New Tank, Fish Suggestions...??

bigsimmer44

bigsimmer44

AC Members
Feb 19, 2007
63
0
6
Trenton, Michigan
Hey Everyone,

OK so this is my first post and I am just getting into this stuff. I recently started up a 36 Gallon Corner Bowfront Saltwater Unit. The tank includes;

Coralife Aqualight - 130 watt, (2x65; 10,000K and Actinic 03)
Cascade 700 Filter
CAP 400 Powerhead
30 lbs. Live Rock
30 lbs. Live Sand
150 watt Heater

Just wondering if all of this is enough for my tank size??

The rock, sand and water were all taken directly from an established aquarium and my LFS and placed directly into my tank. Still though I let the tank cycle for about 4 weeks. Right after the 4th week though, I added in a little clean-up crew. I added 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 2 Scarlet Hermit Crabs, 1 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs, 3 Astraea Snails and 1 Urchin. The Urchin seemed to be a little sluggish at first, even losing a spine after a couple days, but is now zooming all around the tank. They are all doing fine now.

Questions...

1. Should I purchse more crabs, snails, or anything else for cleaning my tank? I don't really seem to be having to much of an algae problem as of now, but I do have little brown string things starting to show up on my glass.

2. I can't seem to get my water as clear as I would like. There is constantly what seems to be little white particles floating around the water and I'm not sure if it's sand or not, but it seems to be making the water look slightly cloudy. Is there any way to get rid of this or lessen it to clear the water?

3. Finally, I was looking for some suggestions for fish! I was hoping for something along the lines of a mated pair of Yellow Stripe Maroon Clownfish, a Green Mandarin Goby or Citron Goby, a Firefish Goby or some Tang. Would that be too many fish for my size tank, 4?

Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated and helpful I'm sure.

I was also hoping to add coral sometime in the future if that helps with the ideas of fish.

Thanks,
Chris
 
bigsimmer44 said:
1. Should I purchse more crabs, snails, or anything else for cleaning my tank? I don't really seem to be having to much of an algae problem as of now, but I do have little brown string things starting to show up on my glass.



2. I can't seem to get my water as clear as I would like. There is constantly what seems to be little white particles floating around the water and I'm not sure if it's sand or not, but it seems to be making the water look slightly cloudy. Is there any way to get rid of this or lessen it to clear the water?



3. Finally, I was looking for some suggestions for fish! I was hoping for something along the lines of a mated pair of Yellow Stripe Maroon Clownfish, a Green Mandarin Goby or Citron Goby, a Firefish Goby or some Tang. Would that be too many fish for my size tank, 4?
Click to expand...

1.I would suggest more snails, a few types different snails like turbos, cerith, nassarius, etc. Since you plan on adding corals, i think the rule is 1 snail per gallon. If you add macro algae to your tank or fuge, most of the algae will get outcompeted by the macros, so having the clean-up crew and macros will avoid a bunch of algae. I think the stringy algae is brown hair algae? Not sure about my algaes but I think its because your tank just got done cycling.

2.Not sure on this one, do you have a protein skimmer? Or is a powerhead faced towards the sand to much, constantly stirring it up?

3.You could do the Maroon clown pair, but you tank is fully stocked after that. Not only this but they are the most aggressive clowns, they will be mean to other fish, even though it will be to different extents. Being a mating pair might make it a little worse. A Mandarin needs lots and lots of pods. That means you need to have a constant supply of pods and a lot of live rock around 60-70 some pounds. A tang needs lots of room to swim, i don't think its at all possible to keep one. The firefish goby or citron goby would be good additions. i have a citron goby and he is pretty neat, and strange i must say.

If I missed something or clarified something wrong someone will surely help.
 
Thanks for the idea about getting more snails, I'll be sure to do so.

I do not have a protein skimmer though and my powerhead it almost at the top of my tank, so I don't think it's stirring up the sand.

Would a pair of Ocellaris Clowns allow me the opportunity for more fish? I'm not sure if I want to go this route though and hear "NEMO" from everyone that sees my tank. lol.
 
That looks great. You can add a pair of nemos and still add another fish. I agree, I wanted a clown but I changed my mind. They weren't appealing for me enough to get one, a lot of people have clowns. They are great fish don't get me wrong. There are black percula clowns also if they interest you. You could add a firefish or a clown goby, maybe even both when you add the 4th after the tank has become older. A fourth fish would still be pushing it though, but it might be possible in the future. Keep doing lots of research, and get a book on fish, you might find something you like.

Also, I would suggest getting a protein skimmer. Even though they are optional, it is a very good decision to get one. It does a lot for your tank, and helps prevent the stuff that turns into nitrates. You can get one for about 100 bucks or so, but its seriously worth it.
 
ooo child!!!! nice tank!
what you put in there is reall all up to you and there are a lot of options
dwarf angels
small wrasses (like twinspot and "candycane")
clowns of almost any kind
damsel of almost any kind
firfish
clown gobies
goby in general
blennies
 
I was also wondering about a water change.. The tank has been running now for about 5 weeks or so without any water change or filter change. Should I do a quick water change?? And should I clean out/rinse off the filter's foam pads and just put them back or should I replace the the foam with new ones??
 
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