Stocking for my 29 gallon reef tank

[Khartlauer]

Hey everyone,
So I recently set up a 29 Aqueon tank as a DIY all-in-one tank. Its been up and running for a month now. Two weeks ago, my diatom bloom started so I added a small CUC (6 hermits and 2 turbos) and then this last Friday, I added a pair of Mocha Gladiator Clowns I had in a different tank. Everything looks great so far, Clowns are adjusting well.

For filtration, I have a media basket I built with the overflow from the tank first going through an Aqueon filter pad (the ones used for the 20 gallon filters) and then in the second chamber, I have a bag of chemipure. The middle chamber is big enough to fit a protein skimmer if/when I need one. The return pump is a sicce syncra 1.0 and I have a 240 gallon hydor powerhead in the tank. I do plan to load this tank with a ton of soft coral and a few LPS.

My planned stocking is the two clowns I have, a single/pair of yellow striped cardinals, a royal gramma and a yellow watchmen goby. Is this too much? Could I manage the bioload with a weekly 5 gallon water change? any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Mr. Eel]

You could probably get away with that but you are going to want a skimmer that does 30gal of moderate bio load at least.

 

[Rilelen]

My 29g is stocked higher than that, but I have a large sump and an in-sump skimmer that's waaaaaaaaaaaaaay overrated for the system.

Another thing to watch out for, bioload aside, is territory with that many fish; depending on their personality, spawning clowns can easily terrorize a tank that size and you want to make sure the other inhabitants have enough caves, etc.

 

[marleesan]

I would stick to just the clowns royal gramma and goby especially since it's an all in one and not truly 29 gallons

 

[Shawn O]

As the first fish, the clowns own the tank. If you add new fish, it may help if they normally stay close the the bottom of the tank, like the watchman.

 

[Khartlauer]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I keep having one issue that i'm not sure how to combat. I've tried different types of mechanical filtration on this tank and everything i've tried just clogs so fast. This tank is in my office at my shop and I'll top off the water before I leave and when I come in the next morning, the return pump will be over half empty and shooting bubbles into the tank. Ill then remove the mechanical filter and the return chamber will almost fill up to the original point. I have a brand new ATO that I havent used yet because I'm worried that it tops off cause the filter is clogged, the tank will soon overflow. Is this just gonna be the way it is? Is this a new tank thing thats causing the fast clogging? Whats the standard filter media on all-in-one tanks for Nuvo? I've tried coarse black sponge, white filter floss, aqueon filter cartridge.

 

[Kremis]

you will need a skimmer. bigger skimmer = more fish. I am running a skimmer on my 28 gallon right now, and have 6 fish in it and plan on adding 2 more. My stock list is 2 garden eels, a clown goby, a toby puffer (might have to go soon), perchlet, and a jawfish. IMO as long as your filtration is good and territory isnt an issue you could probably get away with a few more fish. You will NEED a skimmer if you do this though.

 

[Mr. Eel]

Also I have has constant problems with royal grammas I have had three and all have died perfect tank parameters every time and no aggressive fish.