New Fish/Coral Help

[reefkeep3r]

I want to add a new addition to my tank. Looking for something to bring more movement and color.
Tank is a 29g Biocube with 2 Ocellaris Clowns that have been in the tank for little over a year. Female is about 3" and male is half her size. Lighting is 36W PC actinic and 36W 10K. Actinic is on for 13 hours and 10K 4 hours. I need to be gone for work a lot so the tank is feed pellet food from a auto feeder most of the time. Circulation is done by a 260GPH return and a 530gph PH. I have a 425gph I was thinking about putting in as well, should I or is that to much? I also plan on QT so anything suggested if you can mention a good QT procedure I would appreciate it. Could possibly do both if I can QT at same time.

 

[billdogg]

In a tank that size, the clowns own every square inch. It will be difficult to add any fish that won't be destroyed by them, especially if you want color/motion. You might get away with a watchman goby or perhaps a blennie, but even then I would expect trouble.

Your lighting won't support much in the way of corals, but perhaps a leather or kenya tree. The problem there will be lack of much in the way of color.

 

[JoelA7]

If enough rock for cave and such maybe a Royal Gramma could settle in. But you might also ramp up feeding and breed the pair instead.

 

[chefbill]

Your lighting won't support much in the way of corals, but perhaps a leather or kenya tree. The problem there will be lack of much in the way of color.

Simply untrue. This is my Biocube with stock lighting.

 

[reefkeep3r]

There are some hiding spots. Here is a picture from when the tank was new.
The clowns are tank bread and I thought they where supposed to go well with other fish for smaller tanks.

I was thinking 1-2 firefish, bi-color dottyback, banggai cardinal and a gobie or blenni

I was thinking 5-6 total fish.

 

[reefkeep3r]

Chefbill,

Tank looks awesome, would you mind giving a stocking list. At least what you would recommend for beginners.

 

[chefbill]

current livestock is:
rainfordii goby
pink spot watchman
gold strip maroon clown
mis-bar occ clown
chalk basslet
bittle star
emerald crab
cleaner shrimp
nessarius snails
trochus snails
astrea snails
tiger tail cucumber
maxi mini anemone

softies:
green polyp toadstool
devil's hand
misc mushrooms
green star polyps
xenia
green yuma

Z and P:
magicians
red people eaters
blue hornets
rastas
bam bams
radioactive dragon eyes
grandis
eagle eyes
purple rings
pink rings
several un named

LPS:
4 different frogspawns
pink hammer
blue candy canes
green candy canes
4 color lobo
fox coral
duncans
favia
3 color platy

SPS:
cyphastria
cactus coral
ORA mint pavona
ponape bird's nest
grren polyp bird's nest
red monti cap
brown monti cap
green slimer

NPS:
chili coral
sun coral

I run a skimmer in chamber 1 along with a phos ban reactor with carbon and GFO. Cheato and a chunk of live rock in chamber 2. I use a 2 part daily, and dose 1 single drop of iodine weekly. I do a 5 gallon water change every 8 or 10 days.

Everything grows in my tank...except for acans and rics. Go figure.

As far as recommended for beginners, main anything but SPS, with research and more research on every addition. Zoas and palys offer an immediate boost of color at (sometimes) reasonable prices. I like euphilias (hammers, torches, frogspawns) for movement. Xenia and GSP are fast growers, often considered weeds or invasive at the least, but actually do look nioce and have some movement.

Good luck and thank you for the compliment.

 

[chefbill]

slightly more recent pic

 

[reefkeep3r]

Thanks chief. Looks like I won't be stocking the fish I was going to but glad to see I can explore corals more. At least I should be able to get some inverts as well for some color and movements.

 

[chefbill]

Just keep SPS up top (mainly). Also, research flow and light reqs for each coral. Personally, for low req low cost corals, duncans euphylia zoas and softies will offer you what you want as far as color and motion. These will also help you learn what will work in your tank. Just go slow, dip and research will go a long way towards increasing your odds of success.

 

[reefkeep3r]

I was just at the LFS and decided to upgrade lights to led based on cost of new bulbs every year and really opens up the types of corals. the cost of LEDs will be covered in 2 to 3 years.

 

[chefbill]

I had considered that, but decided I'd rather spend the money on a bigger system. 29g got too small for me very fast.