Setting Up My First Marine Tank

[Jaded12]

Ok, I'm planning on setting up my first marine tank sometime in May, I figure that will give me plenty of time to research and gather supplies and such. I'm planning on setting up a 30 gallon tank, I have one at home in storage thats just waiting to be used

Ok my first question, is it better to do a fishless cycle, or cycle with fish, I've heard a lot of debates about which is better.

Secondly what is the best type of filtration to use, I know there are different kinds, does it depend on the kind of fish and such that you have in the tank? Or is it just personal preference. I've also heard that live rock works well as a bio filtration system is this true? Or will I need an external bio filtration system as well.

And thirdly, stocking, I would really like a tank with small colorful fish, I LOVE blennys!! I was also thinking wrasses (fairy) or gobys, would peppermint shrimp be a possiblity? I also enjoy hawkfish, but am afraid they would be too aggressive for the tank I have in mind, any thoughts on that? I personally don't fancy damsels and clowns, they just don't do it for me! I would like to have corals eventually if possible, but not right away, so I need to plan my tank with fish that are reef safe.

Thanks in advance for the help!!

 

[@ombomb]

Has the tank ever had any copper based medications used in it?

There is no need whatsoever to cycle with fish.

The main filtration in the tank should be live rock, I'd go for about 40lbs for a tank that size, more = better. You can also use various other things such as phosphate binders, macro algae etc in a refugium.

There's lots of fish that would suit a tank that size, this should give you some ideas... http/www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=2124

The hawkfish would probably take out the peppermint shrimp, but they'd be fine otherwise.

 

[Jaded12]

What would be a better substrate, sand or crushed coral? Also are gobys bottom dwellers? I thought I read somewhere that they are. I'm definatly getting a blenny, no question about that, I really like the barnacle blenny. There also aren't any wrasses on that page, would they work in a 30 gallon? Thank you

 

[@ombomb]

I use aragonite sand, never tried crushed coral, but I think the sand looks better.

As a rule, Gobys are bottom dwellers, there are exceptions but it's correct for the majority.

There are wrasses that will be happy in a 30G and are reef safe, you could look a flasher wrasse, a sixline, a mystery, there are loads!

 

[Mr Miagi]

Ok my first question, is it better to do a fishless cycle, or cycle with fish, I've heard a lot of debates about which is better.

LR is the proffered method of cycling a tank in todays reef society. Do you plan to stock with LR? LR brings many life forms from the reef, to your home. Some do not survive the transfer/shipping/LFS holding tank, and this is whats called uncured, because the majority of the "die-off" will die in your tank, and facilitate a cycle. Fully cured LR is where all species which have/would have died off, died somewhere other than your tank, so you effectively add your filtration directly to your tank.

Secondly what is the best type of filtration to use, I know there are different kinds, does it depend on the kind of fish and such that you have in the tank? Or is it just personal preference. I've also heard that live rock works well as a bio filtration system is this true? Or will I need an external bio filtration system as well.

This depends more on what you want the tank to be. IE, FOWLR? FO? Reef? If reef, SPS, LPS, Softies? In the majority of tanks, LR is your filtration. Other methods are ot as efficient, and do not allow for the breakdown of nitrates to nitrogen. You do not need another form of filtration, provided you have sufficient quantities of LR, and decent water turnover.

And thirdly, stocking, I would really like a tank with small colorful fish, I LOVE blennys!! I was also thinking wrasses (fairy) or gobys, would peppermint shrimp be a possiblity? I also enjoy hawkfish, but am afraid they would be too aggressive for the tank I have in mind, any thoughts on that? I personally don't fancy damsels and clowns, they just don't do it for me! I would like to have corals eventually if possible, but not right away, so I need to plan my tank with fish that are reef safe.

Hawkfish, if large (or even small) will likely stand a chance of consuming your shrimp, and that means any small enough to fit in its mouth, ie. Peppermints, CBS, Bloods, Redlines etc There natural diet consists of crustaceans.

Blennies are great characters, and one should be fine in a 30g. I wouldn't mix species, because they could become territorial over the same specific niche they enjoy. I have a couple of fairy wrasse in 2 x 30g's, but they are both small. Id suggest a larger tank, mine will eventually get moved over into a larger system as they grow. You could alternatively try a 6line wrasse, or something smaller in the fairy wrasse line such as the Lineatus wrasse (depending on your origin, these could get expensive).
Have a look around at liveaquaria.com They have many profiles to gain and understanding of what requirements fish need, and also show off great pictures! Theres too many to suggest to you!

What would be a better substrate, sand or crushed coral? Also are gobys bottom dwellers? I thought I read somewhere that they are. I'm definatly getting a blenny, no question about that, I really like the barnacle blenny. There also aren't any wrasses on that page, would they work in a 30 gallon? Thank you

The choice of substrate is often a personal taste issue. If you going to have any species of sand sifting Goby, id suggest a finer grade aragonite over crushed coral, this will help the blenny sieve through the sand and find its food. Be cautious though, they can spread sand EVERY where!

Not all Gobies are sand sifters or bottom dwellers though, take for example Acro Gobies, ive never seen mine touch the substrate.

 

[Jaded12]

Alright I've been looking through fish and so far I've only come accross 2 fish that I really like that would work in my tank. I'm planning on the tank having at least 40lbs of live rock, and possibly corals down the line.

