Noobie looking for some advice

[kaiservonhugal]

Im just getting into this hobby. I have a 30 gallon tank, heater, water pump rated 30 to 55 gallons, a protien skimmer rated for 100 gallons and some substrate (sand and live sand). I still need to get a good light and some live rock.

I havent put any of this together yet.

Im wanting to trade in the tank already for a 50 gallon tank.

These are what I want to include in the tank - is 30 gallons enough?

Any suggestions on the order in which I should get these is appreciated as is any general advice just getting into the hobby.

Sand stirring - Cerith Snails, Trochus Snails, White Sand Star fish. These I plan to get early.
Algae eaters - Zebra Reef Hermits, Margarita Snails. These will come later when there's algae to get rid of.
Pollution prevention - Emerald Crab, Sally Light Foot Crab. These Ill get with the snails and star fish.
Halimeda Plant -
Various Easy Care Corals
Rose Bubble Anemone
2 Maroon Clownfish
Mandarin Goby
Yellow Watchman Goby
Tiger Pistol Shrimp
Flame Angel

If there's room, Id like to get these also.

Green Clown Goby
Neon Velvet Damsel

 

[JohnK]

Welcome.

Sounds good. My only critique would be to suggest skipping the sand sifting star. They tend to eat all the benfiical micorfauna in the sandbed, and in a tank that size will likely eventually starve after it wipes out the sand bed.

Otherwise just move slow slow slow so things can get estabilshed and stable. Also note, although very cool, maroon clowns are very aggressive, not necessarily a problem but be prepared to have your hands nipped

 

[kaiservonhugal]

Thank you for the response.

I didnt know that about the Star or the Clown. Ill keep the snails though and Ill be happy to switch out the Clowns for another breed of Clown that isnt so aggressive.

Also, I do not have a filter - can I just use the protein skimmer and snails and crabs to keep the water clean?

 

[stingythingy45]

Sand stirring - Cerith Snails, Trochus Snails, White Sand Star fish. These I plan to get early.These snails mostly eat algae,the Cerith will eat near the sand meets the glass.
Algae eaters - Zebra Reef Hermits, Margarita Snails. These will come later when there's algae to get rid of.I'd go with scarlet hermits,but zebra is ok
Pollution prevention - Emerald Crab, Sally Light Foot Crab. These Ill get with the snails and star fish.heard nothing but bad about Sallys
Halimeda Plant - This macro algae is very much like coral(needs calcium suppliments)it can also become a nuisance.
Various Easy Care Corals
Rose Bubble AnemoneBest to wait at least 4-6 months before adding one,you should also have some very good lighting,imo
2 Maroon ClownfishAggressive sometimes,can kill other fish in the tank limiting you to how many fish you can have
Mandarin GobyThese fish are considered(expert level)some will not eat food and require a large pod population.This is not possible in a 30 gallon.
Yellow Watchman Gobythis will work
Tiger Pistol Shrimpnice combo with the watchman
Flame Angelmight be ok,sometimes they're tough to keep,might nip soft corals like most dwarf angels

If there's room, Id like to get these also.

 

[kaiservonhugal]

Nice!

So Ill go with Scarlet Hermits, Cerith Snails, and an Emerald Crab.

I wont get the Mandarin Goby but will keep the Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp.

I definitely want Clowns and an Anemone - any suggestions here would be great.

 

[AnthonyF]

Im also just getting into this hobby. I am doing a 40g breeder display with a 29g sump and then going to do a 20 X-tall fuge. I was actually planning to do a lot of the same fish. I have been told as well about the mandarin needing the pods so thats really the main reason for my fuge as that will supply more than enough pods for the mandarin so if you can manage a separate fuge then I have been told youll be all set.

 

[stingythingy45]

Nice!

So Ill go with Scarlet Hermits, Cerith Snails, and an Emerald Crab.

I wont get the Mandarin Goby but will keep the Watchman Goby and Pistol Shrimp.

