New and trying to learn!!

[Jamesr]

Hello all new here trying to read all i can before i even think of getting any talk or fish. The spot im looking to put it a 29 bio-cube ot other cube type would fit good. Just looking to add a like 4 clowns 2 orange&white and 2 black&white and a setup something like this tank it bottom. A few years ago my son was diagnosed leukemia has been going good just wondering if a tank like this is possible with a 29g biocube here is the pic.

[demonclownfish]

you can only have 2 clowns in your tank as they will fight if you get more. i reccomend 2 clowns, a firefish, and a goby/pistol combo. and also yes, with th right care you can make your tqank look just like that.

[adalius]

As demon says above, only 2 clowns would be recommended.

I don't quite understand what you mean by 2 orange, 7 white and 2 b/w. Are you saying you wanted 2 orange color fish, 7 white fish and 2 b/w fish in addition to the 4 clowns? Or did you mean all of them to be clowns, i.e. 4 percula or occellaris clowns (like Nemo), then 2 more orange, 7 mainly white (like picasso) and 2 b/w occellaris?

In either event, that's going to be way overstocked for such a small tank. You can find all sorts of '# inches per gallon' of fish in a saltwater tank, but they vary, the 'average' tends to be about 1 inch every 5 gallons, but consider that:
a) You probably will get juvenile or young fish which will grow, so do some research to find out the average maximum length in captivity. So if a clown fish is 2" when you buy it, but will likely be 4" when it's done growing, count it as 4".
b) Also realize that the bioload of different fish varies. That is to say, 4" of clownfish doesn't equal 4" of trigger fish. If two fish of equal lengths do not eat the same amount, the one that eats more will put a larger stress on the bioload.
c) You also need to research what fish you want to put in there to make sure that they're not only reef safe (they don't eat corals), but invert safe (they won't eat your shrimp, snails, etc), and safe with other fish including multiples of their own species (as evidenced by the no more than 2 clownfish rule).

Your first step should be to decide what species, whether fish, coral, or invert, is going to be your 'must have'. If you absolutely have to have clownfish, then make that your pivotal species and structure everything around that. If it's a particular coral you have to have, then work around that. Just remember that with Biocubes, if you have the PC lighting (looks like 2 small flourescent tubes side by side) you'll be limited on what you can put in there down the road, things like anemones, clams, and some corals may be hard or impossible to keep.

I think this is a very cool idea to help your son though and I think I speak for everyone here that we'd love to answer anything you need answered to see it happen and make sure it happens properly.

[Jamesr]

i mean 2 Orange & white

[demonclownfish]

o ok good. get any 2 you like as babies and one will turn into a female and one will stay male.

[adalius]

Yep, the orange and whites come in a couple varieties, since you're just starting out I recommend going with the cheaper ones (Picasso's are expensive, and if you ever want a heart attack, look up a 'lightning clownfish' on google, man they sold for a ton!).

My two preferred pics for a first fish out of the clownfish family would be:
Amphiprion Percula
http://www.scuba-equipment-usa.com/marine/NOV03/images/Amphiprion_percula.jpg

Or an Amphiprion Ocellaris, also called the False Percula:
http://www.akvaryum.us/tuzluresim/Amphiprion-ocellaris.jpg

Very similar in appearance, pretty easy to care for, etc etc.

I'm assuming this is going to be the 'must have' for the tank and everything else will evolve around it?

[rmalone]

Do a pair a ocellaris clowns, they are the classic "nemo", "hint" the kid will love them. Plus they are cheaper than percula clowns. And buy them small, again a bit cheaper, and watching them grow the fun part. Do not get maroon clown too big when they grow up and aggressive as ****.

On the tank side keep an eye out for a nice used setup on the selling forums, WAY cheaper than buying new.

[rmalone]

If you do clown gobies, you are probably giving up doing any sps, they are usually nippers on sps, but no always. Real cool fish though.

I would also suggest a shrimp goby (there are many kinds) and a pistol shrimp for it to hang with, it's cool to watch the interaction between the two.

[rmalone]

Absolutely clown goby's arent the end of the world for sps, and lets face it the op is a long way from ready for sps anyway.

[Jamesr]

Thanks for all the info but got laid-off on Friday so will have to wait.

[shovelhead91701]

Thanks for all the info but got laid-off on Friday so will have to wait.

Bummer man...... I hope you find something soon or it's a really short lay-off! Good Luck!

[Jamesr]

Yeah sucks hopefully wont be long!!! unless i get some donated stuff!! :) j/k what size tank would be a good size to start with??

[Jamesr]

Yeah let me check after some bills are paid. Also what do you gu??ys suggest for lights

[adalius]

Depends on how handy you are and if you're trying to do this on a shoestring budget when you get around to buying them. T5s are the old workhorse, MHs are nice, DIY LEDs are looking pretty sweet.

[bigbill]

if your looking for t5hos i just got a 48'' 4x58 with 4 bulbs for 164.98 shipped here is there link

http://www.fishneedit.com/ the bulbs arent the best but the lighting its self is great for the price

[dlhirst]

James, the general rule is - bigger is easier - in caring for tanks. Basically, if you have "bad things happen", you want more water to dilute it. Ironically, most people "start off small" thinking it is easier. I have only had one tank, and it is considered small (at 34Gals), so I just have to keep up with water changes, intentionally UNDERfeeding, etc. You can do it too. But, persistence pays off.
The tank you show in the original post is very doable, and not far off from my own. Though, it IS aquascaped better than mine! there is nothing in that tank that can't thrive with PC lights or T5 lighting as well. Likely, you will never put clams or SPS or 'nems in a BioCube anyway. If you ever do get interested in them, you will likely graduate to a larger tank as well. That's all down the road.
I bought an all-in-one package like your BioCube. And frankly, I think it IS the way to go for a beginner. You have enough to learn and fret over without having to make all of those decisions RIGHT NOW as well. A "package deal" tank might seem expensive to start, and yes, it IS. But, it is not as expensive as dead fish, dead corals, and all the equipment you might buy, scrap, buy etc as you put together the pieces of a used system.
Just my two cents...

[rmalone]

dlhirst is right the bigger the better always, assuming the budget and space are available. The deal chort55 just offered is excellent and a reasonable size that would give you FAR more options than any of the "cubes". For lights just get a t-5 array, yes pc would work, but trust me stick with the t-5's.

Like everyone said take thine time, make sensible well informed decisions, it saves money and heart ache, big time.

[Jamesr]

Thanks guys for the info. Haven't been around much. I hate michigan this time of year. Plus no decent jobs around. To bad i don't have alot of experience in all this i would apply for the position at Reef Paradise!