Livestock and LFS advice needed!

Melinda · 06/19/2001, 09:50 AM

Livestock advice

Hi everyone! I have set up a 29g saltwater tank. I am using about 35 lbs of live rock, 3Ã¢â‚¬Â sand bed (top 1.5Ã¢â‚¬Â live sand), Millennium filter (standard carbon, floss, off the back of the tank configuration), one 55 watt white fixture, one 20 watt actinic fixture, and two power heads for water flow. I am waiting for the tank to cycle due to the live rock. While I am waiting I wanted to look into what livestock I should start with. My LFS has recommended starting with a few damsels. I understand that damsels can be rather aggressive. I would like to eventually have a nice broad spectrum of species in my tank (hard & soft corals, anemones, sand sifters, snails, fish, clam). So, my questions are: Should I start with damsels? If so, what type? Should I add snails or sand sifters early on? What species should I avoid since I want to do a broad spectrum of species? Any advice on my setup is also welcome. Essentially, if you had to start over again, what species would you put in your tank and in what order?

I am currently using Aqua Imports in Boulder as my LFS. Has anyone heard bad or good things about them? So far I am pretty pleased with their service and knowledge. I looked into Exotic Aquatics in Boulder, and I was not too impressed with the employees that I met there. Is there another store in the Boulder/Denver area that I should check out?

Thanks!
Melinda

stevenc64 · 06/19/2001, 11:01 AM

Hi Melinda,
I will give you my advice. What you will soon find out is that there is no one right way to set up a tank. First as far as good LFS, I think the best is Reef by Design in Denver. Steve Chang is very knowledgeable and his livestock is very healthy. As far as filtration there are many ways to go. Liverock and a sandbed are my preference. I would personally replace the millenium filter(not needed in my opinion) with a hang on protein skimmer or plumb the tank to a sump with a skimmer or refugium. The first livestock I would add after the tank has cycled is a detrivore kit from either ipsf.com or inlandaquatics.com. This will bring your sandbed alive with "critters"(worms, amphipods, small snails etc.) With your current lighting you will probably want to start with some hardy "low light" corals such as mushrooms or polyps. As far as fish go, damsels are very hardy but can be very aggresive. I like damsels alot but they will limit what other fish you can put in the tank. With salt water it is important not to overload with fish and a 29 can probably only handle a few small fish(no tangs). Despite what some LFS say, anemones are not beginner corals. If you want an anemone then I wouldn't add many other corals as the anenome is sure to wander and sting other corals and you will need to cover you powerheads so the anemone doesn't get sucked in. Also you should try and find a captive raised anenome as they are probably hardier. Lastly if you haven't done so already there are some great books out there, I would recommend Natural Reef Aquariums by Tullock as a good starter. Once again these are only my opinions and there is more than one way to set up a tank. Hope that helps.
Steve

BrokenSpoke · 11/02/2006, 04:15 PM

testing

BrokeColoReefer · 11/02/2006, 04:40 PM

Realy LFS are there to help you, the help you recieve will be better if you have a idea of what you want. I dont know how i would start to answer a question like "i want a saltwater tank, what do i do?" Good research before making any purchase will help a LFS help you. If you want a coral tank, you will get a complete different list of equipment then if you asked for a fish tank, and yet a complete different answer for a softie tank. Damsels are hardy and inexpensive. Very condusive to a beginner tank. It sounds like you want a fish tank, and the equipment so far is fine for a fish tank, reef tanks require different techniques (live refugiums, protien skimmers, etc) Fish tanks should use skimmers, but other mechanical means of filtration also work.
The more you know walking into a LFS the better help you will recieve. Research the fish you want to keep, research the feeding needs, and the flow. There are lots of good fish stores around the area, Im a fan of Aqua Imports, every one will have different experences with each one. Not every employee in a LFS can be a expert. You are lucky to get one or two "experts" in any shop. Im assuming the wage base cant support a shop full of experts. So once again, research, shop, ask questions to verify your research, then make a informed buying decision. The internet offers a endless amount of data on saltwater aquariums, the more you know the more successfull your tank will be. Expecially small ones.
Hope that helps.

"Umm, fish?" · 11/02/2006, 10:03 PM

Ryan--

Check out the dates on this thread. If she still has this tank then she certainly doesn't need beginner advice anymore.

BrokeColoReefer · 11/03/2006, 09:19 AM

Wow, that explains the testing post. That was a good waste of time.

jdallred · 11/03/2006, 10:14 AM

Had me going too.

zerillit · 11/03/2006, 05:10 PM

My first fish were damsels that I got at Liquid Kingdom. They sell them (under $10 when I got them) & then buy them back at half price. Liquid Kingdom is on 120th in Broomfield. Good luck.

stugray · 11/03/2006, 07:42 PM

Melinda,

If I were you I would do the following:

Go and get a flock of mandarins.... they like to travel in packs, at least six of them should work for your 29Gal. Then I think you could handle one yellow, one purple, & one sohal tang ( they will grow, but you can sell them at a profit once they get too large for the tank ).

