Tank cycled / Looking for a few tips

[gizmo1]

30 gal tank has cycled and now pondering my next move(s). Note my tank profile below. Some (most) of this stuff was given to me so have started with it. Not opposed to changing anything. A few questions:

1) Reading a lot about wet/dry and bio-wheel filters here and wondering if mine has to go? Can I just remove the bio-wheel at some point or is that pointless? When? Or should I just chuck it and get a good skimmer (I see AquaC Remora as a recommended model)? If I do go with a skimmer do I need to wait a little longer before before adding some fish, etc? Will I need another (different) filter to go with or?

2) Is the light sufficent for what I have? Not really planning on getting too sophisticated with corals, etc. My LFS seems pretty competent and recommended it as a good basic model.

3) Looking for a few good recommendations for compatible fish with perhaps a starfish and other "cleaners". Must have a Clownfish as mandated by my 5yr old.

TIA for any and all info. I apologize for the length. This is a great forum and I really appreciate the great info that I've gathered (and can comprehend) so far.

 

[iloverenae]

i wont do a formal welcome to this site im sure len or one of the other guys will but welcome from myself anyway.

Your off to a good start, personally i would get the damsel out of there as they are nothing but trouble in my eyes, i had a neon damsel not long ago and it killed two dwarf angels and almost my blue tang! so get him out of there to make way for some much more interesting and beautiful fish you can put in there.

Some include dwarf angels, as you wont have many corals they should be fine, gobys and blennies are amoung the most interesting and personality full of the marine fish, i currently have a pink spotted i my 29 (as in photo) he is very hardy and loves checkin out whats going on all the time. anthias, if there small would be ok, hawkfish are also intereting.

I would go with the ocellaris clown or maybe a pair, they will colour up the tank and are relatively hardy fish. And be sure to go with some species diversity. I currently have a tiger tail cucmber, caterpilla sea slug, coral banded shrimp (really cool guys) and plenty of hermits and snails in there.

As far as corals go start with the easy to keeps, including zoo's, polyps, mushrooms, and move to some softies like leather corals, there are plenty to choose from.

Good luck hope i didnt bore you sorry for the long reply

 

[iloverenae]

just one more on the wet/dry, everyone has there own opinions but personally i think it will be fine, you don't have enough Live Rock in there to do all the natural filtration so it will help. as time progresses just start taking out a few bio-balls as you go and check the params of the tank as you go.

skimmer not necessary in a 30, it would be useful but if your doing regular water changes it will be fine.

also check the other forums and especially the nano forum for suitable fish. I would keep 3 or maybe 4 tops in there, make sure you research what size they grow to aswell as there have been a few disaster stories!

 

[ChrisRD]

Hi Gizmo and :welcome:

Your setup sounds OK for a fish-only. The crushed coral will collect gunk, so vacuum it out when you do a water change. In the future, if you want to convert your setup to a reef you'll probably want to get rid of the CC in favor of sand (or nothing if you run bare bottom). You'd also want to upgrade the lighting for most corals.

Personally, I like having a skimmer (on both a reef and a fish-only tank) although as mentioned, with a smaller tank it's easier to do larger, more frequent water changes and get away without one. In the future, if you find that you're battling high nitrates, replacing the CC with a fine sandbed and adding a skimmer can both help. Running good quality activated carbon can help too. The skimmer/carbon can help remove organics before they break down into nitrogenous compounds, and the fine sandbed can help on the other end with denitrification.

I also agree about taking out the damsel and looking into Oscellaris or Perculas clowns.

HTH

 

[Anonymous]

Get the skiimer and remove the biowheels..... add 5 more pounds of cured liverock. Remove the Damsel and get two tank raised Percula Clowns, one Coral Banded shrimp,a Fighting Conch,two Turbo Sanils, 10 Hermit Crabs. Your tank lighting will support mushrooms and some softies. I would also get a Royal Gramma. Have Fun :!:

 

[ChrisRD]

Personally, I like having a skimmer (on both a reef and a fish-only tank) although as mentioned, with a smaller tank it's easier to do larger, more frequent water changes and get away without one.

When I read this statement again, it sounds like I'm saying something I'm not, so, just to clarify...

...I'm saying IMO it's generally easier to get away with not having a skimmer on a smaller tank as opposed to not having one on a larger tank because it's usually easier for most people to do the extra water changes (needed to offset not having a skimmer) on a smaller tank. Personally I prefer having a skimmer on any tank. Just wanted to clarify that...

Also, read-up on Coral Banded Shrimp before thinking about adding one - I don't care much for them myself. And personally, I think you have plenty of live rock for biological filtration purposes already.

JMOs...

 

[Anonymous]

Personally, I like having a skimmer (on both a reef and a fish-only tank) although as mentioned, with a smaller tank it's easier to do larger, more frequent water changes and get away without one.

When I read this statement again, it sounds like I'm saying something I'm not, so, just to clarify...

...I'm saying IMO it's generally easier to get away with not having a skimmer on a smaller tank as opposed to not having one on a larger tank because it's usually easier for most people to do the extra water changes (needed to offset not having a skimmer) on a smaller tank. Personally I prefer having a skimmer on any tank. Just wanted to clarify that...

Also, read-up on Coral Banded Shrimp before thinking about adding one - I don't care much for them myself. And personally, I think you have plenty of live rock for biological filtration purposes already.

JMOs...

Coral Banded shrimp are fun to watch. Just get one. They will fight with other shrimp and there own kind unless you get lucky enough to have a mated pair.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Some damsels will do just fine... yellow tails come to mind... just do some profile research before you drop any more in there.

B.

 

[gizmo1]

Thank you all for the great suggestions and comments! I really appreciate it. I'm going to get the skimmer soon and think about the LS. The damsel went back to the LFS last night (only took me 15 min to nab em...lucky catch). Picked up 2 tank-raised Perculas. They looked pretty worked up even after slowly introducing them. They both stayed in a corner of the tank and seemed really stressed. By this morning they were moving around the tank nicely. They would not eat as of this AM (a couple of flakes)...I'll keep an eye on this. Will wait a couple of days and see how it goes as I'd like to add a cleaner shrimp. Any thoughts on introducing one to the tank? I've read they can be somewhat sensitive and I'd like to do it right. Also if you have any specific comments on doing water changes..something that wouldn't be obvious to a newb it would be welcome. If I'm missing an FAQ or forum i shouild be looking at please don't hesitate to mention.

Thanks again...you guys are great.
Jeff

 

[ChrisRD]

Some stuff from our library you might find helpful...

Beginner's Guide:
http://www.reefs.org/library/newbieguide.htm

Recommended Reading:
http://www.reefs.org/library/reading/

 

[Anonymous]

Geta couple or three cleaners. They are fun to watch. If you do this don not get a Coral Banded Shrimp. He will kill them.

 

[blastermqn]

Cleaners are great. Not quite as neat looking as the coral banded, but certainly more mild, and actually beneficial for the fish. As per above, my coral banded *will* catch and eat cleaner shrimp. Bristleworms as well.

I'm for adding more LR. Slowly though since you've already cycled.

Yank off the biowheel and keep the filter box. Good for water movement at least and top down circulation.

Can't beat the Remora. It will help in the long run.

Resist the urge to get an anemone because it *will* die in a young tank like this.

Sally LightFoots are another cool critter in a tank doesn't get a lot of notoriety, but kids love them.

I'm also a fan of gobies for begginner tanks.

Water changes: one 5gal bucket every two weeks. Once a week if you start getting into corals.