellers if you go for a jaw fish, they may fight over the burrows.
HTH
Sarah

 

[newbie333]

I either want a firefish, or jawfish, definatley the clown, cardinal, gramma, and 1 other fish. 5 fish in all please post comments on these fish

 

[michaeltx]

firefish, or jawfish, definatley the clown, cardinal, gramma, and 1 other fish. 5 fish in all please post comments on these fish
the firefish are jumpers so you will have to take measures to keep him in the tank. cardinals would rather be in groups rather than individuals. 4-5 usually do really good together and will school for safety. the dont have to be in groups though but I would try to keep them in a small group rather than one.
I have heard of the grammas being aggressive but no experience with them .
HTH
Mike