Saltwater questions

futbalstud42

My wife and I just aquired a 29 gal tank from my father-in-law. It is equiped with an undergravel filter and powerfilter.

My wife is wanting to use live sand as substrate, then introduce a boxer crab and chocolate chip starfish to start the nitrogen cycle.

We would then add upto 4 damsels, gobys or other small community fish over time.

We have several pieces of bleached coral that will be used for decoration.

Please let me know what you think about this set up.

onefish2fish

get rid of the undergravel filter, the powerfilter im going to assume is a hang on the back freshwater type of filter? if so, run this empty just for water flow, or with carbon only ( that must be changed out weekly to bi-weekly ) or just get rid of it and get a powerhead or two for a flow source.

cycle the tank with liverock, or if needed a raw shrimp from the grocery store. cycling with fish isnt needed, esp. with sensitive inverts.

i doubt 4 damsels will work succesfully in this size tank, infact i dont think i would even do this many in a 100 gallon tank. these fish are bad news IMO and i personally suggest avoiding these fish. if your heart set on getting one, i suggest just that, get one. even with 1 damsel present in this tank, in short time it will own the tank. they can be nasty fish.

welcome to the forum.

MiamiLeos

Why are damsels undesireable? I was thinking of putting two yellow tail in when I get my set up going.

to OP welcome! I'm new as well

futbalstud42

what about connecting a powerhead to the undergravel filter?

I was consered about the crab...

anybody else have any thoughts?

onefish2fish

i would consider a damsel "reef safe" but not "fish safe"

they might work when they are small and young, but give them time and you'll see. further more, fish additions must be planned before getting any fish. certain fish should be added in certain order. constructing a stocking list and spacing out addtions is key. once a fish is added to a saltwater tank full of liverock, good luck getting it out without tearing down the tank.

futbalstud42

Thats kind of what im looking for.

even if we remove the damsel/s and stick with gobies or cromis can the crab and star fish be added first and then add fish later? And what about a clown or two?

onefish2fish

i dont understand what you mean by " thats kind of what im looking for "

to quickly sum up whats going to happen: add live rock first (wait about a week - a few months depending how cured the rock is)
after diatom bloom comes and goes be sure to test your water parameters, add a dozen or so snails, after about 2 weeks from that add your crab, wait a few days, add your first fish, wait atleast 2 weeks to a month, add your second fish, and so on.. dont forget to QT fish!

there should not be any rush in stocking a tank. anyone can add anything to a tank full of water, but not everyone can keep everything alive longterm. this is a long term hobby.
its good to have a stocking list/plan.. whats going to be added first all the way to your last fish. that way you can work out all issues before you have any.
clowns would work, infact ill prob. suggest having them as your first fish on your stocking list.

Reefing Madness

Cycling a New Saltwater Aquarium With Fish - Tips For Making Good Tank Starter Fish Choices
You can add the crab and star fish afterwards. But the starfish will likely starve to death. They need mature systems to survive. And a might bigger tank than you are providing.
Saltwater Aquarium Inverts for Marine Reef Aquariums: Chocolate Chip Sea Star, Protoreaster sp.