Questions about reef tanks?

[mus1cizmythang]

I have a 30 gallon tank with a domino damsel, coral banded shrimp, zebra lion fish, feather duster i think 8-10 lbs lr? and hermit crabs. I was wanting to add some pieces of beginner coral to my live rock, what do you think of this? I don't know that I want necessarily a huge reef tank, but I'd love some corals.
Do i need a protein skimmer sump and all that?

 

[1guydude]

Wats ur current filtration and lighting situation ? Protein skimmers imo r a must on reef tanks! Unless u wanna do a decent size water change weekly! Im not sayin they get rid of the need for a water change!!!! However they r great at taking impurities outta the water! Think of it like being at the beach and every time the wave comes in and out...theres that foam crap build up....usually that foam is nasty looking and brown and full or crud! Well thats wat a protein skimmer does essentially.
Im not the in house scorpion fish expert but i dont know about a zebra lionfish being housed in a 30gal is adequate!
O and get more LR!!!! I know its spendy but u can find deals from people on maybe a local reef club or CL.....when someone is breaking down their tank! Usually that comes with some neglect on the tank so beware of pests and unwanted hitchhikers!

 

[mus1cizmythang]

Thanks so much! Not sure of lighting and filtration as I am out of town.
I don't know.. This hobby is just so addicting!! The 30 gallon was an upgrade from a 10 gallon kind of recently and now I'm wanting to go BIGGER! so idk if i should spend money on some extra corals and protein skimmer (probably also need a new light) or just go to an even bigger tank any thoughts on this?

 

[1guydude]

LOL this hobby is very addicting and beautiful imo!!!!
Just last week i upgraded one of my tanks as well! I went from a 10gal to a 20L and boy wat a diffrence! Is urs a long tank or a high tank?
This is up to you lol....dont go getting coral however if ur lighting isnt sufficent enough to keep em alive! Also dont go cheap on products in this hobby as it will usually come back to bite you. I bought a cheaper lighting system for my 36gal and now i want a $200+ light system so i just basically wasted cash on that 1st fixture! Also i bought a skimmer off the auction site and its pretty much a useless bubble machine LOL
Quote:
idk if i should spend money on some extra corals and protein skimmer (probably also need a new light) or just go to an even bigger tank any thoughts on this?

 

[mus1cizmythang]

Mine is a 30 long.
I'm really not sure what to do cause idk how much more i can fit in my 30, and alot of the really pretty fish need 55g+.

 

[1guydude]

well wat do u have in it? Theres plenty of smaller fish that are colorful and elegante lol!
30longs make nice reef tanks too!

 

[mus1cizmythang]

I'm about to have a zebra lionfish in there, I have a domino damsel, XL featherduster and a coral banded shrimp.