Advice needed

[Dwise]

Hi everyone, (incoming wall of text)
I am new to the saltwater hobby and I am as interested as can be. All I have done in my spare time for the past month is research, research, research and finally I have come up with what my goals are for my first SW aquarium.
What type of fish do I want?
2 clowns
What type of coral do I want?
An anemone"¦.. jk. To be more serious, I really like clove polyps and hammer corals. Any colourful hardy lps would do to be honest.
With my heart set on having two clowns, what size tank would be minimal but best out of a 10g or 20g high or long?
All I really want since I am new to the hobby is 2 clowns and trust me, this will not change. I am fascinated with clowns and to me they are the fish with the most character. I find them and the clown gobies to be entertaining fish.
With any of those tanks would this set up work?
55/75 fluval aquaclear HOB filter. (or no filter but a damn good skimmer?)
Ehiem Jager 50/100w heater depending on size tank
Jebao pp-4 wave maker (couldn't justify spending $ on mp10 so any substitutes?) or 2 hydor nanos?
Trying to do without fudge
10-20lb of live rock. Really interested in dry rock from BRS. Specifically the reef saver rock but phosphate problems have given me some doubt. With that being said, what is some of the best live rock? (in ones experience)
Arag "“ Live sand
If I am to go without a HOB, what is the best vacumming method that is tried and true?
***Lights
I have saved this for last because while I am very interested in starting this wonderful hobby, I am not interested in spending $$$ on lights I don't need for what I specifically want. I have set my goals in stone as I will want to keep these clown for a very long time. For example, I want them to be alive when I graduate from uni. I have done enough research to know that almost instantaneously people will comment and say "œget a 100g, get a sump, DIY everything, spend $$$$, and don't do it" but frankly, I want only the specifics I have mentioned beforehand. I know people like to plan ahead for the big 100g they think they will get into but I only have a specific amount of cash to place a budget on this. I know this is not difficult. I have spent a lot of time at my LFS asking questions and advice and luckily I can see right through their bad sales pitches and get straight to the point of advice to a beginner who really wants to succeed. But this does not always happen. So I have resorted to forums. I ask all who has experienced the rush of wanting to get a tank and those who have had tanks for years to come and give some advice to help me on my journey into the reef.

 

[Nina51]

welcome to the forums!

i can't answer questions about equipment and lights and such but reading your post makes me think you want to keep this as simple and uncluttered as possible. to that end, have you ever checked into the all-in-one biocubes? there is a 29g size that would be adequate for 2 clowns and some of these tanks even have lighting sufficient to keep some pretty decent corals.

just something to consider. i started back in the hobby about 3 years ago with a 14g biocube, went to a 29g and then upgraded 2 years ago to a 75g traditional tank.

 

[Dwise]

Ironically, a bio cube hqi is being sold on my local craigslist for $250. Is that a steal?

 

[Bent]

IME clowns don't really need a ton of swim room, so two clowns and a nem will be fine in any of those. Depending on the species of course.

I would research the natural host for the types of clowns you want. If you don't get a natural host anemone for your clowns, they may end up ignoring it completely. The type of nem you need as a new guy may dictate your clown species as some of the natural hosts for different clowns are delicate.

Personally, if you are getting two clowns only and no other fish, I'd get maroons and a BTA. BTAs are hardy, and come in a ton of different colors.

 

[Roccus]

Ironically, a bio cube hqi is being sold on my local craigslist for $250. Is that a steal?

Not unless it has the stand with it.... New a 29 Bio cube and stand is around $400..you may be able to find it a little cheaper if you shop around.

the bio cube is a nice set up... it is very versatile.. I keep sea horses and pipe fish in one and just set up another one in the front lobby of my company .. the standard( power compact with led blue lights) lighting will keep mushrooms and other soft corals...and some LPS...a word about clove polyps..once established.. they spread like wild fire and need to be "harvested" from time to time...

 

[Nina51]

Ironically, a bio cube hqi is being sold on my local craigslist for $250. Is that a steal?

that's probably a 29g, right? i agree, the price *should* include a stand. i don't know where you live but where i am, you can't GIVE aquariums away, there is simply no one interested in them. if this is the case with your area, you might be able to talk this person down in price.

it would also depend on what shape it's in. if it isn't very old, if it's in really good shape, if all of the equipment is spotless, i'd say it's a good price (with stand included).