I definitely want Clowns and an Anemone - any suggestions here would be great.

Sounds good.
I have a Ruby bubble tip anemone(RBTA) and a couple False Percs.
Bubble tips are a little more forgiving and clowns do host them.But,I would still wait till you get the hang of keeping parameters right and letting the tank mature first.

 

[stingythingy45]

Im also just getting into this hobby. I am doing a 40g breeder display with a 29g sump and then going to do a 20 X-tall fuge. I was actually planning to do a lot of the same fish. I have been told as well about the mandarin needing the pods so thats really the main reason for my fuge as that will supply more than enough pods for the mandarin so if you can manage a separate fuge then I have been told youll be all set.

A Mandarin is really a Mandarin Dragonet.They are very pretty fish but can be a challenge even to experienced folks in the hobby.
Through the years I have read many threads where the fish was starving and eventually starved to death,very sad.
I gave a 90 gallon,70 gallon sump and a 20L fug set up for 5 years now,and might try one this year.But,I will stil QT the fist for a while before I introduce it to my DT.

 

[kaiservonhugal]

Another question I have concerns deep beds. I want to a 4 inch deep bed.

How do I add the water to a deep bed? I was planning to mix the water and stabilize it and then simply pour the live sand into the tank once the water is stable. Is that the right way to create a deep bed?

 

[AnthonyF]

A Mandarin is really a Mandarin Dragonet.They are very pretty fish but can be a challenge even to experienced folks in the hobby.
Through the years I have read many threads where the fish was starving and eventually starved to death,very sad.
I gave a 90 gallon,70 gallon sump and a 20L fug set up for 5 years now,and might try one this year.But,I will stil QT the fist for a while before I introduce it to my DT.

Good to know. I have talked with some people who say just give it 6 months but I was thinking at least a year to build up the pods. My fuge is going to feed directly into my DT so I dont see there being a shortage but I will definitely do some more research. Can you also confirm/deny that damsels need to basically be your last fish as they are very aggressive so they need to be added last.

 

[stingythingy45]

Good to know. I have talked with some people who say just give it 6 months but I was thinking at least a year to build up the pods. My fuge is going to feed directly into my DT so I dont see there being a shortage but I will definitely do some more research. Can you also confirm/deny that damsels need to basically be your last fish as they are very aggressive so they need to be added last.

Hopefully by the time you're are ready to get one you'll upsize.It's so much easier to control water parameters and much more room for fish,pod populations...ect.
Not saying it's impossible in a 40B.
Some damsels can be model citizens and others can be a terror.I had a blue devil damsel for years,first in my tank.And it was fine,just was territorial and chased the yellow tail occasionally.
Generally,whan adding fish last it's the Tangs that should go last.But,that's in larger tanks that can support a tang.

 

[stingythingy45]

Another question I have concerns deep beds. I want to a 4 inch deep bed.

How do I add the water to a deep bed? I was planning to mix the water and stabilize it and then simply pour the live sand into the tank once the water is stable. Is that the right way to create a deep bed?

Best thing to do is put your sand bed in frst along with your rock.You're going to want to get some rock,even if it's dry dead rock.Try googling Marco Rocks.
Then have the water mixed to 1.025 in a 30 gallon Brute trash barrel.I use those Brute trash cans for everything.I like the heavy duty grey ones.
You can scoop water for the Brute to fill your tank.Some suggest putting a dinner plate on the sand and pour onto that to keep the sand stable.
You'll end up with a milky tank no matter what.It will clear after 2-3 days with filtration.

 

[stingythingy45]

One other way is to mix your water in the tank.Then use a length of PVC that will fit onto a 2 little soda bottles cap end cut in half.Or a large funnel taped on it.
Use the side with the cap as a funnel taped to the PVC.This way you can add the sand into the funnel>down the PVC to the bottom.
Less cloudy this way.