excited_newby
Aquarium Advice Activist
Well let me first tell you about my tank.
It is a 29 gallon glass tank with a crappy hood that will need to be replaced. I plan to build a top myself and just add in the light fixtures. We are planning on making it a fish only tank because money is limited as it is a high school tank. We want to put in a couple of clowns, a shrimp, a couple of hermit crabs, and maybe another fish or two after it has cycled and established a bit. Here is what we have so far:
29 gal tank
filter : aquaclear 200 (definitely not my choice)
heater : 100 watt (seem to keep the water the right temp, and it is in a warm room)
substrate: crushed coral
decoration : some rock (haha we need a lot more of something)
I have quite a few questions so brace yourselves
First lest discuss the filter. My thinking is that it is not adequate, or barely adequate, but have wondered if we got a decent protein skimmer (seaclone 100) we could get by. I am fairly sure that we are going to need to get a protein skimmer (that is what fish people and my reading have told me) but that will set us back $200 Canadian and we really don't want to have to buy another canister filter or something like that. What are your opinions on the matter? We want to have success but do not want to spend and arm and a leg.
Next is the feared issue of live rock (for me at least). It is darn expensive here (like 9 bucks a lb) and we would probably need like 30 lbs. Is it absolutely necessary or is there a way that we can avoid the use of it? I think that it is really nice to have in an aquarium but when it is going to cost 270+ dollars to have I would like to avoid it.
How much light will I need to have for a fish only tank, approx. wattages would be nice. I also fear having to go out an buy an expensive light setup.
I will stop the questions now before I bore you too much. I really and truly thank you for your time and knowledge. I'm sure that I sound like a moron but I am more than willing to learn all that you will teach me. Thanks again.
It is a 29 gallon glass tank with a crappy hood that will need to be replaced. I plan to build a top myself and just add in the light fixtures. We are planning on making it a fish only tank because money is limited as it is a high school tank. We want to put in a couple of clowns, a shrimp, a couple of hermit crabs, and maybe another fish or two after it has cycled and established a bit. Here is what we have so far:
29 gal tank
filter : aquaclear 200 (definitely not my choice)
heater : 100 watt (seem to keep the water the right temp, and it is in a warm room)
substrate: crushed coral
decoration : some rock (haha we need a lot more of something)
I have quite a few questions so brace yourselves
First lest discuss the filter. My thinking is that it is not adequate, or barely adequate, but have wondered if we got a decent protein skimmer (seaclone 100) we could get by. I am fairly sure that we are going to need to get a protein skimmer (that is what fish people and my reading have told me) but that will set us back $200 Canadian and we really don't want to have to buy another canister filter or something like that. What are your opinions on the matter? We want to have success but do not want to spend and arm and a leg.
Next is the feared issue of live rock (for me at least). It is darn expensive here (like 9 bucks a lb) and we would probably need like 30 lbs. Is it absolutely necessary or is there a way that we can avoid the use of it? I think that it is really nice to have in an aquarium but when it is going to cost 270+ dollars to have I would like to avoid it.
How much light will I need to have for a fish only tank, approx. wattages would be nice. I also fear having to go out an buy an expensive light setup.
I will stop the questions now before I bore you too much. I really and truly thank you for your time and knowledge. I'm sure that I sound like a moron but I am more than willing to learn all that you will teach me. Thanks again.