29 Gallon Saltwater

[DaFeesh]

Hello, everyone, I am DaFeesh. Yes, my profile pic is a hound dog with a headlamp on its forehead. Anyway, I'm new to the forum, and I'm starting a new 29 gallon saltwater tank. My tank right now is freshwater but I am converting it over to salt. I already ordered some supplies and I already have some from the freshwater tank, here is the overview:

HOB filter rated for 30 gallons

Canister (MarineLand160) rated for around a 30 gallon tank

API test strips

API Quickstart 4 oz

2 wave makers

50 gallons worth of instant ocean sea salt

20 lbs live sand (carib sea)

5 lbs normal aquarium-rated sand

1 freshwater rated fluorescent bulb

tank lid

filter floss

Seachem Prime big bottle

Refractometer

Algae scraper

Heater

Tomorrow I am getting food and dry rock.




I have a few questions to begin:

1: How can I effectively use the quick start? I think that I know that you have to phantom feed for a few days then put in the Quickstart, test the water, and put in fish when you get nitrates (after doing a water change, of course).

2: What kind of aquascape do you recommend? I'm thinking of more minimalistic like the bommie style.

3: What fishes do you recommend?

Here is the tank right now, if you want to know the layout:

Don't worry, I'm giving my current fish to my amazing fish store.

 

[Stang67]

Welcome!! i started with a 29 gallon myself. I also used a hob filter but mine was rated for a bit of a larger tank to get better filtration. You will need something a bit better then test strips. People here frown on API but i used the tests to start with no issues. Depending on what you want to keep you may need a better light for corals that is. One thing I will HIGHLY recommend is an Automatic top off. it makes it much easier especially with a small tank.
1) I would try to use the Dr. tims method to do your start up with the ammonia and his starter culture bacteria. it will take @ two weeks but it worked for me.
2) I recommend dry rock and keep the aquascape should be kept 2 inches away from the glass so you can clean it. Other than that do what you think is cool looking you will be the one looking at it and make sure the flow is good around all the scape.
3) A good fish to start is a springeri Damsel and/ or clowns. You will want to start with a clean up crew (cuc) before fish. some hermits and snails would be good.
The folks here are great and will be very helpful. dont be afraid to ask questions and good luck!!

 

[DaFeesh]

Welcome!! i started with a 29 gallon myself. I also used a hob filter but mine was rated for a bit of a larger tank to get better filtration. You will need something a bit better then test strips. People here frown on API but i used the tests to start with no issues. Depending on what you want to keep you may need a better light for corals that is. A good fish to start is a springeri Damsel and/ or clowns. That is what i started with at least. One thing I will HIGHLY recommend is an Automatic top off. it makes it much easier especially with a small tank. The folks here are great and will be very helpful. dont be afraid to ask questions and good luck!!

Hello, thank you for the welcoming reply! I know that a lot of people hate API but I've never had bad experiences with the company in my freshwater career, and you know what they say, if it aint broke don't fix it. I used to have a liquid test kit but it expired.

I'm not planning to add corals until about 6-7 months from now. Also the aquarium store near me doesn't have an immense selection of saltwater fish so I'll be going the clown route.

I am not old enough for employment yet (a little less than a year away) so I'll be saving up for a top off and good lighting. Thank you for responding!

Also, how do you cycle your tank? It's been years since I've done it and I need a bit of a refresher. There are so many conflicting resources saying things from "Quick Start is snake oil" to "You can add fish within 2 hours"

 

[Hasted]

For my 29g, I used BioSpira + shrimp method. I removed shrimp ~4 days later and used Ammonia dosing from there. There are a few ways of going about the cycle. I got the water to temp and did shrimp and Bio at the same time roughly.

If interested, here is my (mostly) complete equipment list. Only thing from your list that stands out are those strips. I constantly hear people say how unreliable they are. Just a heads up.

