30 gallon NEWBIE LFS NO HELP! I cant seem to get straight answers! :(

I have nothing against my YT Damsel either, I love mine & it's usually the one that gets picked on. Being such territorial fish they do get a bad rap since they are commonly hardy enough to survive a cycle & then get uppity when new tankmates are added to "their" tank. One of the most beautiful SW fish IMO, lucky for me they're so inexpensive. Best of luck with yours.

 

I've actually been searching my local LFSs for YTDs and have (surprisingly) had bad luck finding one!

I'm going all damsels plus blenny in my tank.

 

Funny I had a similar thing when I was looking for a 2nd, I couldn't find one anywhere, before that there was one in almost every tank! Their scale patterns are some of the beautiful on SW fish IMO, when the light hits them, damn cool.

 

Hi EVERYONE!!!!! I posted here a few months back and followed all the wonderful advice given (thank you) I posted a new thread and photos today (below) and wanted to see if anyone had time to give me further advice since everyone who answered was so wonderful and helpful... PLEASE NOTE: the pictures are from about a week ago... I need to put some new pics as everything is actually thriving ALOT MORE since my last water change but, this is what I had in my camera!!!


Hello EVERYONE! I posted a few months ago and got some greaaaatttt feedback! I have now populated my tank.. I put pictues below.. I hope they come out and everyone can see them! I had one starfish die (his leg disintigrated completely. One of the smaller sponges turned white and was removed as well (while the larger RED sponge is flourishing) I did a 20% water change before I added anyone. I still dont have the proper equipment except for the light! I need a good suggestion for a hang on protein skimmer for a 30 gallon! Currently all I have in the tank is my carbon filter, heater, powerhead and light. (if someone knows a good brand of protein skimmer and one that will work properly for my tank, id appreciate it)

I was told that for my tank it may not be neccesary from the LFS but, I dont believe that to be true from what I have read here.

Also, is topping of my tank with DISTILLED water ok or does it absolutely have to be RO?

Since I have been leaving the lights on for 7 hours or so a day, theres a bit of green alge on my glass (a friend suggested I not clean it off the glass for proper bacteria) but, I am not sure if thats true either... My sponge seems to be getting it as well! (anything I can do for that)

My tank currently has Xenias, 2 long black gobys (the diamond goby jump ship)-a small round coral group (not sure of the name) ONE SPONGE (the other one died, a blue starfish and a bottom dwelling starfish, a red and white stripped what I believe to be crab) a sail fish, another blue fish with orange bottom fins and red in the body (not sure its species)1 brain coral and TWO tube worms!
(I gave up my seahorse dream for now)

Everyone seems to be adjusting well and happy (for now)

I am feeding them all a cube of brine once a week! (is that right)

How often should I change the filter (lfs said once a month) (same LFS who told me a skimmer would create too many bubblesin my tank and would be uneccesary!)


Is there something else I should be feeding... someone told me mysis instead!

I am going to stop adding things to the tank for another month!

Thank you so much for reading and always being so helpful!



(not sure what the coral on the lower right hand corner is if someone can identify it!)

 

all that in only 2 months.....

 

+1,very good answers by guitarman.Many people interested in this hobby would like to keep seahorses,myself included.The problem is that they require a tank dedicated to them and an owner even more dedicated and very patient and very experienced.