New to 3reef

So, after a decent freshwater past, I'm looking to get into salt water. Growing up, I had a 55 gallon tank that was stable for about 5-6 years until a house fire at my parent's did away with the tank and all its inhabitants. Over the past year, I restarted a 55 gallon freshwater tank, complete with live plants. I'm currently thinking about adding a 29 gallon Biocube to start learning the ins and outs of salt water tanks. Thus far, I only know I want a pair of clown fish. I love fish with personality. I'm actually headed to look at the Biocubes now (I've been pricing around and my local fish store owner told me he's willing to work with me on the price of his cubes to match the price I can get them shipped to me for online... (such as from PetCo)).

I believe I'm leaning towards a couple live rocks mixed in with a fair amount of base rock. This strikes me as a cheaper and perhaps more appealing method to getting my rock in. Also looking at a light tan sand (not live). While it may take a little longer to cycle, I think it'll be the way I end up the happiest. I may also ask the fish store manager if I can purchase a cup of his sand to seed my tank sand once I get things started.

As far as myself, I'm a PhD student at Iowa and should only have another year left before dissertation is winding to a close. Any advise is more than welcome.

Some other things that would be nice for the tank... a starfish, some corals (debated an anemone, but am leaning against it), would love to get a mandarin fish and train it to eat non-pod/live foods, snails, maybe a goby, scarlet skunk and fire shrimp. I realize at 29 gallons that's pretty stocked. I have decently extensive practice at maintaining water conditions with the freshwater tank (haven't lost a fish in 7 months... tank is only 8 months old) and there are a decent number of fish in it. (3 yoyo loaches, two redfinned sharks (one albino), leopard sailfin pleco, albino bristlenose pleco, angelicus pleco, neon tetras, daffodil cichlids, german ram cichlid, kribensis, guppies that provide nice live fry for some of the tank, and another 8 or so small fish... all get along and are healthy).

 

Welcome to the reef! You seem to have it thought out so thats always a good thing...just do your research and you'll be fine...and always remember "go slow let it grow"!

 

welcome

 

Thanks... I have definitely thought a lot about it, and have read through about 30 pages worth of results from the new to SW subforum.

 

Great to hear!

 

welcome to 3reef

 

Hi and welcome to 3reef

 

Welcome to 3 reef, Jimmy

Steve

 

Hello and welcome to 3reef

 

Welcome to 3reef