I am putting together a 29 gallon salt water tank. This is my first tank so I want fish that are relatively easy to maintain but cool. I was told clownfish, watchmen goby, etc. What else would be good? what is the maximum number of fish I can keep?
New to salt _ What should I keep?
- Thread starter TMartinez
- Start date
TMartinez;4565563; said:
Not too many choices with a tank that small. While, yes it is quite appealing and is "eye candy" to most people, it will be a small quantity of fish. I assume its going to be a store bought nano reef setup? I would say a couple clown fish with a few corals. I am not a saltwater expert in the least, nor have I kept salt water (waiting to have my own house). Just my two cents.
Remember it is better to have 2 or 3 healthy good looking fish then a dozen sickly looking fish. Quality is better then quantity any day.
I will for the most part agree with the above poster. I have fairly extensive SW experience, and part of that has been a couple meltdowns.
#1 Cause of meltdowns aside from sloppy care is not having a balanced ecosystem.
Stocking in SW is always kept down...that is sort of an antiquated myth...but its ALWAYS safer to stock conservatively.
If I had a 29g for Salt, I would seriously consider a dwarf angel. Good color, but wouldnt get too big. They can be aggressive though. You could do a small group of cardinal fish as well...
Really personal research is the best means of finding out what fish you can or cannot keep in your tank.
More focused questions and/or fish you consider judgment calls stocking wise are better questions to ask.
#1 Cause of meltdowns aside from sloppy care is not having a balanced ecosystem.
Stocking in SW is always kept down...that is sort of an antiquated myth...but its ALWAYS safer to stock conservatively.
If I had a 29g for Salt, I would seriously consider a dwarf angel. Good color, but wouldnt get too big. They can be aggressive though. You could do a small group of cardinal fish as well...
Really personal research is the best means of finding out what fish you can or cannot keep in your tank.
More focused questions and/or fish you consider judgment calls stocking wise are better questions to ask.
I eventually want to setup reef/soft coral but for now just fish and live rock to keep it simple. A dwarf angel sounds cool, but how aggressive can they be? I was told to avoid tangs because of the size/ Any star fish or puffers that would be appropriate size wise?
I have kept Live reefs from 2.5gal mini bows to 180gal bowfronts. I have had a really nice 29gallon reef. READ READ READ all you can about animals your interested in keeping some corals fight with other corals (chemically) some fish eat corals etc. Heres a list of what i had for my 29gal setup will try to post pix as soon as i figure out this site a bit more. lol.
29gal Main display tank.
20gal sump/fuge
k2r calicum reactor
berlin protien skimmer
250 w single end Metal Halides
TWO 96w power compact atinics 20k
DEEP sand bed in main tank and DEEP sand bed in fuge.
Mag 5 return
2 maxi jet 1200 power heads powered by a wave maker
Acroporas, digitatas, some LPS's and ric's and zoo's and 2 clams.
FISH> 1 maroon clowfish, 1 watchman goby.
inverts. about 50 turbo sails, 100 red claw crabs, 40 astrea snails for cleanup.
Good luck.
but to answer your question if your looking to do YOUR FIRST SALT WATER TANK with FISH ONLY AND NO CORALS..... id probably do a 75gallon. WAAAAY EASIER THEN A 29gal. (MORE TIME TO fix Problems ) and for a 29gallon your fish selection is VERY limited.... NEVER USE THE ONE INCH OF FISH PER GALLON CRAP....ITs CRAP!
29gal Main display tank.
20gal sump/fuge
k2r calicum reactor
berlin protien skimmer
250 w single end Metal Halides
TWO 96w power compact atinics 20k
DEEP sand bed in main tank and DEEP sand bed in fuge.
Mag 5 return
2 maxi jet 1200 power heads powered by a wave maker
Acroporas, digitatas, some LPS's and ric's and zoo's and 2 clams.
FISH> 1 maroon clowfish, 1 watchman goby.
inverts. about 50 turbo sails, 100 red claw crabs, 40 astrea snails for cleanup.
Good luck.
but to answer your question if your looking to do YOUR FIRST SALT WATER TANK with FISH ONLY AND NO CORALS..... id probably do a 75gallon. WAAAAY EASIER THEN A 29gal. (MORE TIME TO fix Problems ) and for a 29gallon your fish selection is VERY limited.... NEVER USE THE ONE INCH OF FISH PER GALLON CRAP....ITs CRAP!
TMartinez;4565654; said:
Angels are cool but a good chance that they will nip or try to pick on corals and snails,... Puffers are SNAIL, CRAB and CORAL eaters!!!
yes that is true but for a fish only tank they are fine to learn on and still it is his choise to make .