FIRST POST! (Or close to it) And a couple questions

I'm just getting into the hobby (I'm planning a first tank that will be an Aquacube HQI (24 gallon), and the 20 gallon starter package from TB salt water (these seem reasonably difficult to screw up, and they address a lot of the concerns I had with initial tank cycling and the LFS's live rock not looking very live) and a couple LFS concerns.

I've been to the LFS now three times, returning to study and read more and I'm just not getting the feeling that they know what they're doing other than the owner. I know that damsels are used to cycle the tank but it seems like a pointless risk of a fish. Not to mention that the other help was constantly asking the owner which skimmer, which sump, etc. I would think these would be easy questions.

I'm eventually going to keep the 24 gallon as a quarentine tank, and build a 120 gallon tank to keep a tang in.

In a tank as small as 24 gallons I know clowns often take issue with the other fish in the tank. Should I add them first, or after a few other fish?

Also the LFS said I could get away with an inch of fish per gallon in a reef tank. This seems to be packing the fish in pretty dense.

Also any recommendations for reasonably easy fish to go with the false clowns?

 

I only have 1 year experience so not master at all.

But 24 gallon is a good start i started with 30 Gallon. For the fish depending on size and all i would say no more than 5-7 honestly + snails. Clown fish i don't think have an issue with other fish. Damsels are tester fish but "can be aggressive toward other fish" i had that issue and put my damsel in my fresh water and he lived for 8 months lol.

120 Gallon tank is kinda insane, you may love the hobby and like all hobbys may grow bored after a little bit so just think that through.

For Protien skimmer, i dont think it matters the brand all that much for a 24 Gallon but just get something that does that size of a tank if not more.

Hope this helped a little.

I dont really know how to tell if live rock is live so sorry on that but live rock and live sand will boost ur cycling! 2-4 weeks.

 

inch of fish is dense. Lots of the place I have read says 5 gallon = 1in. false clowns are boring IMO. Go with a true perc. But keep reading

 

Congrats on what you've learned. Good call on waitin for the tang until the 120. Can't wait to see pics of what you got!

 

Welcome to 3Reef!!

 

As for cycling, I cycled with a yellow tailed damsel with no problems. However, in a tank that size I wouldn't do that because other fish you add in may be bullied by the damsel. I would just cycle using live rock. Don't worry if the rock doesn't appear to be live either. In fact, I would suggest using base rock and adding a piece, 1, of raw shrimp to get the cycle going. That way you don't have to worry about unwanted nuisance algae or bad hitchhikers. Live rock seems great in the beginning, but once you get to know this hobby, you will want to closely regulate what goes into your tank.

As for the fish. I would not put more than 3 or 4 in there. May a pair of clowns and some other fish or whatever. Are you looking for a skimmer or did your setup come with one? You don't need a sump yet, i set up a 55 gal. and didn't have a sump for the first 8 months. Clowns can be aggressive, usually not too bad though. And the 120 is not crazy, it's actually a very nice sized tank. Just get your feet wet first and go from there. Good luck.

 

Welcome!! A 48x24x24 will be my next tank!

 

For a tank that size I would say 4 fish maximum. Maybe a pair of Ocellaris Clownfish, something like a Royal Gramma, and maybe a Clown Goby or you could choose other small fish. Cycle with LR. It's cruel to fish to subject them to cycling as even if they support it, they will be subjected to painful poisoning for a few weeks. IMO, the inch of fish per gallon rule is useless. An inch of a Six Line Wrasse takes up way more bioload than an inch of a Clown Goby. Maybe look into a coralife superskimmer. I have one on my 90. Its a good skimmer, not great, but will get the job done and is reasonably well priced. A 120 is a good sized tank. IMO its hard to get bored of reefing like other hobbies because there are always so many new things going on. Finally, welcome to 3reef;D.

 

yeah the tank comes with a skimmer, and the false clowns are boring, though they're kind of staples, I like 'em, and a friend of mine's kid will love 'em. All these reasons are why they're in a starter tank rather than the large tank, so I'm considering the following:

2 false clowns
1 royal gramma

I'd then add (After a couple months to let the tank mature)
1 Mandarin Dragonet (this would be the signature fish though small against the reef it's going to be a TON of color.)

That'll be 4-8" of fish total.

 

just read and do a lot of research on the mandarin before buying. someone else may want to chime in here, but IMO a 24g probably cant support and mandarin and the poor guy will starve to death.... now when that 120 you speak of gets mature with a good pod population, by all means get the mandarin.