I'm FINALLY doing it! Need help though....

[ryanp15]

Well I'm finally taking the plunge into the marine aquarium world. I'm a little worried but I know I can do it. I have started to tear down my tank, which is currently freshwater. My corys were given to my aunt and I'm taking the angel fish to my biology teacher. I am going to tear down the tank by removing the gravel and scrubbing the algea off of the equipment.

I have a 29 gallon tank with a hang-on-back filter plenty enough to filter the tank and a heater. I am going to get glass cut to fit the top and add another strip light, to make two lights on my tank. I need to know what other equipment I will need to keep this tank up and what fish and inverts and things you all would recommend for a fist timer.

I was thinking some argonite sand and live rock with a few clowns and cleaner shrimp. Maybe an anemone or two but I've heard bad things about them. I just need some nice advice from you all. Thanks. ;D

 

[Pooky125]

If I was you, I'd pass on the anenomes.. that isn't enough light, even for the low light ones.. Other then that, your setup sounds great! I'm using live sand in my nano, but, it's also a quite a bit smaller then your 29.. As for the clowns, personally, I'm a fan of the marron clown, but, they get pretty big, so, I would only do a pair in a 29.. If you did perculas, you could prolly do 3-4... Skunk clowns are another good choice... If you like pink, but, the skunks really need an anenome to thrive, so, you might want to hold out on those, until you can upgrade your lighting... I'm also a fan of the clarkiis, but thats just me.. Theres a book, sorry, I dont remember who by, but, it's based on anenome, clownfish tanks, really awesome book, beautiful pictures, and easy enough for the novice... With the right care, anenomes can thrive in marine tanks... Get some nice strong PC lights, good filter, and you should be set to go. If you want a clown, to host an anenome, it really is better to get them together, captive breed clowns don't always see an anenome as what it is.. Long tenticle, and bubble tip anenomes, are best for biginners. Personally, I can't pass up the frog spawn... Guess thats as much as I can do for ya.. after reading it, it doesn't make much sence, sry, hope sumthing in there gives you some help.. I'll look around, see if I can remember what the book was called, good luck, and welcome to the much more expensive side of the hobby!

 

[ryanp15]

Thanks for that advice. I was wondering if I would need a protein skimmer. The store I am going to purchase from has many anemone clown pairs but very few clowns w/o them so that's why I was thinking about getting a few or so. I am going to look around at the books but nothing beats getting real advice from real peopel I "know" and can kinda trust. Once again thanks for you input I just need to know these few more things.

P.S.- I would REALLY appreciate the name of the book. ;D

 

[Pooky125]

It's very creativly named, I'm kinda thinking Anenomes & Clownfish, printed by barrons...

I did a search on amazon, and this is what I found, might be worth looking into...  

"The Clownfish Sea Anemones: Stichodactylidae (Coelenterata/ Actiniaria and Other Sea Anemones Symbiotic With Pomacentrid Fishes) by Daphine F. Dunn" Printed by Amer Philosophical Society - this might actually be it...


Your First Marine Aquarium by John H. Tullock, printed by Barrons is another good one...

The Simple Guide to Marine Aquariums (The Simple Guide)
by Jeffrey Kurtz printed by TFH Publications  - I've flipped through this one a few times, awesome book, tons of clor pictures, easy read...

Hope this helps atleast a little. Most of these books I've atleast flipped through, and read parts, if I haven't read from cover to cover a few times...