Planning first SW aquarium

NeonTetraFan · 07-10-2006, 06:45 PM

Alright guys. Here are my plans...

Aquarium
24 Gallon AquaPod

Decor/Livestock
20lbs. Live Rock (Not sure which area)
20lbs. Aragonite
1 Firefish
1 Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit
1 Porcelain Crab
1 Japanese Pistol Shrimp
1 Banded Coral Shrimp

What fish would go good with this setup? What other inverts should I get? I don't plan on starting with corals, but I may add them later (low-medium light corals that will work with my setup). So.. what do you all think??

Also, if it helps, I am going to use a 125W Ebo-Jager heater for my heating source.

billyr98 · 07-10-2006, 07:07 PM

Check out a Yosha Goby with a pistol shrimp, good combination and pretty fish!

JFK_Jr · 07-10-2006, 07:19 PM

Since you're only looking at 20lbs or so of "Live Rock" get the best quality you can... price should not be an issue for that amount of rock.

In case you can't find good stuff locally... check out.

http://www.aquacon.com/liverock2.html

http://www.liverocksales.com/index.htm

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/ord...pricelist.html

blue_eyes53813 · 07-10-2006, 08:20 PM

What about for fish,,, small clown or a 6 line wrasse or 1-2 chromis or bi color blennie or clown gobies.. I could go on forever, lotsa choices..

NeonTetraFan · 07-10-2006, 09:18 PM

Hello guys, and thanks for your input.

Billy, your idea is good, but the purpose of my first SW aquarium was to get a firefish.

JFK, prices are an issue to me, and that was why I decided to go 24g instead of maybe a 55g. I am trying to keep it beautiful, but not overly expensive.

Blue eyes, thanks for the recommendations. I will check them out.

I am still looking for input, so please do so if you can!

Eric · 07-10-2006, 09:51 PM

I like to see something moving or working everywhere I look. so inverts make that possible.

Surpent and brittle starfish are always a good choice. When you feed you see legs popping out from everywhere. Stay away from linkia stars at first espcially the blue very sensitive.

Tigertail cucumbers are also useful and are also pretty active in a small tank.

feather dusters,arrow crabs, cleaner shrimp,fire shrimp, camel shrimp, pepermint shrimp, Cowrie snails, there are alot of little critters that add so much to a tank.

As far as low light corals mushrooms and some richordia, leathers, polyps, and zoos,

This should get you started

WOW I just read my post to myselp I was starting to sound like buba gump shrimp gumbo, shrimp scampe LOL

NeonTetraFan · 07-10-2006, 10:30 PM

Thanks Eek, I will look into your recommendations. Anyone else is welcome to add to the thread. I need all the tips I can get! Where are some other good places to find LR online? My LFS wants $9 per pound. I don't care if it is cured or uncured. I acually heard that uncured is better for a new tank?

NeonTetraFan · 07-10-2006, 10:37 PM

Also, will the list of my current stocking plan work? Nobody has acually answered that yet! :P

billyr98 · 07-10-2006, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeonTetraFan

Hello guys, and thanks for your input.

Billy, your idea is good, but the purpose of my first SW aquarium was to get a firefish.

JFK, prices are an issue to me, and that was why I decided to go 24g instead of maybe a 55g. I am trying to keep it beautiful, but not overly expensive.

Blue eyes, thanks for the recommendations. I will check them out.

I am still looking for input, so please do so if you can!

I was just saying, if you wanted a pistol shrimp, get a candy cane pistol shrimp with a yoshia goby and you can still get a firefish too!!

Eric · 07-10-2006, 11:15 PM

That coral banded shrimp might try to take out your fish onces it get big atleast in a tank that small. they can become pretty aggressive feeders.

I really don't know anything about the Japanese Pistol Shrimp so I'm no help there but everything else looks fine

NeonTetraFan · 07-11-2006, 03:04 PM

Anyone else? lol. Need tips! :P

beholder · 07-12-2006, 12:12 AM

One tip for getting good inexpensive LR is to buy locally from someone who is breaking down a tank. You can generally get it for $2 - $3 a pound, depending on how urgently the person would like to offload it - this sure beats the $6 - $7 price tag that one generally finds at LFS and online for quality rock. I picked up some great LR from a guy in Atlanta who was moving up to New York and couldn't take his tank with him. You can see pictures of the quality stuff I got at New 20 gallon tank.

I believe Richmond has a reef club - You might want to check out their forum on RC at http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...hp?forumid=335. I just looked and one of the top threads is a guy selling some LR in the price range I mentioned above.

NeonTetraFan · 07-12-2006, 06:51 PM

Thanks for the information, beholder. Will check it out!

reiple · 07-14-2006, 01:46 PM

if they are porous and cheap, just buy baserock LR. Add more colorful ones encrusted with coralline when you are ready for corals and have the proper lighting installed. One or two uncured piece would aid in cycling.

also try to study what kind of prefered environment your animals would want. A porcelain crab likes to hang around corals and be symbiotic, cleaning them and eating zooxanthellae on polyps. A coral banded shrimp needs more space than a 24g could give.

and lastly in a confined space these animals could become opportunistic feeders and eat each other.

