Newbie...

[mothrica]

I originally posted this on the newbie page, but it was suggested that I try here instead. So here I go, verbatim cut/paste:

Hi, folks. I just abandoned the RAG forum due to the presence of an endogenous psychopath, so here's to hoping that you guys have some decent manners. Man... Anyhoo...

I'm totally new to this stuff, hadn't owned a fish in 25 years until I got my kid a little fresh water tank for her birthday. Now I'm hooked and entertaining dangerous, expensive thoughts.

Can you tell me what, if anything, that I'm thinking of doing (below) is stupid?

I've got room for about a 30 gallon tank and would like to set it up for mostly inverts. My highest priority is a couple of nice clams (I called them tridacnas over at RAG and was accused of being a secretly, knowledgeable spy. I sh*t you not. But that's another story...). Other than that, I'd like some SPS and maybe some brains and maybe some soft thingies. I don't really care about fish. If they help the inverts and make the green stuff go away, then great. If they're just going to make things worse , then I can happily live without.

From what I've read, it seems like I'd do okay with the following:
30 gal (30x12(w)x18(h)), 2x175w MH (10k?), 3-4" sand, ~40-50 lbs live rock.
Questions:
With few or no fish, do I need a skimmer? If so, would a little Bak-Pak type do the trick, or would I need a real one, like in a sump?
Also, with that much sand and rock and few/no fish, would a sump with sand and algae be smart, or overkill?
What kinds of critters would I need to avoid to make sure that my clams don't get eaten (crabs, shrimp, snails...)?
If I go without fish, what kinds of critters can I use to keep the greenery in check?
If I use a lot of light, like I described, is that harmful for low-light corals, or is it just overkill? i.e. are there things that won't grow in strong light?
What sorts of nasty corals should I avoid that will sting/kill my clams?
etc., etc.?

Thanks for any help...

 

[quicksilverq]

light would be more than enought but don't start out with a clam they need a very well cycled tank ( mature tank ) and they take alot of care at least for me they do by adding calcium magnisum and what not and testing for everything that is needed regularly. I dont really worry about what can sting my clams I keep them away from pretty much everything their my babbies I love them. Some people I am sure will add there input but if you do regualar water changes you can get away with out having a skimmer but if you like to feed them like me its nice to have. I dont think you can go overkill with a sump it will benafit you tank so much more than you realize as the question for a sand bed the nicest tank I have ever seen had not sand bed but thats for you to decide if you like sand or not. For fish I have a Hippo tank but some times they might nip depends on the fish they are unpredictable some times but vary from fish to fish. I hope I helped a little if I am wrong I am sure skinz will point the error of my ways out. good luck.

 

[mothrica]

Thanks.

By "well-established", are you talking about weeks, months, or years before adding clams? Cycle the rock, then some corals, then clams? How much time are you talking about?

 

[quicksilverq]

Time I would say months not one or 2 but when you start seeing purple coral line growing on live rock or on the fish tank glass is a good sign that its doing good and ready for clams. Well-established tanks are usually up for a year or so but very from tank to tank.

 

[mothrica]

Thanks. I'm a little confused on the addition of calcium. I understand that the critters will pull it out of the water. But if you're doing routine water changes, does that not replace it fast enough? Is Kalkwasser also necessary? Or is that only if you're not doing big water changes?

 

[quicksilverq]

Kalkwasser is a Way of adding Calcium to your tank in a drip or Kalk reactor Most good salt water mixies I use ( RED Sea pro 450 ppm calcium ) have calcium in it so when you do a water change you add new water with new calcium and also an added benifit trace ellements. Yah you can add calcium by hand but its a daily event if you have a large fish tank smaller ones can get away with it but depending on your load in the long run Kalkwasser reactor and a calcium reactor is a good investment depending on the route you take.