29 Gallon Questions...

[K9Decoy]

1) How many, and what kind of fish and inverts could I keep in a 29 Gallon SW tank in addition to my Bicolor Angel and Percula Clownfish?

2) Do I really need to drop money on a protein skimmer for a tank that small if I have enough live rock and do 25% monthly water changes?

3) How much lighing will I need if I want to keep anemones and corals in the future?

4) If I ever want to add more live rock later down the road, how much can I safely add without initially overloading the biological filtration? Should I cure it in a separate tank first, or can I just toss it in with my current setup?

Sorry for so many questions, I'm new to this stuff! Thanks in advance!

[CHughes]

Lotsa questions and JMHOs!

1) How many, and what kind of fish and inverts ...

... salt tanks I believe are about 3" of fish per gal. Just check out the species profiles for the fish you want. In my 33 gal tank I have 2 percula clowns, 2 firefish and a yellow tang (He's moving to my 55 gal once it's broken in). For inverts blue legged hermits and astera snails and a peppermint shrimp.


2) Do I really need to drop money on a protein skimmer ...

...you could go without the skimmer, but I've found it to be a great benefit to the water quality. I have a Seaclone 100 which seems to be working just great...others in this forum have had problems with this make though.

3) How much lighing will I need if I want to keep anemones and corals ...

...I believe the rule of thumb is 3 to 4 watts per gallon for hard corals and anenomes. This will be expensive unless you get a retrofit kit. I haven't ventured here yet just trying to get the basics down first.

4) If I ever want to add more live rock later down the road, how much can I safely add without initially overloading the biological filtration? Should I cure it in a separate tank first, or can I just toss it in with my current setup?

...how much do you have now? Once again I believe it's best to have 1 to 1 1/2 lbs of LR per gallon. This is your bio filtration for the tank and you should probably start it off this way along with a deep sand bed. You could probably add a few lbs later, but it will spike the tank slightly.

Just my 2 cents, Chris

[MonoSebaelover]

1) There is no rule of thumb and I hate rule of thumbs because it totally depends on the fish you want to keep. Name some fish you like then we can say wheter it will work or not. Inverts there is pretty much no limit on.
2) It helps but is not required
3) CHughes is right on the money. IMO the best lighting is Power Compacts though.
4) Live rock is generally your main type of filtration because it is mother natures filter. There are tons of organisms that inhabit the rock that produce the agents to have a safe happy tank. I always cure rock prior to intro unless the store knows for sure it has been there for a long time.
Anyway, hope this helps and good luck.

[Corax]

1) How many, and what kind of fish and inverts could I keep in a 29 Gallon SW tank in addition to my Bicolor Angel and Percula Clownfish?

A dwarf angel CAN live in a 29, I have one that usta live in a 29, but when I moved it to the 55 it was far more active. You, as a human, can live in a 8x8 jail cell, but I betcha you'd rather have a penthouse with a view. Follow my meaning. I personally would skip the angel and just do smaller fish, like clowns, perhaps a yellow tail damsel or some chromis. Also, angels can and will nip at corals. So that angel might limit your tank's future.

2) Do I really need to drop money on a protein skimmer for a tank that small if I have enough live rock and do 25% monthly water changes?

Skimmers are nice, but not required. Your water changes should be 10% weekly, not 25% monthly.

3) How much lighing will I need if I want to keep anemones and corals in the future?

Depends on the anemone and the corals. 3-4 wpg is good, 5-6 is better cuz you will be less limited should the need for more arise.

4) If I ever want to add more live rock later down the road, how much can I safely add without initially overloading the biological filtration? Should I cure it in a separate tank first, or can I just toss it in with my current setup?

No live rock should ever be added directly to an existing tank. IT must be pre-cured in a separate vessel, be that a tank, a tub or even a garbage can. Once ammonia and nitite levels are zero, it can be safely added to the existing tank.

[K9Decoy]

Thank you all for the advice. Unfortunately, I already own the Bicolor Angelfish, and I love him/her. My Clownfish is a character too, so I don't want to get rid of either of them. I guess if the angel might nip at corals that I would get in the future, I'll just stick with my initial plan of a FOWLR tank.

One more quick question...Could I maybe just get one anemone for the Clownfish to enjoy, or would the angel nip at that too?

I also don't have the deep pockets right now to afford Power Compact lighting, so I'll just stick with my somewhat inexpensive 18,000K Power-Glo bulbs.

Thanks again!

[MonoSebaelover]

If you have just normal output bulbs then the anemone is a no go. They need 3-4 watts per gallon idealy like you asked prior. This watts per gallon is especially true for anemones. The Bicolor generally wouldn't touch the anemone especially if the Clown was guarding. Is your Clown captive raised? If so then they rarely take to anemones any way. Anyway, hope this helps and good luck.g