[Mikeman]

I've got a nice 35g tank that has some freshwater fish in it right now and I want to turn it into a saltwater tank. You guys have any ideas? Keep in mind that I'm a kid and I don't have very much money to spend, so a full blown reef in out of the question.

Here are some of mine:
Tank1
Snowflake eel
dwarf lion
coral beauty angel
(is this to much of a fish load)

Tank2
snowflake eel
mated pair of a large type of clownfish

tank3
snowflake eel
coral beauty angel

any more ideas?

[eses]

While amazingly hard to resist, I wouldn't get a eel of anykind for a tank that small. My 29 gallon system is around 32-38 gallons of volume, and it can't support a snowflake. I get constant ammonia and have to do weekly water changes. Basically, they consume too much food too quickly for a smaller tank to handle. The only thing else I've had with mine are a percula clown and a dotty back.

I'm not trying to shoot you down, you'll just be happier if you can go 2 weeks without having to do a water change. That, and snowflakes aren't very novice friendly; if you've never handled a saltwater system before I would start with something hearty like clowns. While an eel can handle bad water fairly well, it doesn't make them happy, and a unhappy eel will spend all of it's time trying to leave your tank.

You might be able to just have a single snowflake and nothing else..but I would assume you'll end up doing many frequent water changes. Salt gets expensive.

Saying that, it is obvious that your first option is also bad, a dwarf lion and a snowflake would just make matters worse. I think you might be able to handle the dwarf lion okay by itself.

Since your going just FO, don't overlook shrimp of some kind, cleaner shrimp and camel shrimp are both interesting and don't add much to your bioload. Same with something like an Arrow Crab; they are really awesome in a FO tank.

[Mikeman]

I've kept saltwater fish for 3 years, and I have already done alot of info on the subject, about 2 years worth, and I figure with a skimmer, plant growth, 40 lbs of of liverock, and a 4" dsb, I don't think I'll have a problem with the excess nutrient problem, but thanks for the feedback, it'll be something I'll keep my eye on

I guess that would nix my angel as they require prestine waterquality.....

any other ideas?

[Iron Crab]

I don't think I'll be much help. I'm with eses. I like small loads with fish and throw in some interesting creatures like the shrimp and crabs.
Have you considered a less aggressive tank load like the Banggai Carinals or clownfish. You could throw in a few hardy inverts.
I was first planning an aggressive fish tank and found it too limiting considering I went with a 180 says a lot in what I wanted for livestock. Also with eses with waiting for a bigger tank for your choices.
I started with a 55 and for two years only had a yellow tang, a clownfish and a damsel. The show stoppers in that tank were the arrowcrab, cleaner, 2 camel shrimp, and a sallylightfoot.
I can't tell you what to do but I can tell you what I did. Hope things work out for you in what you decide.
Bill

[VAFLYER]

Mike sounds like you will be fine with filtration however by the time you put in that sandbed and that rock you'll wind up with about 20-25 gallons of water, so consider that when selecting what will be the full grown size of your fish.

I agree with the eel, although I do like them, IME they can be trouble... messy eaters, great escape artists and loooooove to snack on inverts.

Same with the Dwarf, I wouldnt put one in a tank that small. JMO

How about the coral beauty and a clown? Or maybe the Beauty and a couple of bangaii's, that would be cool.

Eric

[Mikeman]

I've narrowed it down to these choices:

coral beauty angel
royal gramma
ebli angel
2 skunk clowns
yellow watchman goby
neon goby

what do you think are the best of these fish

[jwtrojan44]

I'd go with the clowns, gramma, and watchman goby. Add some inverts with some nice shaped pieces of LR and you'll have a nice set-up. I'd skip the dwarf angel. I have a CB in a 56 gal. and there are days I think he needs more room. JWT

[VAFLYER]

Ditto on what JWT said. That would make for a nice setup.

[PopeShawnPaul]

I would suggest that watchman goby you were thinking about. If you get one, you will have to have a pistol shrimp to see their behavior together. They hang out and dig and eat and stuff, it'll keep you interested for months.

[MarkS]

I think that you can keep an eel in a tank that size. But. (There's always a but...)

Here's what you need to do:

1. You either need to get it drilled or buy an external overflow.
2. You need to get a ten gallon sump and a return pump. I would recommend a Mag 5.
3. You need a BIG skimmer for this tank size. I would recommend a CC skimmer with a 4" body diameter about 4' high. These are REAL easy to build and are more effecient than ventruri skimmers of simular sizes. I would be glad to build you one if you don't want to DIY, just shoot me an e-mail. I am in the process of building one myself and am surprised how easy it is and how cheap.
4. Go with a 4" DSB and about 20 pounds of live rock.
5. Do weekly water changes. ALWAYS!

I am wanting to make a 30 gallon octopus tank. Octopi and eels have about the same problems with feeding, although an eel is not an excape artist like an octopus. I did a lot of research and what I listed above is what I found out.


Oh yeah, I opt for tank #4: Snowflake eel and inverts. No other fish.

HTH,
Mark

[Mikeman]

ouch my feet hurt and my back hurts, I hate conditioning in basketball

oh well, I like your idea.... I might take that offer up on the skimmer, but I'm ticked that I have to get an overflow/sump.

I'm going to get a job this summer, so that'll pay for the tank, so this probably won't happen for awhile, shoot time to start saving for another tank again.


I'm wondering how I'll be able to train it to not eat my inverts? Get it really small and so it'll just get used to the invert and not try to eat them. I hope that it wouldn't go after cleaner shrimp...

[jwtrojan44]

I had my snowflake (about 18 inches long) in with 2 cleaner shrimp and a variety of hermit crabs. He'd never touch the shrimp and they would routinely service him, including inside his mouth! The eel would actually open his mouth and let the shrimp pick around. He would occasionally poke at some of the hermits as they plodded by his den but I never saw him attack one. I'd steer clear of other crabs; sally's, emerald, decorator, etc, as they will be eaten. JWT