Just want too bounce an idea off you guys.

green_fox said:

Hey all! Long time no post but my girlfriend wants me too start a saltwater setup. I just wanted to get a second opinion on equipment, stock, etc..

So, first off the tank size would be 29 gallons (tall).

As for the equipment:

2x Hagen Fluval Sea reef 24" for lighting

fluval 205 canister filter

red sea protein skimmer ( would say model number but I don't know, it's coming cheap from a friend.)

marina 150w submersible heater

fluval cp3 circulation pump

30 lbs live rock

30 lbs live sand


Stock:

Fish

1 saddle valentini puffer

1 six-line wrasse

1 mandarin goby (added approx. 6 months into tanks life)

Coral:

assorted zoa colonies

green star polyp colony

richordea mushrooms

undecided sps of sorts? hardy, moderate light?

Clean-up crew:

assorted reef hermits

turbo snails

nessarius snails

I am aware the clean up crew will stand little chance against the fish and am willing to continually replace them. Any way, thats my plan! What do you guys think?

Click to expand...

Im new to saltwater myself but in my reading ive found that that alot of people dont like canisters because they are nitrate factories. You should replace it with a sump

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green_fox said:

I was thinking sump but unfortunately I have limited space. I figured the canister would be better than a hob filter though.

Click to expand...

For a FW setup you would be right, but all of my research has pointed me towards HOBs being better for SW

green_fox said:

Hey all! Long time no post but my girlfriend wants me too start a saltwater setup. I just wanted to get a second opinion on equipment, stock, etc..
oh boy haha, i did that with a very large freshwater tank not too long ago, we broke up...and i'm stuck with the tank............
So, first off the tank size would be 29 gallons (tall).
i advise against anything smaller than a 40 breeder/55 standard tanks, so this is a too small in my opinion unless you have experience and know how to properly monitor everything.....and even then again in my very honest opinion...because i've been told i was too abrasive before....29 tall tanks SUCK. their lifespan compared to a 29 regular is crap, the footprint on the bottom of the tank is crap....just not a fan at all.
As for the equipment:

2x Hagen Fluval Sea reef 24" for lighting

fluval 205 canister filter
canisters are horrrrrrid for sw tanks
red sea protein skimmer ( would say model number but I don't know, it's coming cheap from a friend.)
good.
marina 150w submersible heater
satisfactory
fluval cp3 circulation pump
unfamiliar with it, but fluval makes good products.
30 lbs live rock

30 lbs live sand
play this one by ear, you need a DSB (deep sand bed) it is just easier to maintain... 2-3" of sand...you may need more than 30#

Stock:

Fish

1 saddle valentini puffer
BE VERY CAREFUL. He will not ONLY eat your inverts (if he ever gets hungry). But, a very close friend of mine couldn't keep any softies in his tank because they would get nipped. Thus, killing many corals. However, i know a person on here with one has mentioned that he has never had a probelm with them eating corals or even touching inverts..as he keeps it very very well fed. So just be very careful.
1 six-line wrasse

1 mandarin goby (added approx. 6 months into tanks life)
way to throw the 6 months in... good call.
Coral:

assorted zoa colonies

green star polyp colony

richordea mushrooms

undecided sps of sorts? hardy, moderate light?

Clean-up crew:

assorted reef hermits

turbo snails

nessarius snails

I am aware the clean up crew will stand little chance against the fish and am willing to continually replace them. Any way, thats my plan! What do you guys think?

Click to expand...

see the red

if you do a HOB just turn it into a FUGE

Don't get a Six-Line Wrasse....lol, the one species of Wrasse the I just don't like. Mine (Once he had established his dominance in my 55-Gallon a long time ago) would harass my Yellow Tang, and eat any Snail or Hermit he could find.
Go with a species of Fairy Wrasse - plenty of different species, most a very peaceful, and beautiful coloration on just about every one of them.
The Puffer may also cause issues for your Inverts - keep with caution.
And I wouldn't bother with a Mandarin AT ALL. Not in a 29-Gallon, unless you are willing to pay a good amount of money for Tiger Pods or Copepods. Being a fish that spends it's day eating (All day long) your food source for him will quickly run out in such a small space, even giving it six months. I've spoken with many reef keepers that have had tanks for years with beautiful corals and setups and general, and even they have yet to have long term success with Mandarins.
If you can get them trained onto frozen or pellets, then your golden, but otherwise expect to pay a lot for food or have to breed your own. You could also look for an ORA bred Mandarin that is already on frozen foods. Check with your local fish store to see if they can get them for you. Trust me, Mandarins have always been a favorite over the years for me, but I have yet to attempt keeping one, and will not unless I know it is feeding on frozen, pellet, etc.

Also, I have a Fluval 305 Canister on my 20-Gallon Venomous tank without any issues so far after over five months now - I also have a HOB on my 60-Gallon without any problems. (I have always used HOB's for my Saltwater Setups - the Canister was a first time deal that I wanted to try) The Canister is more of a pain to maintain, but it is easier to hide...Also has space inside the canister to add live rock for more beneficial bacteria and filtration.

The puffer will definitely eat your inverts, as well as outgrow the tank pretty quickly. As long as you clean the canister, it'll be fine. I used a canister on a 55 reef for almost a year before building a sump. Nitrates never rose unless I ignored it.