Also, at least three sea cucumbers & 100 hermits ought to keep your sandbed clean ( throw in ~4 sandsifting stars just to be sure ).

HTH

Stu

"Umm, fish?" · 11/04/2006, 03:08 PM

I think that since you don't have a lot of light, you should go for an apo-symbiotic tank. I would start out with a couple of dendros, a blueberry gorgonian (they're just gorgeous), and maybe a crinoid. Since you'll be feeding the tank, that'll really get your biological filter started out right.

Good luck!!

bmb527 · 11/04/2006, 11:41 PM

And a Bamboo Shark!! Thats a gotta have!!

rmougey · 11/07/2006, 09:13 AM

I hear Bamboo Sharks do better when kept with Blue Spot Rays. That holds particularly true for SPS tanks.

bmb527 · 11/07/2006, 09:20 AM

And a school of Green Chromis'.

06/19/2001, 09:50 AM	#1
Melinda Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 31	Livestock and LFS advice needed! Livestock advice Hi everyone! I have set up a 29g saltwater tank. I am using about 35 lbs of live rock, 3Ã¢â‚¬Â sand bed (top 1.5Ã¢â‚¬Â live sand), Millennium filter (standard carbon, floss, off the back of the tank configuration), one 55 watt white fixture, one 20 watt actinic fixture, and two power heads for water flow. I am waiting for the tank to cycle due to the live rock. While I am waiting I wanted to look into what livestock I should start with. My LFS has recommended starting with a few damsels. I understand that damsels can be rather aggressive. I would like to eventually have a nice broad spectrum of species in my tank (hard & soft corals, anemones, sand sifters, snails, fish, clam). So, my questions are: Should I start with damsels? If so, what type? Should I add snails or sand sifters early on? What species should I avoid since I want to do a broad spectrum of species? Any advice on my setup is also welcome. Essentially, if you had to start over again, what species would you put in your tank and in what order? I am currently using Aqua Imports in Boulder as my LFS. Has anyone heard bad or good things about them? So far I am pretty pleased with their service and knowledge. I looked into Exotic Aquatics in Boulder, and I was not too impressed with the employees that I met there. Is there another store in the Boulder/Denver area that I should check out? Thanks! Melinda

06/19/2001, 11:01 AM	#2
stevenc64 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lakewood, CO Posts: 251	Hi Melinda, I will give you my advice. What you will soon find out is that there is no one right way to set up a tank. First as far as good LFS, I think the best is Reef by Design in Denver. Steve Chang is very knowledgeable and his livestock is very healthy. As far as filtration there are many ways to go. Liverock and a sandbed are my preference. I would personally replace the millenium filter(not needed in my opinion) with a hang on protein skimmer or plumb the tank to a sump with a skimmer or refugium. The first livestock I would add after the tank has cycled is a detrivore kit from either ipsf.com or inlandaquatics.com. This will bring your sandbed alive with "critters"(worms, amphipods, small snails etc.) With your current lighting you will probably want to start with some hardy "low light" corals such as mushrooms or polyps. As far as fish go, damsels are very hardy but can be very aggresive. I like damsels alot but they will limit what other fish you can put in the tank. With salt water it is important not to overload with fish and a 29 can probably only handle a few small fish(no tangs). Despite what some LFS say, anemones are not beginner corals. If you want an anemone then I wouldn't add many other corals as the anenome is sure to wander and sting other corals and you will need to cover you powerheads so the anemone doesn't get sucked in. Also you should try and find a captive raised anenome as they are probably hardier. Lastly if you haven't done so already there are some great books out there, I would recommend Natural Reef Aquariums by Tullock as a good starter. Once again these are only my opinions and there is more than one way to set up a tank. Hope that helps. Steve __________________ Founder and Past President Rocky Mountain Reef Club Current Tank Info: 180 Reef, 110 Fish Only

