looking for some advice :)

[Mikail97]

7 weeks ago i saved up my money and got a 29 gallon with a Penguin 200 power Filter w/ bio wheel and marine land LED's
i also bought:
5 pounds of live rock (im a little short on money)
10 pounds of sand
Nitrate test kit
Nitrite test kit
Ammonia test kit
at 4 weeks i tested my water and it looked like my tank was cycled so i went over to the LFS and they told me my tank has cycled so i bought a tomato clownfish and its doing very well! 2 weeks later i brought in my water got it tested and i got a yellow wrasse (the clownfish and the yellow wrasse seem like best friends) and i got a cleaner shrimp. Do i need to add a clean-up crew? should i have bought that instead of a cleaner shrimp and a yellow wrasse? i am new to the hobby and i took the pet store's advice they also said i do not need a protein skimmer if i keep up to date with the water changes if i do need a clean up crew what should i get? or do i need to get more live rock... ahhh soo many questions!
thanks,
Mikail

[thegrun]

My biggest concern is the small amount of rock you have in the tank. The bacteria that converts ammonia (fish waste) to nitrites and then to nitrates requires a lot of surface area, 5 pounds of rock is not nearly enough to allow you to keep any additional fish (I doubt if it even keep up with your current bio-load). Most of us shoot for around 1 to 1.5 pounds of rock per gallon, so you should have at least 30 pounds of rock. Beyond that, yes, you should have a clean-up crew in your tank. I would start with around 10 small snails or 2 big turbo snails. You could also add 3 or 4 hermit crabs if you like. Protein skimmers are nice to have, but I agree that if you are willing to make frequent water changes, you can get by without one. If you are going to add additional live rock, it will need to either be completely cured (cycled) live rock or use dry rock without dried on organic material on it or you rick starting a new cycle which could kill your livestock.

[Sk8r]

Get some holey limestone rock, break it up with a hammer, and start adding it golf-ball sized piece at a time, every few weeks. It will colonize and become live rock, over time, and you will not have to buy pricey live rock: it only takes a little bit of rock to seed the tank. Do not add a lot at once, just a little piece, and once it starts growing algae, you can add the next. Be sure it's limestone, from a source with no lawn chemicals or oil, and wash it thoroughly to get dust off and other stuff out. Instead, you can also use dead coral fragments, etc, but do NOT get that white-bleached decorative stuff sold as decor: that's been treated with stuff.

[Mikail97]

The pet store told me that 5 pounds was enough if i add 25 pounds of dry rock will that do? or should i keep my eye open on craigslist to see if anyone is selling there cured rock for cheaper, i'm on a tight budget and i really love saltwater fish and its been a blast so far! and sk8r would the golf ball size pieces work to stack it up at the back of the tank or not , thanks guys,
Mikail

[Microcosmos]

Definitely add some more rock (at least five times more) so that beneficial bacteria can have a place to grow, and I would also add a protein skimmer. Yes you can do without both technically, but you will have to do many more water changes and have a much less stable tank if you stick with what you've got. As to the inhabitants of your tank, fish are definitely the attention grabbers but you're right they should have gone in last. I would recommend adding some astreas and nassarius snails and hermits a little bit at a time as your budget allows and to allow for cycling.

And welcome!

[fragyoureef]

Ive been off and on with saltwater tanks for over 4 years now and the biggest reason I get discouraged and stop/sell aquariums is I rush to much to quickly. Taking your time adding things slowly is one of the best advices I could ever give to anyone starting a new tank (new to the hobby). They do make small protein skimmers, but like youve read above if you keep up with the water changes frequently you should be fine.

[Mikail97]

Thanks guys ! and i will deffinately be patient as i've heard that lots before and also will it kill all my inhabitants if i add live rock? i shouldve came here before the pet store

[Microcosmos]

Originally Posted by Mikail97

Thanks guys ! and i will deffinately be patient as i've heard that lots before and also will it kill all my inhabitants if i add live rock? i shouldve came here before the pet store

The new cycle from adding a bunch of fresh LR may be too stressful for all of the inhabitants currently in there, but as mentioned above there is quality "dead" rock out there which you can add to an existing setup. It's cheaper than LR, but just be careful where you get it from and that it has not been exposed to soap or chemicals. With dead rock your beneficial bacteria will take longer to establish itself, so more frequent water changes are a must until all parameters stabilize, but you won't have the worry of stuff rotting on LR spiking the ammonia.

[Sk8r]

And remember 'nothing good happens fast in this sport'---works for ice skating and works in the marine hobby. Remember to let each piece seed before adding the next, or you'll have a mess. If it starts being messy slow down---and above all! don't push it with new fish or added bioload. It's very delicate right now, having some Amquel (ammonia remover) on hand is a good idea, and just go slowly: that dry rock will go live as if you'd bought it that way, and then it'll be a nice strong little tank.