New 29G FOWLR

[wcolwell88]

Skimmer Choice

I think I'm going to go with an AquaC Remora skimmer with a MaxiJet1200Pump. The only problem right now is that it says it needs about 2.75" from the back of the tank. Right now I have a glass top on the tank with only about an inch of space behind it and 2 single light fixtures for my day and night lights. The tank is a 29gal. from AllGlass Aquarium. It measures 12Wx30Lx18T. This is what the tank looks like with the stuff the guy at the fish store sold me:

I'm looking for something that will allow me to run to separate lights on a timer, one day and one night, but still has enough room behind it for my skimmer and things. I was looking at a Coralife fixture that is 7"wide here:
http://www.aquacon.com/coralife.html
This looks like it would be my best option so far. I was originally looking for VHO or HO fluorescent lights but I suppose the power compacts would work ok. The one main question I have is what should I do to cover the rest of the tank and do I need a glass plate or something under this fixture.

 

[Subliminal]

29g is, I believe, 36 inches wide. You can get a coralife fixture, or any number of others, although you say it's fish only w/ live rock, so high intensity light is certainly not necessary. And for night lights, all you need is an led or two...not a full fixture. Your tank should remain relatively dark at night.

 

[wcolwell88]

Ok, if my light fixture I use is only about 7" wide, what do I use to cover the other 5" of the tank?

 

[Grins]

egg crate works, so will glass

 

[wcolwell88]

What is egg crate? Where do you buy it?

 

[Grins]

It is a cover used for flourscent ceiling lights. You can buy it at Home Depot?Lowes, etc. It looks like this:
http://www.collins-consulting.org/orchids/eggCrate.jpg

 

[wcolwell88]

Does anyone here know if aquaclear powerheads are any good? I was gonna order some maxijet 900s online, my closest saltwater fish store, an hour away, does not carry them. They told me they had a lot of problems with them and recommended aquaclear powerheads instead. Of course they also recommended the Prizm Skimmer that I just returned today after I got a bunch of bad reviews on it so I've learned to do my research before i buy things.

Also, I've narrowed my list down to 7 fish that I'm going to choose between for my tank. Now that I'm down to 7 it gets kinda hard to pick. I still have probably a month or two before its time to add fish anyway, so plenty of time to decide. The list is:
Scarlet Hawkfish, Percula Clown, Bicolor Blenny, Yellow Watchman Shrimp Goby(with a pistol shrimp), Lawnmower Blenny, B+W clown, and Royal Gramma. I also would really like a boxing crab. The tank is only 29 gal. so I will have to remove some of these, but so hard to pick. I'd like the fish to be as interesting as possible with their behavior. Any suggestions as to which 3 or 4 of these are most entertaining?

Next question: Live Rock
Right now I plan to buy my rock from http://www.premiumaquatics.com. Right now I intend to buy 20lb. of Marshall Island @5.99/lb.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...roduct_Code=L-MARSHALL&Category_Code=Liverock
10lb. Nano Rock @ 4.49/lb.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...OD&Product_Code=L-NANO&Category_Code=Liverock
and 8lb. Live Rock Rubble @1.99/lb.
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...duct_Code=L-ROCKRUBBLE&Category_Code=Liverock

Does this sound like good choices? I'm looking for show quality. Sorry for so many questions but I would like this to turn out nice, especially with so much money invested in it.

 

[Grins]

I don't know about the aquaclears but am now using MJ1200s. I am currently planning on a midline upgrade for my powerheads and considering both the Seios and the Koralias. They aren't much more than the MJs. The MaxiJets are nice but their flow is very concentrated and are known to add to the heat in a tank.

On your fish list:
Hawfish: Expect that any shrimp may become an expensive snack
Percula Clown: Cute fish, try to get captive raised
BiColor Blenny: Don't know much about them but the blennies I've seen typically have lots of personality
Yellow Watchman: I love gobies, mine isn't a Watchman but he has loads of personality. I'd be cautious about mixing any blennies and gobies that look alot alike though.
Lawnmower: I think 29g is pushing it for a lawnmower. Some will say it is fine, others will say it will starve
B&W clown: be sure not to get 2 different kinds. In otherwords don't get this if you get the percula
RoyalGramma: Lots of people say they hide a lot but I don't know anything other than that.
Boxing Crab: I'm kinda anti-crab this week but if I do get one in the future I'd perhaps get a porcelin. Maybe someone else knows about the one you like

Good choice on the Marshall Island. I love my one piece of it.

 

[wcolwell88]

Thanks for your opinion on the fish. I think my favorite 3 would be the yellow watchman, percula clown, and the scarlet hawkfish. Of course, if I get the goby I'd like to pair him with a shrimp, don't really want the hawkfish to eat it.

Also, has anyone here had any problems with the maxijet powerheads?

And for covering the tank, most of my room is in black and metal. I don't imagine the white egg crate would look very pretty. Probably stand out a lot. Is there anything similar to this in black that is safe for the aquarium?

 

[Grins]

Some have made covers with plastic mesh tops. I'm not sure what they are using for it. A gutter guard like material and that is black. I have a canopy so the egg crate can't be seen.

I have the MJs now. If you go with them I'd mod them. They have strong flow but it is very narrow. Some complain that they run hot but I blame my heat on my MHs.