07-10-2006, 06:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
NeonTetraFan Tunicate Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ruther Glen, Virginia Posts: 11 View Gallery Karma Komment	Planning first SW aquarium Alright guys. Here are my plans... Aquarium 24 Gallon AquaPod Decor/Livestock 20lbs. Live Rock (Not sure which area) 20lbs. Aragonite 1 Firefish 1 Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit 1 Porcelain Crab 1 Japanese Pistol Shrimp 1 Banded Coral Shrimp What fish would go good with this setup? What other inverts should I get? I don't plan on starting with corals, but I may add them later (low-medium light corals that will work with my setup). So.. what do you all think?? Also, if it helps, I am going to use a 125W Ebo-Jager heater for my heating source. Last edited by NeonTetraFan : 07-10-2006 at 06:46 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

07-10-2006, 07:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,400 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Planning first SW aquarium Check out a Yosha Goby with a pistol shrimp, good combination and pretty fish! __________________ Billyr98 -=NJRC Treasurer=- My 450g Reef Tank ~~~ Its HERE!!!

07-10-2006, 07:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
JFK_Jr Golden Moray Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hallandale Beach FL Posts: 2,108 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Planning first SW aquarium Since you're only looking at 20lbs or so of "Live Rock" get the best quality you can... price should not be an issue for that amount of rock. In case you can't find good stuff locally... check out. http://www.aquacon.com/liverock2.html http://www.liverocksales.com/index.htm http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/ord...pricelist.html __________________ *JFK_Jr's 150 Gallon Starphire*

07-10-2006, 08:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,879 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Planning first SW aquarium What about for fish,,, small clown or a 6 line wrasse or 1-2 chromis or bi color blennie or clown gobies.. I could go on forever, lotsa choices.. __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

07-10-2006, 09:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
NeonTetraFan Tunicate Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ruther Glen, Virginia Posts: 11 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Planning first SW aquarium Hello guys, and thanks for your input. Billy, your idea is good, but the purpose of my first SW aquarium was to get a firefish. JFK, prices are an issue to me, and that was why I decided to go 24g instead of maybe a 55g. I am trying to keep it beautiful, but not overly expensive. Blue eyes, thanks for the recommendations. I will check them out. I am still looking for input, so please do so if you can!

07-10-2006, 09:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Eric Neon dottyback Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: PA Posts: 685 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Planning first SW aquarium I like to see something moving or working everywhere I look. so inverts make that possible. Surpent and brittle starfish are always a good choice. When you feed you see legs popping out from everywhere. Stay away from linkia stars at first espcially the blue very sensitive. Tigertail cucumbers are also useful and are also pretty active in a small tank. feather dusters,arrow crabs, cleaner shrimp,fire shrimp, camel shrimp, pepermint shrimp, Cowrie snails, there are alot of little critters that add so much to a tank. As far as low light corals mushrooms and some richordia, leathers, polyps, and zoos, This should get you started WOW I just read my post to myselp I was starting to sound like buba gump shrimp gumbo, shrimp scampe LOL __________________ I'm the Reefer formally known as EEK http://www.exoticanimalforums.com/index.php Last edited by Eric : 07-10-2006 at 11:16 PM.

07-10-2006, 10:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
NeonTetraFan Tunicate Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ruther Glen, Virginia Posts: 11 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Planning first SW aquarium Thanks Eek, I will look into your recommendations. Anyone else is welcome to add to the thread. I need all the tips I can get! Where are some other good places to find LR online? My LFS wants $9 per pound. I don't care if it is cured or uncured. I acually heard that uncured is better for a new tank?

07-10-2006, 10:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
NeonTetraFan Tunicate Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ruther Glen, Virginia Posts: 11 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Planning first SW aquarium Also, will the list of my current stocking plan work? Nobody has acually answered that yet! :P

07-10-2006, 11:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
Eric Neon dottyback Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: PA Posts: 685 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Planning first SW aquarium That coral banded shrimp might try to take out your fish onces it get big atleast in a tank that small. they can become pretty aggressive feeders. I really don't know anything about the Japanese Pistol Shrimp so I'm no help there but everything else looks fine __________________ I'm the Reefer formally known as EEK http://www.exoticanimalforums.com/index.php

07-11-2006, 03:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
NeonTetraFan Tunicate Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ruther Glen, Virginia Posts: 11 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Planning first SW aquarium Anyone else? lol. Need tips! :P

07-12-2006, 12:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
beholder Tubeworm Join Date: May 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Planning first SW aquarium One tip for getting good inexpensive LR is to buy locally from someone who is breaking down a tank. You can generally get it for $2 - $3 a pound, depending on how urgently the person would like to offload it - this sure beats the $6 - $7 price tag that one generally finds at LFS and online for quality rock. I picked up some great LR from a guy in Atlanta who was moving up to New York and couldn't take his tank with him. You can see pictures of the quality stuff I got at New 20 gallon tank. I believe Richmond has a reef club - You might want to check out their forum on RC at http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...hp?forumid=335. I just looked and one of the top threads is a guy selling some LR in the price range I mentioned above.

07-12-2006, 06:51 PM	#13 (permalink)
NeonTetraFan Tunicate Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ruther Glen, Virginia Posts: 11 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Planning first SW aquarium Thanks for the information, beholder. Will check it out!

07-14-2006, 01:46 PM	#14 (permalink)
reiple Bryozoan Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 44 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Planning first SW aquarium if they are porous and cheap, just buy baserock LR. Add more colorful ones encrusted with coralline when you are ready for corals and have the proper lighting installed. One or two uncured piece would aid in cycling. also try to study what kind of prefered environment your animals would want. A porcelain crab likes to hang around corals and be symbiotic, cleaning them and eating zooxanthellae on polyps. A coral banded shrimp needs more space than a 24g could give. and lastly in a confined space these animals could become opportunistic feeders and eat each other.

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