11/02/2006, 04:40 PM	#4
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	Realy LFS are there to help you, the help you recieve will be better if you have a idea of what you want. I dont know how i would start to answer a question like "i want a saltwater tank, what do i do?" Good research before making any purchase will help a LFS help you. If you want a coral tank, you will get a complete different list of equipment then if you asked for a fish tank, and yet a complete different answer for a softie tank. Damsels are hardy and inexpensive. Very condusive to a beginner tank. It sounds like you want a fish tank, and the equipment so far is fine for a fish tank, reef tanks require different techniques (live refugiums, protien skimmers, etc) Fish tanks should use skimmers, but other mechanical means of filtration also work. The more you know walking into a LFS the better help you will recieve. Research the fish you want to keep, research the feeding needs, and the flow. There are lots of good fish stores around the area, Im a fan of Aqua Imports, every one will have different experences with each one. Not every employee in a LFS can be a expert. You are lucky to get one or two "experts" in any shop. Im assuming the wage base cant support a shop full of experts. So once again, research, shop, ask questions to verify your research, then make a informed buying decision. The internet offers a endless amount of data on saltwater aquariums, the more you know the more successfull your tank will be. Expecially small ones. Hope that helps. __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)

11/02/2006, 10:03 PM	#5
"Umm, fish?" Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 4,118	Ryan-- Check out the dates on this thread. If she still has this tank then she certainly doesn't need beginner advice anymore. __________________ --Andy "And chase the frothy bubbles, / While the world is full of troubles. . . ." --W. B. Yeats Current Tank Info: ~480 gal. display, ~1,400 gal. system

11/03/2006, 09:19 AM	#6
BrokeColoReefer Hermit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mountains of Boulder County. Posts: 2,289	Wow, that explains the testing post. That was a good waste of time. __________________ Stay fishy my friends. Current Tank Info: 300 gallon built in plumbed to the basement. 30 gallon surge for flow, GEO protein skimmer, litermeter 3's for continuous water change (1 gallon per day), calc reactors, kalk reactors, 600w MHx2, 6" DSB, 1000 lbs of live rock (300 display, 700 sump)

11/02/2006, 04:15 PM	#3
BrokenSpoke Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 438	testing

11/03/2006, 10:14 AM	#7
jdallred Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Arlington, TX (until we can move back to Colorado) Posts: 3,055	Had me going too. __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: 75g SPS dominated w/15g sump/fuge, 2x250w MH ARO ballasts w/XM 10k bulbs, 4x110w VHO Super Actinic, ER CS80 Skimmer, QO4000 return, pcx-30 CL, Koralia 2 & 3 PH, 15g ATO.

11/03/2006, 05:10 PM	#8
zerillit Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton Posts: 276	My first fish were damsels that I got at Liquid Kingdom. They sell them (under $10 when I got them) & then buy them back at half price. Liquid Kingdom is on 120th in Broomfield. Good luck. __________________ Terri Current Tank Info: 140 RR Show

11/03/2006, 07:42 PM	#9
stugray Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Longmont, Co Posts: 4,567	Melinda, If I were you I would do the following: Go and get a flock of mandarins.... they like to travel in packs, at least six of them should work for your 29Gal. Then I think you could handle one yellow, one purple, & one sohal tang ( they will grow, but you can sell them at a profit once they get too large for the tank ). Also, at least three sea cucumbers & 100 hermits ought to keep your sandbed clean ( throw in ~4 sandsifting stars just to be sure ). HTH Stu __________________ Some people think that I have Attention Deficit Disorder. They just dont understand that........ Hey! Look a chicken! Well, We KNOW GOD exists, but for US to exist without a GOD is preposterous….Umm wait a minute…. Sounds a bit circular to me… Current Tank Info: 125 Gal. display w/80 gal mud/caulerpa sump. Basement sump w/ LED Grow Light,Gravity fed Reeflo200 skimmer w/ ORCA Recirc, DIY calc reactor & kalk stirrer. Inline plumbed 75 Gal frag/settling tank.

11/04/2006, 03:08 PM	#10
"Umm, fish?" Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 4,118	I think that since you don't have a lot of light, you should go for an apo-symbiotic tank. I would start out with a couple of dendros, a blueberry gorgonian (they're just gorgeous), and maybe a crinoid. Since you'll be feeding the tank, that'll really get your biological filter started out right. Good luck!! __________________ --Andy "And chase the frothy bubbles, / While the world is full of troubles. . . ." --W. B. Yeats Current Tank Info: ~480 gal. display, ~1,400 gal. system

11/04/2006, 11:41 PM	#11
bmb527 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Marysville Wa. Posts: 943	And a Bamboo Shark!! Thats a gotta have!! __________________ 787 Preflight & Delivery QA, Keeping you safe at 40,000 feet!

11/07/2006, 09:13 AM	#12
rmougey D.A.R.C Board Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Highlands Ranch, CO Posts: 1,350	I hear Bamboo Sharks do better when kept with Blue Spot Rays. That holds particularly true for SPS tanks. __________________ If at first you don't succeed, you didn't quarantine long enough!

11/07/2006, 09:20 AM	#13
bmb527 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Marysville Wa. Posts: 943	And a school of Green Chromis'. __________________ 787 Preflight & Delivery QA, Keeping you safe at 40,000 feet!