Creating a first reef tank

[Armoredspider]

I am creating my first saltwater tank and need a little help picking out fish and corals that might go well in a 29 gallon biocube. I am also hoping to get a couple anenomies. Any suggestions for colorful sea life? I have hard water and a very acidic ph. I'll test my water again soon to get exact ph and will post it later.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

4-5 nano fish max in a biocube IMO. Also you can only have an anemone* once your tank is 8 months old

 

[Armoredspider]

Ok thanks for the heads up. I wouldn't want to overstock the tank. So what would I want for a cleaning crew? Also, I would really have to wait 8 months to add an anemone? In my freshwater tank after two week I could add pretty much anything to it.

 

[Mrc8858]

Ok thanks for the heads up. I wouldn't want to overstock the tank. So what would I want for a cleaning crew? Also, I would really have to wait 8 months to add an anemone? In my freshwater tank after two week I could add pretty much anything to it.

With SW a lot of the life we house eat microscopic organisms in our tank which is why they reccomend waiting atleast 6 months for these types of creatures and you'll also be going through different blooms for the first year which you don't wanna put your anemone through especially since a dead one can nuke a whole tank

 

[Armoredspider]

As for fish should I maybe start with a fire fish after the cycle? Are they easy to care for? For the cleanup crew I was thinking of having a shrimp, some hermit crabs, some snails, and adding a pincushion urchin after the tank is well established. Would that be overstocking? Are any of these hard to care for so I should take them out of my plans?

 

[Huffers]

Firefish are a good choice. There pretty hardy and will do well in a 29 gallon. Your clean up crew sounds fine to me.

 

[Saltwater reef]

If you want your bio cycle started Put in some blue/green chromis maybe 2-3 the are good and hardy and look great. Also if you want corals go for zoos as a start up they are nice and hardy as well and look great after a couple of months of growing!


Also are you getting live rock? Or dried?

 

[Armoredspider]

Thanks for the suggestions! I am planning on getting some live rock from my lfs to start the cycle and adding fish later. Are blue chromis reef safe? I have always wanted a blue fish!

 

[Saltwater reef]

Yes they are they are a very nice schooling fish, that change from blue to green all time very interesting and not expensive!

 

[Mrc8858]

They can become aggressive and my dominant male nipped at my polyps. A lot of members on here have had the same experience with them so imo don't get any chromis or damsels

 

[Saltwater reef]

Well then what would you suggest? Chromis worked fine for me?

 

[Saltwater reef]

Oh and mcr-I got my acans the other day and are in love with them!

 

[Mrc8858]

Being such a small tank I wouldn't really go for any school which would take up your whole Bioload. How about a blue neon cleaner goby, scissortail dartfish, chalk bass, or tribal blenny. All have different but nice shades of blues

 

[Mrc8858]

Oh and mcr-I got my acans the other day and are in love with them!

Nice where can I see the pics and where did you get them from?

 

[Saltwater reef]

I'll post on here, and I got a few from cherry corals and some friends hooked me up lol

 

[Armoredspider]

Are chromis easy to get out? I could always have them in my tank for a while and when I'm ready to put in some polyps I could give them back to the fish store.

 

[Mrc8858]

Are chromis easy to get out? I could always have them in my tank for a while and when I'm ready to put in some polyps I could give them back to the fish store.

Not if your scaping has hides lol. Took me 2 weeks to get all 5 out of my 46 gallon without moving rock work

 

[Saltwater reef]

 

[Saltwater reef]

Also I guess if chromis don't work you could go for gobies, even though they are bottom dwellers they are nice looking and help too

 

[Mrc8858]

Very nice I'm bout to throw a video up of my tank for the first time in a minute so keep an eye out for it and check out my acans