Dreaming

[sumer_kay]

First off yes I read the pinned articles, (actually very helpful) But I am less than newb at saltwater, being as I don't even have the tank yet haha! I know there is alot more to a reef tank than fish, but I want to know what size I should go for for the inhabitants I want, and if they will even get along. Its a place for me to start.
I figure I want live rock and sand (duh) also, a cow fish or two, a sea horse, 2 small clown fish, a anenome, a starfish, a cleaner crab guy, and some other various snails, shrimp, and crabs. I live in a apartment though, and don't have room for more than a 50 gallon probably depending on the shape. Maybe a 30 gallon would be perfect. What do you think? I know the inch-gallon rule differs in saltwater. I have heard that anenomes are very picky especially about light. I am pretty sure sea horses also require special care. I'm probably looking at a 6 month set up time, with cycling, and slowly adding new fish. also, what fish would you reccomend for fishy cycling? thanks for your help

 

[Fuzzy]

i wouldnt go with a 30 gallon for thos fish and seahorse, probaly best to go with 50 gal, might have to go bigger. the sea horses can not be kept with anything aggressive, and u probaly already no they can be hard to take care of. for fish cycling i suggest damsels, like a domino damsel or a blue yellow tailed damsel.

 

[remowilliams]

damsels are good for cycling but they are agressive and will likely pick on other fish that are added later. the green chromis are cheap and pretty peaceful but they do better in schools. just do some research and pick a hardy fish that is small and you should be ok. i cycled my tank with a little hawkfish. as far as the sea horses, i would suggest a tank for them all by themselves because the other fish offer too much competition as far as feeding goes (other fish usually eat all the food before the sea horses can get any). also, the sea horses are very hard to care for so i would only try it after you have a lot of experience

 

[Fuzzy]

with the a damsels i just took my out and gave them back to the lfs when it was cycled. if u do that make sure they'll take them back. listen to remo he's tellin u right on the seahorse.

 

[sumer_kay]

I've decided against seahorses, way above my expertise. Can the camel cows/cow fish really kill everyone? maybe they are box fish. The ones I saw had no horns.

 

[remowilliams]

when the cow fish is stressed they release toxins into the water which will kill all your other stuff. here, read this.

 

[sumer_kay]

okay, update no sea horse! (the pet store jsut killed three and they're supposed to know wut they're doing)
so my list goes
rose anenome
2 lil clown fish "nemo" *disclaimer* *I am not buying due to Finding Nemo, however I did like the movie*
clean up crew (shrimp, crabs, snails, cucumber, ect.)
2 cow fish (I know, I know poison )
2 damsels for cycling
snowflake eel but I heard they wont do well with clownfish
I'm thinking 30-50 depending on price. short and long. tentatively anyways theres my dream.
whats the rule on fish stocking? how much fish to how many gallons? do clean up crews count? how about anenomies?

complete revamp list below

 

[remowilliams]

i would go with at least a 50. bigger is going to be better in your case. plus, if you want the eel it is going to need some space. read this. when he gets bigger he may eat your clown fish. i have seen a snowflake eel about 8 inches long eat a cardinal fish that was like 5 times bigger than the eels head. the eel literally bit the fish in half! just do some research and learn al you can about the fish you want to keep. check out this site.

 

[Fuzzy]

clownfish may easily be takin for a hungry snack by the eel, but i dont no how it would do with the clownfish in a anenome. if u do get 2 clownfish add them both at once so there is no territiory disputes among them. if u get the eel be sure he has some caving to which it will probaly spend most of its time, and dont forgot plenty of regular hidding places. i think u may have to chose one or the other

 

[sumer_kay]

Okay, I'm sure this really isn't too interesting for ya'll but I have done some research, and have revamped, (and cross referenced compatibility) I have decided I will wait till I am more experienced to risk box fish. Before I didn't realize all the choices I had, so I went with the only ones I knew of hahha! really thats only 6 fish in a 50 gallon. Is that too few? they are all peaceful or moderate fish, hardy fish, and moderate to easy carelevel. (except that anenome)

2 ocellaris clown fish (wild)(will take to anenome, and more hardy than true percula)
1 long tenticle anenome
2 blue green reef chromis (will use to cycle)(and more peaceful than damsels)
2 two spot gobys
1 banded coral shrimp
1 pacific conch snail
10 turbo snails
20 dwarf zebra hermits
7 scarlet hermits
live rock
live sand
coral

 

[Adrinal]

 

[Great Lakes]

First, due to limited space, I hate to have a pair of anything. If I can only have six fish in a 50 gallon, I want as much variety as I can. If you get a pair of clowns, get tank raised. They are far more friendly and I have not had one yet that won't accept an anemone.

Gobys love live food primarily, so should only be introduced to very mature systems.

Blue leg hermits are considered more reef safe than the scarlet ones.

If you go with a 55 gallon, you can put an icecap ballast and three VHO bulbs on top for over 300 watts and this will allow you to keep anemones quite easily, along with most soft corals.

The price-o-meter predicts an investment of near $900.00 for startup. This would include the tank, lights, skimmer, live rock, sand and pumps. This also includes discount/used shopping.

The very best thing to do is procure a package like this;

For Sale in Everett, WA
SALTWATER KIT, 55-GAL. tank, 2 lts, 2 heaters, fluval404, 36Wuvlight, Redsea protein skimmer, large airpump, PH& ORP controller etc. used only 4 mos., nice cond. $500 206-234-3778 (206) 234-3778
A bit far from you, but a good example.

Let me know where you are in Ca and I can let you in on some real good deals when they come up.

 

[RamJet]

Ummm, dont kill a fish to cycle. Get a bottle of bacter vital, it will cost less then 2 damsels and do the same thing.

 

[sumer_kay]

Great lakes I'm in the stockton, sacramento area in cali. (And would greatly appriciate you letting me know of a deal near me !!)

Also ramjet, I was under the assumption that those bottles were only temerary fixes, and If I used them I would only suffer nitrate/amonia spikes later. Do they really work? I believe you, I just didn't know they worked.

Thank you all for all of your advice, you guys have really helped me get a better idea of what I'm doing.

As far as the turbo snails, and scarlet and zebra hermit crabs, they were a pacaged cleaner crew deal I saw online for 50$. I don't really know what my choices are.

Also, I saw a 50 gal kit for saltwater for only 350 online, says its everything but sand, rock, and fish. But it has no skimmer, or sump, just other filtration stuff. Will that work as well?

 

[sumer_kay]

okay last time I'll bug you all for a little while anyways
is this

55 saltwater set up kit for 350.00$$

a good deal? figure in shipping, 30 lbs base rock, 30 lbs live rock, 25 lbs live sand, and I'm way under the 900$ mark. (and ready to start cycling )