Considering new tank.

[LadyB]

Ok guys and gals, I'm considering setting up a new tank and want to break into a brackish setup, and would like to run it by the experts here to prevent any mistakes. I have done a lotof reading and think I am ready to dive in, but figure it's better safe then sorry and see if I'm starting off right. So please hit me with the honest truth. I have not purchased anything yet, this is just in the planning stages.

Equipment
29G Eclipse tank and stand $300.00
100 Watt Marineland Heater
Marine Salt 50# Pail
Hydrometer

Livestock
2 Figure 8 Puffers
3 Bumblebee Gobies

I would like to use sand as a substrate, but have heard that Crushed Coral may be better. I plan on doing a fishless cycle since I'm not real sure how Bio-Spora would work in a half salt-half fresh setup, and I know puffers are not good to be cycled with (actually no fish is, but puffers are even worse for it).

So, how are we looking so far?


[Edit]
ACK! I just realized I posted under my wifes account. :thud:
A7

 

[Oddball~]

Crushed coral or aragonite would indeed be better. You could just Bio-Spira with the tank as totally fresh, then raise the SG .002 per weekly waterchange.

Also, get a refractometer, as these are easier to read and are WAY more accurate.

You'll have lots of extra space in the 29 gallon. You could probably even fit like 8 bumblebee gobies instead of 3... Or go with 4 BBGs and 1 dragon goby, maybe.

You've got yourself a perfect setup there, just be sure to do algae maintenance like none other, and to feed crunchy stuffs every 3 days at least.

 

[A7ESF]

Good to hear, especially on adding the additional gobies. I do have a 2.5g that I'm going to use to grow snails, not that the 20g isn't doing its part to do the same.

As far as algae, I fully expect to have to chase the algae myself since I do the same in all my other tanks. I do have some amano shrimp in the 20, but other then that, I have no algae eaters in any of my tanks.

Thanks again for the great advice.

 

[Pufferpunk]

Check at your LFS what SG those fish are being kept at. If it's FW, the B-S is fine & raise as Oddball said. Otherwise, I suggest fishless cycling. Sokay if you can't afford a refractometer, just check the hydrometer you buy against one, or at least against hydrometer your LFS is using.

 

[A7ESF]

Good input there Puffer, thank you!

So far we are going fishless since our lfs is waiting on getting the F8's in and has a waiting list a mile long for the BB gobies . It looks like we may have to change our plans or wait a while for the fishies we desire. We checked with 4 of 5 stores in town and so far they are all out of both fish.

Either way we have have the tank now. with argonite sand doing a fishless cycle (using a few krill as the ammonia source).

Thanks for the input from both of you, it's good to know I'm headed the right direction.