new tank help

[wastememphis]

Hello,

I'm starting a saltwater tank with a new 29 gallon tank, but I have a lot of questions. I have a regular strip light, I forget of hand but I think it's only a 20 watt one... anyway, I'm aware that I should get better lights but I just want to cycle it for now. Um... I have a Fluval 204 (msf?) filter made by Hagen; it’s a multi-stage filter for a 40gallon tank, 180 gallons per hour maybe 110 gal/hr. I also have a 150 watt heater made by Marineland. I want the tank to be semi reef... with pulsing xenia polyps in a month or so also, I'd like to get leather coral and possibly a large cup mushroom. I was basically wondering what the best florescent bulb i could put in my standard strip without spending a lot, I'll just save up for the halide. I have 40lbs of sand for the tank and I was going to get live rock tomorrow (then I'll have pics up here of the tank). I saw a ribbon eel (white) at a store, and it was in a tank with a green mandarin... so another question is, could I put a mandarin with a black male/blue ribbon eel. I read the ribbon eels could be considered a community fish, and all the tanks I have seen a ribbon eel in weren't that large, though the eel can get big so does anyone have information about them. I was also interested in getting a fox face rabbit fish, maybe two clowns and POSSIBLY a yellow frog fish but i was just wondering about them. Thanks to any response.

Neil.

[MonoSebaelover]

The best Normal Output (NO) would be a Power-Glo bulb for now. It won't be able to maintain corals but will provide light. I would just get Power Compacts when you get the money, will be much cheaper.
On to the fish. The white ribbon is a different species than the Black, Blue, Yellow Eel. The Ghost Ribbon (White) is Pseudechidna brummeri and the Black, Blue, and Yellow Ribbon is Rhinomuraena quaesita. Since you are new at saltwater I HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest avoiding both species. The Ghosts are easier but they can still be tricky. It is really hard to get the Rhinomuraena Ribbon to eat and is not something a newbie should try. I have been keeping saltwater fish for 7 years and just in August is when I decided to try my first Ribbon and he is doing great (the one in my avatar). Plus Ribbons do not allow for a lot of fish to be kept with them. I have mine in a 55 gallon and he is with a Ghost Ribbon Eel, Lg Engineer Goby, lg PJ Cardinal, a Halichoeres Wrasse, and a pair of Tomato Clowns. While in the store this eel ate a Dragon Goby (the sand sifter one) so they can eat large prey items. Foxfaces require a minimum of 75 gallons when they get larger and might stress a little bit in a 29. Just my opinion. Two Clowns would work. Frogfish require a species only tank due to the feeding requirements so they can't be kept in a community tank. Anyway, hope this helps.

[wastememphis]

If I were to do a species tank and just have (O.?)Clownfish how many could I initally fit in there, in hope of adding more live rock and anenomes, leather coral, cup mushrooms, ect... and what do (O.?)Clownfish like?? How many anenomes are usually in a tank with clowns, is it one per fish??

[Gealcath]

If your getting Anemones just for clowns, clowns dont need them, and alot of captive raised ones wont host with Anemones.

[MonoSebaelover]

And the way Clownfish harems work is the most dominant fish will be a female and the second most dominant will be a male. Then all the rest will be subordinates and basically never mature sexually until either the male or female dies then the next most aggressive subordinate takes their place. It doesn't really work very well in captivity as the subordinates generally get picked on too much. Especially in only a 29 gallon I would only do two Clownfish. Anyway, hope this helps.