Whats next for my tank?

I'm kinda new to saltwater aquariums and I've pretty much fallen in love with this hobby. I have a 30g tank and I've had it running for about 3 weeks now. It's a trickle filter. I have about 11 pounds of live rock in the tank and I have 3 little damsels, about ten hermits/snails and one big hermit. I got the hermit/snails to get rid of the layer of brown algea. I also have 2 Kenya trees that came with a 4 pound rock I bought. Before I invest in something like a major anemone and clownfish I'd like to get the culture up in my tank.
Any suggestions about what I should do or keep doing and also what should I get for my tank next.
Thanks,
Grayson

 

Welcome to 3Reef!!!

Your tank needs to be very stable before even considering an anemone. I would say you're going to need 9 ~ 12 months before looking. (This will also give you the time to research their needs).

I'm not sure if you know this or not, but clowns DO NOT NEED an anemone. In fact, when they have one, they become more aggressive.

What is your lighting and can you take a picture of your trickle filter (or give us links to what they are on the internet).

 

Three weeks is still really young for a tank. I'm not sure I would have added anything besides the CUC.

Until your amonia, nitrite and nitrate stay at 0 for a week or so, I wouldn't add anything else. Keep checking your water daily.

I don't think coral add much of a bio load, but just to be safe, I wouldn't add anything for a bit.

Believe me the first couple months you want to take it slow. I remember being there and it's soooo hard. Actually I'm there now I just started my tank over because of Green Hair Algae (GHA) and I'm dying to put it back together, but if I do it too soon and my GHA problem isn't fixed, Im gonna be really sorry.

Have patience and enjoy your tank comming to life. It's cool to watch the rock and find small feather dusters comming out and other things.

Oh yea, and you should post a pic so we can see your tank!!

 

I have a 12 gal which is too small for an anenome, but my clown hosted my toad stool.

 

3 weeks sounds really young for a tank. I had my cycling for over a month before I even thought about adding my CUC. Then I added my clowns alittle over a week after that.

Make sure you keep testing for ammonia and nitrite

 

OMG that is too cute

 

I would put in more live rock.

Do you have a skimmer on the tank? What do you have for lights?

 

welcome to 3 reef, Grayson

I might add a bit more rock - get a picture up if you can so we can see it
I would wait another 4 - 6 weeks and then consider some corals from the soft coral group, Zoanthids, mushrooms, Leathers, Toadstools etc
as they are reasonably hardy and not to demanding in terms of lighting needs and water quality

although knowing what lighting you do have would help either increase or decrease the above list

Steve

 

Take it slow like everyone said. I would use this time to do research on a larger setup. If you like the hobby you will be dying to get into a larger tank soon.

 

corals add no bioload to the tank, actually they filter it somewhat, but as for having kenya trees three weeks in i dont think thats good. the nitrates and ammonia must be very high as it is still in the midst of cycling. dont even think of adding an anemone until your tank is stable for over a year. good luck.