 

[zelie_dad]

I have 2 PP-4's in my 40b, and before I put them in, I tested one in a 10 gallon fw tank I had, and even on the lowest setting, it was a crazy amount of flow. Figured I'd let you know, because those powerheads create an amazing amount of flow for the size. I'm still cycling my 40b, and both are running on half power and are creating a ton of flow across a 3 foot tank.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Dwise]

IME clowns don't really need a ton of swim room, so two clowns and a nem will be fine in any of those. Depending on the species of course.

I would research the natural host for the types of clowns you want. If you don't get a natural host anemone for your clowns, they may end up ignoring it completely. The type of nem you need as a new guy may dictate your clown species as some of the natural hosts for different clowns are delicate.

Personally, if you are getting two clowns only and no other fish, I'd get maroons and a BTA. BTAs are hardy, and come in a ton of different colors.

Would I be able to have them in a filterless tank?

 

[Bent]

Would I be able to have them in a filterless tank?

As long as there is enough live rock, you watch the amount you are feeding, and keep up with water changes, it shouldn't be a problem.

I can't see 1 nem and two clowns needing much except for good light.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Would I be able to have them in a filterless tank?

Live rock is the filter that houses the bacteria that keeps your tank free of ammonia and nitrites. No filter is needed if you have enough live rock. Enough depending on the type of rock is between one lb and one and a half lbs.

That's not a bad buy on the biocube depending if it's got a stand or not I agree, but also if it's got live rock and sand etc. Why don't you tell us what all comes with it.

 

[Dwise]

comes with powerhead, sand, cheato, newly added fudge light, skimmer. Owner is selling it because he combined two other tank into a 210 gallon..

 

[Dwise]

Live rock is the filter that houses the bacteria that keeps your tank free of ammonia and nitrites. No filter is needed if you have enough live rock. Enough depending on the type of rock is between one lb and one and a half lbs.

That's not a bad buy on the biocube depending if it's got a stand or not I agree, but also if it's got live rock and sand etc. Why don't you tell us what all comes with it.

Also comes with a stand but, it is custom made. Regarding the "enough live rock", will cured live rock from my LFS work or should I order dry rock online and seed with live rock. (saw some live rock at LFS with coraline on it). I looking for simplicity and the reef saver from brs will allow me to stack and make a "bridge/tunnel" to allow more room for the fish to swim. I would imagine any rock could do this but me being a beginner and putting my trust on others experiences, I do not want to deal with hitchhikers or aiptasia so dry rock seems more trustworthy. I am still not 100% sure though..

 

[gone fishin]

FWIW when I started out I had a 29g tank with rock, sand, a heater, a couple hydor powerheads and a 2 bulb HO T5 light. It served me well for till I upgraded. The light was able to grow mushrooms, leathers and some easier LPS. I did weekly water changes and all was fine.

since your looking into smaller tanks I think I would go hand pick some rock from the LFS, unless the LFS wants a crazy amount for the LR in your area.Good luck just my 2 cents.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Also comes with a stand but, it is custom made. Regarding the "enough live rock", will cured live rock from my LFS work or should I order dry rock online and seed with live rock. (saw some live rock at LFS with coraline on it). I looking for simplicity and the reef saver from brs will allow me to stack and make a "bridge/tunnel" to allow more room for the fish to swim. I would imagine any rock could do this but me being a beginner and putting my trust on others experiences, I do not want to deal with hitchhikers or aiptasia so dry rock seems more trustworthy. I am still not 100% sure though..

If you can get good live rock without bad hitchhikers that would be fine, but you can also just add dry rock if you already have some live rock that came with it. The dry rock will become live in a week or two.

Don't use just any old rocks you need the porous rocks that are used in the hobby. The dry rock you can use mostly and then just a few pieces of live rock like I said will make the dry live rather quickly.

 

[Nina51]

comes with powerhead, sand, cheato, newly added fudge light, skimmer. Owner is selling it because he combined two other tank into a 210 gallon..

i had a 14g and 29g biocubes that i combined into a 75g tank. i gave both of the biocubes away to a couple of RC'ers. has he left this tank running?

Also comes with a stand but, it is custom made.

if the stand is something you can live with, and you are satisfied that everything works as it shoud, i would say go for it. also, look around on liveaquaria.com in the nana fish section. there are lots of nice, small, colorful fish you could put in a 29g.