Newbie to Saltwater

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gally

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 3, 2005
10
0
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St. Louis, MO
Hello everyone :)

I am new to this forum as well as saltwater fishkeeping. I am the Lead Science Teacher/Technology Coordintor at Gallaudet School for the Deaf in St. Louis, MO.

Please see my post on the Introduction forum or the General Discussion forum for a list of the many animals in the zoo in our lab.

In the fall I would love to start a saltwater tank in our lab. A 30 gallon tank was donated to us. I've read the Concientious Marine Aquarist by Robert Fenner and have copies of A Pocket Expert Guide Marine Fishes by Scott Michael and A Pocket Expert Guide Marine Invertebrates by Ronald Shimek, Ph.D (in case we are successful with fish only and want to try our hand at inverts).

My 7th and 8th graders and myself have spent time learning about the natural marine environment and how to keep saltwater fish in aquaria. We would like any suggestions from the true experts (people who keep tanks themselves) as to what fish we should place in our first saltwater tank.

Thanks for your help! Gally
 
If you're going to keep it simple.
I'd suggest staying away from some fish to start.
Mandarin and Bullseye gobies. These typically feed on copopeds and are sometime difficult to keep in a small/new aquarium. There are a few damsels I'd stay away from, 4 stripes, 3 stripes, and sargeant majors. On the other hand Yellow tail blues, blue devils, and chromis typically do very well in a new/small tank. A small yellow tang makes for a good center piece. Clowns can be a 50/50 shot, proper feeding and the addition of a symbiot (carpet/bubble anemone is a good idea, but requires another level of feeding and care) is helpful. Cardinals usually like to be kept in groups of 6-10, engineer gobies in 3-5. Watchman/Lawnmower/Blue Spot gobies are a GREAT solitary addition, but you need to make sure they're eating.

Any specific questions, PM me and I'll do my best.
 
i assume you know u have to "cycle" the tank for quite some time, 3-5 weeks is what i do. But if you get the tank started and find a store w/ a mature system ask if they will let u take some of there sand to "seed" the tank, that is when the mature sand and the new sand conjoin creating benificial bacteria and organisms. when cycling the tank check and test water conditions daily w/ the apropiate test kits. ( amonia, nitrite, nitrate, s.g., salinity etc.) once every thing has stabalized u can add live rock and fish add live rock slowly because when u add it all at once there can be an amonia spike. start off w/ easy fish like damsels or anemone fish because they are easy, in fact some moray eels are easy as well. w/ that size tank a yellow tang would not be good that fish needs space and sufficent algea groth of a mature tank. and cardinals are nocturnal so u would have to feed them at night, so that can become an issue. i would get a nice filter like an ehiem or fluval (CANISTER) or a emperor 400 will do the trick if the budget is tight buy a good protien skimmer and powerheads are esential fo a thriving system. there are other equipment u can use but it is for more serious hobbyists if u are intrested just pm me and i help u out, i hope this info helps.
 
also stay away from some zooampids and featherduters they are filter feaders and require microorginisms in the water in which to feed, just wait for inverts untill u get the hang of it, and in a 30g u will have to change the water alot so buy a plastic 55g trash can and fill up w/ water, a powerhead, and a heater and add the salt this will make it easier 4 u to keep up w/ maintance i know it helps me so it should help u.
 
Was gonna chime in here, but looks like most bases are covered,,,
SW tank need a lil more patience in adding stuff to the tank, don't fall into the one more fish syndrome that everyone seems go,,
take it slow adding stuff, keep a eye on your water parameters,,
 
i don't know what you consider but I had a freshwater 10 gallon tank in October and the converted it to saltwater during november and i have kept it running since... I was just wondering I have had a clown fish in the tank since november and i dont think it has grown at all. is this just because i am not feeding it enough(about 2 teaspoons of brine shrimp and flakes switching off) or is it because the tank is so small and it needs more room to grow?????
 
xavier pm me i'll fill you in

gally is the school paying for this or are you?
 
It means "Private Message"

Gally - First let me say not only welcome to the hobby, but also, welcome to MFK!!! I know you will have no problem finding as much information as you desire!! All of us are willing to help you out, and if you have anymore questions, please do not hesitate to ask away!!!! Again welcome!!
 
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