Tank: Basic 29g Aqueon tank - 30.25L x 12.5W x 18.75H
Stand: Imagitarium Brooklyn Metal Tank Stand - for 29 Gallon Aquariums (Modified slightly)
Lighting: AI Prime 16HD Reef Aquarium LED, Black
+ 12" Gooseneck for mounting
Filter: Tidal 55 HOB Power Filter (Up to 55 Gal) - Seachem
+Media: Filter Floss & Seachem MatrixCarbon in media bags.
Powerhead: TWO Hydor Koralia Nano Circulation Pump/Powerhead 425gph
+Hydor Smart Wave Circulation Pump Controller
Starter Bacteria: Instant Ocean BIO-Spira
+Ammonia: Dr.Tim's AMMONIUM CHLORIDE FOR FISHLESS CYCLES
Test Kit: API Reef Master Test Kit
Salt: Instant Ocean 50g
+RODI WATER
Refractometer: PetCo Refractometer
+ Calibration Fluid: Bulk Reef Supply REFRACTOMETER CALIBRATION SOLUTION
Sand: ARAGONITE FIJI PINK DRY SAND 40LBS
Rock: Carib Sea South Seas Base Rock- 40 lbs
Heater: Finnex HMA-S HEATER W/ ANALOG CONTROLLER - 150w
Thermometer: Inkbird ITC-308 Digital Temperature Controller
Siphon / Gravel Cleaner: Python Pro-Clean Gravel Washer Siphon Kit (Small / Tall)
Magnetic Cleaner: Flipper MAGNETIC CLEANER
5g Bucket: Two basic ones with lids. Need at least one more.

 

[DaFeesh]

Thanks for the info, I'll start using different testing stuff soon. Probably the liquid tests because they've seemed to be reliable but cheap. Any advice on mixing water and salt? I've heard from 5 minutes to 24 hours with a powerhead. It's quite bamboozling when half of the sources say you can do it quickly and half say that you need to do it a day in advance.

Edit: Sorry for liking your responses so late, I didn't notice the button plus I have Comcast internet, so I feel that I must do no more explaining to describe the Trochus Snail-like speed of internet. Liking a post takes 3 minutes of buffering for some reason.

 

[Hasted]

I mix mine with with a small heater and a Koralia 425gph powerhead inside a 5g bucket (RODI). I pour the suggested amount of salt. I then add small amounts to hit my desired level. I do it over the course of an evening. No rush on my end as long as everything is mixed well.

 

[DaFeesh]

Thanks. I think I have my stocking list down:

Fish:
1 Ocellaris
1 Royal Gramma
1 Yellow Watchman Goby
1 Lawnmower Blenny
1 Blue-Green Chromis

Inverts:
10-13 Trochus or Nassarius snails
1 Conch snail (might not get it if it's too hard to keep)
1 Blue tuxedo urchin
1 Serpent Starfish
1 Cleaner shrimp

Is that too much or too little? I did lots of research and found that these were the hardiest fish out there. Also I think this must be said: I can't have an RODI unit. Not just because the price, which I could scrape up in a few months, but also because I have no faucets to install the unit in. My house only has the fancy 1-piece faucets and the faucets for cleaning dishes. I watched a video on how to install an RODI and it seems that I can't do it (I don't think my parents would approve of me fiddling around with the piping for the RODI, either). So I won't be able to keep touchy fish or any corals other than, possibly, green star polyps.

 

[Shon]

For rodi you can use a garden hose adapter and make buckets of rodi outside.

 

[NS Mike D]

29 gal aqueon owner here. polamn looks good. I have the same power heads and controller when i first set mine up

 

[DaFeesh]

For rodi you can use a garden hose adapter and make buckets of rodi outside.

Oh... wow. I did not think of that! Now I feel stupid of not thinking of that. I can do that from late spring into the middle of fall. It gets insanely cold where I live so I during the winter I'll have to use tap or buy store RODI.

Thanks so much!