New Tank-Lots of questions

I hope I'm not coming across as argumentative. I do appreciate everyone's advice. And I am taking it to heart!

I know all too well how some stores try to sell you on everything. I actually picked up a few things and the guy told me I didn't need it. Trust me, I was like a kid in a candy store. He could of really taken advantage of me!! LOL.

What is involved with making my own SW? I do not have a holding tank. Can I mix it and put it in a jug?? I just assumed it was easier (and better for the fish) to get it from the store.
Cuttingras, I know you are right about the Puffer and the shrimp. You know how it is when you have something in your head??
I was going to start off with a couple of small ocellaris clownfish. My long term plan is/was a Puffer, dwarf Lionfish, spotted blenny, the two clowns and a flame hawkfish.

We'll see how that turns out, huh???

 

Not at all Haz! No argument here. I'm VERY happy that you found a lfs you can trust that really is great!!!

You wanna keep how many fish in there? LOL you've gotta realize that fish grow and they'll have to do that in a 34 gallon environment. I'd cut back to the two clowns and one blenny and one hawkfish, Unless someone here says they're not compatible...ever heard of fish overload?

I make my salt water in an old cat little bucket. I've learned to save buckets and lids! Never know when you'll need them. I'll leave it up to others to tell you how often/how much to do water changes.

You are IMO asking the right questions so far

 

You mean 7 inches doesn't mean 7 fish??? Ha ha. I know..pipe dreams! I knew I should have gotten a bigger tank!

 

it's not like men...or is it?? do inches count? :-X

 

Hmmmmmm......to us, no. To them yes for some strange reason.

How about 2 clowns, dwarf Lionfish, spotted blenny and a flame hawkfish??
Isn't it an inch for each 3-5 gallons??

I was at the other LFS today to pick up some tubing and saw the cutest Zebra Lionfish. He was really small but frisky as all get out. It took everything I had not to get him:

At some point I really want a Mandarin......

 

3reef.com - Forums for coral reef aquariums, salt water fish, corals, inverts, protein skimmers, aquarium lighting and more! - Calculators

have you seen that? they sound like good fish to me. I think one of them, either the blenny or hawkfish you'll need to wait until the tank is established...SOMEONE correct me if I'm wrong

 

Well....from everything I'm reading and every compatibility chart I try it seems Lionfish are not compatible with many fish. In fact, in the above list it says "not compatible" with everything on it.

So maybe I'll substitute the Lionfish with a Puffer. Again, I'm starting with two tiny clowns first and that won't be for a few weeks now. I know to add fish slowly. Like 1 every two weeks. Yes, I looked at that chart. It says I can have 6.752318521 fish!

So as far as mixing my own saltwater. Can I mix it by hand and leave it sit in a jug? Or do I have to circulate it in a seperate tank with a pump? I do not have any resevoir or holding tank.
Thanks,
Heidi

 

I think it goes like this, someone please correct me if I am wrong:

Great - Mix your own RO/DI water with salt and have it circulated
Good - Mix your own RO/DI water with salt and put it in a jug for 24 hours, shake occasionally
Eh - LFS premix
Eeek - Mix your own tap water with salt and let sit for 24 hours
Nooo - Mix your own tap water with salt and dump in once it read proper on your hydrometer

Edit - Disclaimer: I'm still new very new at this, so I would definitely wait on some sort of confirmation from someone else. And honestly, I hoping someone will clear up this issue as well to confirm my current beliefs listed above.

 

From one plankton to another!!

Thanks cause that is exactly what I was wondering. I'll be on the lookout if anyone gives us different info.

 

I dont think their is any great art to mixing your water
.Ill stir it up with my hand and put it straight into the tank as soon as the salt is disolved if im in a hurry.
But I certinly would not tell anyone else to do that.
My norm is a 5gl bucket with a airstone running (a cheap $3 airpump at that) well I syphon out and clean my tank. I dont think 24hrs is necessary

Its good that you found a good LFS aswell, it sounds like they are a standup mob

Also I think that you might want to shelf the idea of a mandarin for now as they need to have a well established tank 1yr approx. and do better in reef systems. but yes they are a cool fish.
As said befor it will be benificial to turn off the skimmer and your on the right track with leaving your lights off for now, as this will help prevent the algae growth that comes with cycling.