29 G Reef Aquarium - Question

[chrisfont23]

Over the past 6 mos, I have (slowly) set up a 29 gallon reef aquarium for my 2 1/2 yr old son. He absolutely loves nemo, hence the plan to convince my wife it was a good idea and start something new - I have had fresh water (over 250 g) setups for years and have been studying, reading and trolling this board for months, only posting a few times now. Anyway, I have a few questions I was hoping someone could answer:

"In the tank" I have:

• 20 lbs carib aragonite sand
• 10 lbs of "live" sand
• 35 lbs of live rock (20 lbs base...15lbs of the premium fiji)
• Aquatic Life Internal Mini Protein Skimmer 115 (I hated this thing at first but it has grown on me and is a kick ass little skimmer when u tune it...and have patience)
• Fluval 305 - I am using this for carbon/phospate removal and water polishing; I keep up weekly maint on it
• Coralife lunar aqualight t5 HO (approx 4.3 wpg)
• 1 MaxiJet 12000 PH

Now for the live stuff...

• 2 damsels
• 2 clowns
• 5 turbo snails
• 10 cerif snails
• 7 blue legged hermits
• 2 Green Spotted Puffers (they don't bother the reef...I monitored them for weeks w/ my home monitoring camera and just sped up the tape...booooring)
• 1 Colt Coral
• 1 Anchor/Hammer

And finally the periodic table, tale of the tape...

• 0 ppm NH3
• 0 ppm NO2
• 0 ppm NO3
• 8.4 PH
• 440 calcium
• ~ 1 ppm PO4

My questions are:

- I read that canister filters are a waste due to excessive NO3 build up. If this is the case, OK to clean them w/ tap water to kill the bacteria? It's against convention, but I am new to SW tanks, so be nice
- Since no RODI (no $$$, economy sucks etc.), how can I get around top offs and weekly WCs using tap and maybe Prime?
- When is it OK to add an anemone? (want to add bubble tip for the clowns)
- Fresh is usually 1in = 1 g water. Is this tank stocked properly?
- And finally, the equipment (aside from the canister filter). Is this sufficient?

Again, please don't stick on the GSPs in a reef tank and tell me why to ditch them. I will send you about 500 hours of tape for proof

Thanks!

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

It's not the bacteria population that causes high N03, it's the media trapping waste/ food that does it. As long as the media is kept clean (at least twice a week), you should be okay.

30 gallon tanks are rather small for just 2 clowns alone. You may want to reconsider rehoming the damsels and puffers. It's just as much about territorial space as it is bio load capacity.
Your P04 should be immeasurable. Likely due to source water.
Tap water shouldn't be used but I guess it can be. There's just too much stuff that can be in it we can't measure to be safely used in marine tanks. Typical water conditioners only treat chlorine and chloramine and maybe something to do with some copper (I think). There's just so much unknown crap you could be adding IMO it's not worth the rish. Water from an RO machine at your local grocery store should be better but it depends on weather or not the machine and filter are serviced regularly and properly. Bottled, distilled water would be best but can get pricey if you're going to use a few gallons a week.

Anemones shouldn't be added to a tank younger than 6 months. Many experts recommend no sooner than a year before attempting to keep one. They require excellent water quality along with the proper balance of calcium, alkalinity and magnesium (corals require this too).

Your equipment seems okay as long It's kept in tip top shape to ensure it's performing at it's best ( like any equipment should be).

You may want to add some more live rock though, especially if you plan to keep all of your livestock and add a nem (although I don't recommend either). The general rule is 1-2 lbs per gallon of water. I'm partial to the 1.5 lb per gallon mark.

[chrisfont23]

Twice a week? I don't even clean my bathroom twice a week. I was thinking once a week is fine. And only two clowns for a 30 g? Isn't that a little low? Figured they'd eventually pair. The GSPs and damsels aren't even noticeable half the time. Even at 2x per inch I am well under. Geez, I hope this wasn't a waste.

I understand your point w/ the nems and w/ the rock - thanks.

As for the RODI, it isn't happening anytime soon due to $ limits, so if anyone has any other solutions (with tap and something like Prime or Stress Coat with a phosphate reducer) I would appreciate it. I am not buying Poland Spring for my fish.

[reefhead]

If you have to use tap water dont bother adding those other chemicals, I think they are garbage. try a more natural method.

Get as many different species of macro algea as you can find. These plants will grow and absorb some of the bad stuff in your water column. When they grow you simply mow the grass and remove the algea and therefore remove the bad stuff. reefers sometimes give the stuff away, ask around.

Do a few searchs on harvesting macro algae. Let me be clear, you dont remove all the algea, if you have two handfuls growing, remove only one handful then wait for it to grow back up again and then remove again.... the circle of life.

watch your ammonia and nitrite levels, if you have either your gonna have nitrates.
What are you testing your PO4 with? I would suggest a Hanna meter, you can get one for 30.

I would remove the puffers. With your water issue I would suggest you focus on keeping the clowns alive and by removing the puffers you will lessen the load which I really feel is at capacity with this many fish and the need to use tap water, after all, the clowns are your sons favorite right?

good luck, read more, spend less

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

The whole inch per gallon doesn't really apply. It's a matter of territorial space required for each fish (greatly varies) along with the bio load contribution.
Give this a read: Fish Stocking Limit - for FO and FOWLR
And this too: What Size Tank is Right for That Fish?
Maybe these two articles will help shed some light.

[Matities23]

hahaha theres some many people who got into saltwater bcz of nemo.. watch i give u a year and you will eventually upgrade (of course if you get the green light from the wife lol) do you have a pet shop who sell RO/DI water? if not .. you could use tap water.. the only problem is that you would need to somehow take out the TDS from the water.. thats where the DI part comes in. I dnt know how the tap water where you live is.. Im in Miami Dade area and our water is horrible! Expect hair algea.. you could add smething to keep it under control..blenny..snails etc. I would take out the damsels..( i hate em) the puffers soon or later will snap and attack ur corals.. maybe not the ones you have now. I think if you clean ur filter at least once a week plus a small water change weekly u shoud do find.. Canister filters usually dnt provide enought O2 to the tank. If you clean the filter try to do it with saltwater.. so u dnt kill the bacteria growing inside of it.. you could use the same water u take out froom the water change to clean the filter. How much are you feeding em? any pictures? well good luck !!