Cycling a new saltwater tank

[dorkfish]

Sounds like a decent set up. crabs, snails and shrimp (would be a good idea to wait this long before adding the fish, regardless if the tank cycled before this, although they can be added after the tank cycles) can be added aprox. two months after setting the tank up, mushrooms can be added 3 months after setting the tank up, and tube worms and more demandiing soft corals can be added after aprox. 4-5 months after setting the tank up.

An effective protien skimmer would be benificial but not nessissary, however you need to remember that many protien skimmers are not effective. A pwer head is also benificial, and I highly recomend it, however, it is not completely essential.

Iv'e seen the fake anemones at wal-mart and petsmart.

 

[beckham0237]

Could I keep a pair of pink skunk clownfish in the tank after i cycles? Or would they get too big?

 

[dorkfish]

Could I keep a pair of pink skunk clownfish in the tank after i cycles? Or would they get too big?

That's hard to say. Pink skunk clowns get to 3.9 inches, while ocelaris and percula clowns grow to 3.2 inches. There's not much of a difference in size (.7 inches), but I would go out on a whim and go with a bigger tank (atleast a 20g) for sunk clowns, if I really wanted them. It probably could work, but I wouldn't attempt it and would go with ocelaris or percual clowns.

If you want something different than clownfish, there are a lot of options available to you, heres a link that pretty much covers what you can have: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=2124

 

[beckham0237]

If i bumped it up to a 24 Gal. (Seen here: http://www.petsolutions.com/The+Aquapod+24+Gal+-I-42907051-I-C-11-C-.aspx), would I have to worry about getting a sump/refugium?

 

[beckham0237]

On second though would I have to worry about that even if I got the 12 gal?

 

[dorkfish]

If i bumped it up to a 24 Gal. (Seen here: http://www.petsolutions.com/The+Aquapod+24+Gal+-I-42907051-I-C-11-C-.aspx), would I have to worry about getting a sump/refugium?

A sump is a completely optional piece of eqipment and is not nessisary, although it does make the water parameters more stable, can make water changes and siphoning easier, if you know how to use it and may add a little bit to the carying capacity.

 

[beckham0237]

Ok, what I was thinking about was sticking with the 12 gallon and getting a pair of black and white percula clownfish. If I got these two fish would I be able to add any others, such as a firefish? If not, would adding a sump enable me to add one? Thanks for all the help.

 

[dorkfish]

Ok, what I was thinking about was sticking with the 12 gallon and getting a pair of black and white percula clownfish. If I got these two fish would I be able to add any others, such as a firefish? If not, would adding a sump enable me to add one? Thanks for all the help.

No, two percula clownfish is all you can have fish wise in a 12g tank. I think that's pushing it a little with the bioload (I prefer aprox. 1 fish per 10 gallons, although more can be done if your carefull) so I wouldn't add anything else even if you did get the sump.

 

[beckham0237]

OK thanks, So if i just stick with the 12 gallon and the perculas, how big of a sump would i need to get?

 

[dorkfish]

OK thanks, So if i just stick with the 12 gallon and the perculas, how big of a sump would i need to get?

You don't need it, but a 5-10g sump should be good.