New tank

[DeatsFamily]

I just got a 29 gallon tank. We put live rock and sand in there with a domino damsel and yellowbelly damsel to just get it started. The water is good now and so we just put a clownfish in there and yellow belly damsel is attacking the clownfish and the domino is attacking the yellow belly damsel. Is this normal?? My little clownfish appears traumatized as he is laying down in the corner in the sand. What can I do to help, we are trying to catch the damsel, but it looks like we will need to remove all the rock to do so. Hoping that isn't the case.
Also, I would like to add an anemone or something, not sure what to start with - have been researching stuff online and heard about the difficulties with keeping anemones alive. Any suggestions? Also, I hear alot about mushrooms and frags. Any opinions on trying those in the tank?

 

[sandalscout]

Damsels and clowns are related, and they are all aggressive, so yes, this is fairly normal.

How long has the tank been setup, what are your water parameters, and what kind of lighting and filtration do you have? How much live rock? Is your system an all in on, a single tank, or is it sumped?

Anemones are very difficult to keep alive, at least in new systems. I would not recommend keeping an anemone in a tank less than a year old. Keeping mushrooms is very possible, but the "frags" will depend on your equipment and the type of frags you are looking at.

 

[John_A]

Best advice you can get Take it slow Nothing but bad things happen when you rush

 

[luckyfish]

There is a saying in the hobby; "If damsels were as big as sharks, sharks would be nervous". Damsels are very territorial and in their little damsel brains they own that tank and anything seen as a threat will be pestered to death (literally). I would work on getting the clown fish out as he is likely easier to catch. If you have a sump he could live in there. Otherwise I'd use some other container and water from the tank and create a home for him. Regarding anemones; certainly it can be done successfully but it takes time, patience and money (lots of all three). I'd advise focusing on the immediate fish issue first.

 

[AdrianBryce]

Deats you have a PM.

 

[tkimmons85]

Take it sloooow. Your clownfish is very likely not gonna make it if he is laying in the sand. Yes the best thing you can do is remove the damsels but its prob too late. Damsel are some of the most agressive territorial mean fish out there. I still have my yellowtail from my very first tank and he still commands respect from fish 10 times his size. But good luck catching any if you have any rock. Youll def have too remove all the rock before you have a fighting chance of killing it, I mean catching it

As for anemones, there is alot of good info on here from very smart people about anems. Practically decades of experiance. I have never fooled with them but I have heard you need a good and mature tank before you introduce them. I remember hearing 6 months one time was a good time to wait before you added one. What kind of tank set up( filtration, lighting, etc) do you have ?

 

[DeatsFamily]

Took the water to the fish store and everything looked good. I have a little more than 30 pounds of live rock, several crabs, and two snails. We have the EHeim classic cannister filtration system and our lighting is the solarmax HE double T5 lighting system.

We also left the net in the tank, I think the blue damsel is getting use to the net and hopefully we will catch the little brat today. I do think it is too late though, tha clown does not look good. I don't have much experience, but the attacking was kinda brutal for a fish. I guess I can understand that saying about the damsels. Also, I think we have a mantis shrimp in there. I can't find anything else that matches the description of what popped out of the rock the other day. Any suggestions? We got a trap, but I sorta thought it was a waste, hopefully I will be wrong about that.

 

[tkimmons85]

Youll prob have to find the rock the mantis is in and take it out to get him out. As for the mantis shrimp dont flush him. There are plenty of people that would take him or possibly buy him. Some of those guys are pretty sought after, so it would be worth identifying. You can post pics on here of course for that.

 

[sandalscout]

If you can't get the damsel out easily, try to get the clown out to at least seperate them.

Did you record the numbers that your water tested at, or did the store just say it looked good? Not everyone uses the same tests, seeing a complete list of tests and results would be helpful in determining where exactly your tank is at along the cycle-side of things.

 

[CeeGee]

Not trying to sound like a jerk but if this is your first tank slow down and read, read, read. This site is worth it's weight in gold. I know that it doesn't weigh anything but you know what I am saying

Also there are several exceptional reefers in your neck of the woods.

Good luck and don't get defensive if someone offers you advice. This hobby has a steep learning curve and isn't cheap.

 

[DeatsFamily]

Well, we did have a tank before. It was a small one that was completely set up with two fish, a clown and a damsel and they had been together a long time and liked each other. So we never had to start anything, just maintain what we were given, so I feel like this is our first real tank. We gave it away when we moved from CA to TN. Anyway, I totally need to slow down though - I know, but it is all so exciting so that is hard. But, I have read several times, the bad things happen when you rush. So, that is incentive to take it more slowly. And, I got the damsel out. I was patient. I also got some mysis shrimp for the clown. He is starting to perk up (at least I think so). Not going to get my hopes up though.

And I love the info, I have been reading through several websites that talk to beginners about the do and don'ts and of course, I have already done some of the don'ts (as you all know already). Yikes, need to stop that. And no worres, no offense will be taken here. Just tell me like it is, I will never learn if I don't just get the facts.

 

[sandalscout]

That's a great attitude to have going in, hope everything works out for the clown!

 

[commonstranger]

I tried to leave you a PM not sure if you checked it though. I am here in Springhill and dont mind helping you with what I can. Hopefully enough people on here will tell you that I wont tell you wrong. If I can help let me know and I wish you the best.