The fish I like so far are:

-1 barnacle blenny - grow 2", need hiding places, 10 gallon minimum requirement, eat meaty items (finely chopped crustacean flesh, ve frozen brine/mysis shrimp)

-2 Wheeler's Watchmans Gobys - grow 3", need hiding places, 10 gallon minimum, does best in pairs/small groups, eats meaty foods (fresh/frozen seafood, brine/mysis shrimp)

Was also thinking of a few snails (Zebra tubros, bumblebees, banded trochus snails, etc.)

Maybe camel shrimp, not sure...

Was wondering if there was any type of "centerpiece" fish I could get? Something a bit bigger then the blenny and gobies, that's active and out in the open, not hiding all the time? Any suggestions would be great, was thinking of a coral beauty, but am afraid they won't work with corals.

Also I'm a bit confused about the live rock... do I want to get cured or uncured live rock? Also does anyone have a suggestion about what live rock may work the best?

Thank you

 

[Mr Miagi]

All live rock works in the same way, its up to you what location it comes from, its basically an aesthetics/personal taste thing. You should get fully cured if you can. Getting un-cured only means you need to wait for alot of die-off. Fully cured, most of the die-off should have occurred by the time it gets into your tank. Monitor parameters either way, and you should know when your tanks cycled.

 

[Jaded12]

Alright I've been looking through fish and so far I've only come accross 2 fish that I really like that would work in my tank. I'm planning on the tank having at least 40lbs of live rock, and possibly corals down the line.

The fish I like so far are:

-1 barnacle blenny - grow 2", need hiding places, 10 gallon minimum requirement, eat meaty items (finely chopped crustacean flesh, ve frozen brine/mysis shrimp)

-2 Wheeler's Watchmans Gobys - grow 3", need hiding places, 10 gallon minimum, does best in pairs/small groups, eats meaty foods (fresh/frozen seafood, brine/mysis shrimp)

Was also thinking of a few snails (Zebra tubros, bumblebees, banded trochus snails, etc.)

Maybe camel shrimp, not sure...

Was wondering if there was any type of "centerpiece" fish I could get? Something a bit bigger then the blenny and gobies, that's active and out in the open, not hiding all the time? Any suggestions would be great, was thinking of a coral beauty, but am afraid they won't work with corals.


Anybody??

 

[Jaded12]

Ok been doing more stocking research, here are a list of fish/inverts that I like, please tell me which ones would work best, and go well together. I would like a blenny definatly and would also like one "centerpiece" fish, something colorful and active that won't hide all of the time.

-Scarlets Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
-Green Mandarin
-scooter red blenny
-ocellate damselfish
-royal gramma basslet
-wheeler's watchman goby
-barnacle blenny
-various snail species
-6 line wrasse
-spotted hawkfish
-arch-eyed hawkfish
-catalina goby (They need cooler water but Temp could be adjusted for all right?)
-peppetmint shrimp
-Carpenter's flasher wrasse
(maybe clowns, if nothing else works, but looking for something different then the "typical beginner tank")

 

[dixaisy930]

I can help with a few of those...

No on the mandarin. It's very hard to get them to eat frozen food, so most people like to keep them in very large tanks (around 100 gallons) so there is a good supply of pods in the tank.

The basslet I believe is o.k. They get territorial, but I believe if they are the last fish in, it usually works.

Cleaner shrimp, definately a good choice. It cleans my coral beauty angel fish all of the time. The angel is obsessed with the shrimp.

I also have a sixline wrasse. Mine likes going in and out of the live rock, so as long as it has lots of hiding places and "tunnels" to go in, should do fine. Seems people have been having minor problems with them getting a bit fiesty though.

As for the catalina, I'm not 100% sure, but I believe it needs temperatures lower than the other fish would thrive at. Hopefully someone more experienced will chime in, but I believe if you kept the catalina with some of the other fish you mentioned, one of their well-being would be compromised.

Peppermint shrimp are also a great addition. I have yet to have any apista last more than a day or two in my tank. There are some "fake" eppermints, so just double check to make sure you're getting a true pep.

 

[Jaded12]

How would this stocking work?

a couple of skunk cleaner shrimp
a couple of peppermint shrimp
various snails/hermit crabs (clean up crew)
1 baracle blenny
1 wheeler's watchman goby
1 pink spotted watchman goby
a pair of ocelarus (sp?) clowns
1 royal gramma basslet

(*Note* not being added all at once, lol, that's my final stock list)

 

[Mr.September15]

IMO you would only need either 1 skunk cleaner shrimp or 1 peppermint shrimp not both.

 

[rhysiboy]

i disagree as they do two completely different jobs and from what ive heard about people with a skunk - pep combo theyve had no agresion or anyhting else. Peppermint would be a good idea as you should always try to use natures ways of getting rid of pests

 

[dixaisy930]

I'd have to agree with rhyisboy. I have four different kinds of shrimp in my 29 gallon tank (peps and a cleaner are amoung them), and I have never had a problem with them not getting along. It's nice to have both since one takes care of the apista and the other keeps the fish feelin good.

 

[Mr Miagi]

IMO you would only need either 1 skunk cleaner shrimp or 1 peppermint shrimp not both.

Why not both? They both will co-habit without dramas.