Questions for a reef/fish tank. Covering Basics. Need Help.

[r4esh]

I've kinda got a lot of questions.....
Okay. So for my birthday I got a 29g aquarium which I was going to origonaly go freshwater, but the boring fish that freshwater consist of (IMO) led me to change out the gravel for crushed coral (that took forever) and then added salt to my water. I bought a hydrometer for check the levels of salt and it's perfect on the scale (22). I know 29 gallons isn't a huge aquarium for salt water, but I thought i'd give it a go.
Befor I start adding expensive fish I wanted to get some live rock and maybe 1 or two damsels to start off the echo system i'm creating in my bedroom. My first question is how much live rock should i get (considering it's a small tank) and how much do you think it would cost me?
My next question is - My tank was a "starter kit" by 'aqua culture' which came with an aqua tech 20-40g power filter a 100w heater, and a deluxe fluorescent full light hood w/ lamp; do you think the inclued filter, heater, and lighting is good enough? or should i look into somthing better?
Next, I want to keep some live plants and hopfully some reef life. From what I understand, it is hard to maintain reefs in a tank smaller than 50g and I would need to get a special filter and lighting, because mine just wont cut it. What do you think? + how much would it run it get some reef growing in my tank?
Finaly, what kind of fish do you think I should aquire for my new habitat? I was thinking somthing on the lines of Yellow Tang, Dwarf Lionfish, maybe some Clown fish, but I need some clean up crew, such and alge eaters, what do you think I should add? (I'm looking for vivid colors in my tank.)

Wow I appriciate anyone taking the time to address my issues, i know i'm asking a lot, thanks!

Also what little things should I aquire to keep my tank healthy? Should I get somthing for monitoring PH? should I get carbon insterts? um I am new to this and don't know what else I can add, but what do you think?

EDIT: After reading on some other forums - REALLY like the LR in this picture - http://www.gulf-view.com/nicerock2.jpg - anyone know what kind that is? it looks like a mix of deco and coralline. Am i right? Concerns for the crushed coral worry me, but I was at the LFS today and asked some people there about what they thought and they all said it was fine, but I would VERY much like someone else to confirm that Crushed Coral can be a problem, BEFOR I start adding more things to my tank.

I found this little bit of info on Crushed Coral -
Crushed Coral - Natural. Excellent source of calcium. Many consistencies available. "Quaker Oats" consistency good for Biological Filter Base, UGF, Wet/Dry filters, reef, FO tanks. Excellent for DIY Live Rock base. Good substrate for wrasses and other burrowing critters. Good Live Sand material, depending on consistency.

As far as further investments I bought a PH test kit which showed the water to be currently sitting at 7.8.... but I have no general clue if this is good or bad.... ALSO as far as upgrading my filtration and lighting as you guys suggested I was concidering somthing like a Coralife Compact Fluorescent Bulb 22'' 65w light. Think that will be enough? or do I need MORE lighting? My current hood only supports the one bulb (bummer) but I was thinking about running down to my local radioshack and buying some clear LEDs for making a "moon light", but if i'm buying a need hood for more ligting, then i think i'll wait.

As far as biowheel filters go, the filter that came with my tank says it's a "bio filter", it takes cartrages, and what not, but you really think i need to invest in somthing better? Or should I take that money and use it towards a protien skimmer instead?

THANKS FOR READING ALL THAT!!!

P.S - What does it take to raise PH levels?
- I was looking at the Red Sea Prizm skimmer for my 29g tank. should i invest into somthing better? or will this do fine?

[wharyat]

First of all Welcom to TRT

Ok, 1-2 lbs/gallon, so 30-60lbs, of live rock is recommended for a reef tank, the price depends on where you get it anywhere from $2-7 a lb. I would suggest not putting in the damsels, they are almost impossible to get out if you want to get rid of them, if you keep them they are quite aggressive and my destroy corals and such. Smaller tanks do take a little more work, I have a 20gal packed with corals (90gal soon). You will want to upgrade to vho or pc lighting for lps and softies, sps and clams other than maxima will work if enough wattage (mh would be better), definatly mh if you want a maxima clam. Your fish list looks fine to me, hermits and snails for your clean-up-crew.

Have test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, ca, alk, and ph.

Crushed coral isnt the best base you can have, can trap some nasties over time, really small aragonite is the best, some people even go with bare bottom tanks (thats my next plan).

Save your money for a skimmer, others can suggest hob brands. LEDs are good for a moon light I have 33 white and blues in mine, thanks to ebay.

LR in that photo looks like normal figi rock, it takes on that look after your coraline grows for a year or so.

Hope I didnt miss much, ask again if I did.

[aussiereefer82]

Originally Posted by r4esh

Finaly, what kind of fish do you think I should aquire for my new habitat? I was thinking somthing on the lines of Yellow Tang, Dwarf Lionfish, (I'm looking for vivid colors in my tank.)

Originally Posted by wharyat

Your fish list looks fine to me, hermits and snails for your clean-up-crew.

Sorry, but you are absolutly crazy if you put these kind of fish in your tank. A yellow tang can grow to over 6 inches and even the smallest ones shouldn't be kept in anything less than 55-60 gals.

You wouldn't be looking at anymore than 4-5 small fish in that size tank. Maybe a pair of perculia clowns to start, but skip the damsels, they are nasty little buggers.

I dont mean to flame anyone, i'm just offering worthy advice.

[wanareef]

I agree, no Tang or just keep a dwarf lion and that's it, but still pushing it. A pr of clowns, blenny, firefish, wrasse (smaller one) without the first two. You can keep a small tang but then have to get it out of there when it get's big?

You'll need a HOB skimmer like a Bak-pak, loose the bio thingie, that Ph monitor is a good investment. No canisters on a regular baisis, but to just run carbon for a couple of days is ok, but needs to be change out.

Same with the CC, go with sugar size sand, aargonite. Helps to buffer the tank some what. No BB to start off with IMO - not enough experience under the belt, yet.

Lights - I would go with VHO's, daylight, 50/50 and actinic's, and stay away from PC's - that's just me. A Workhorse ballast would be great here - less $$ than a icecap. And you can get two ballasts and put on timers for a dusk/dawn effect or go with LEDS.

Getting into a reef is spendy, unless you can diy on a lot of equipment, but still gonna cost ya. Marshall Is is good, tonga branch, kaneli just to name some rock. When I started up our tank - we found rock for a buck a pound. It was cured but several guy's were getting out of the hobby or down sizing the tank.

Go slow and read and ask ???'s read and surf the boards more and ask more ???'s - remember there is no stupid ? just the one's not asked.
good luck

[tims]

Welcome to TRT.
you made the first great steps by asking..!

i agree a few small fish or the dwarf lion would be fine. tangs need atleast a 90 gallon tank.
take a lot at our sponors here, you will see soem of the things yo might need and should be able to get it at better prices then most places...
your CC will trap soo much detrious .. skip it and go to live sand. your LFS should be able to get that in.
i would suggest picking up a few books to read too. you will go back to them all the time!

[wharyat]

oops, sorry guys, missed the yellow tang, I guess I didnt read it as good as I thought I did.

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!!



G~