JBJ 24 Deluxe set up

[Schismgrl18]

Salutations,
I have recently acquired the glory that is the JBJ Deluxe 24 Nano Cube. The tank has two 36 CF 50 50s and two "Nite Vu Moonlights" The rest of the tank stats can be found here:
http://www.jbjlighting.com/sys_24g_nanocube.html

I need some feedback on my stocking and set up, por favor. I know it isn't necessary, but I was thinking of just using the black "Bio Activ Live" aragonite sand (http://www.livesand.com) for my entire substrate. I know I don't need that much live sand, but are there any negative effects? Will having black sand affect my lighting for my inverts? The site says it is sand sifter/burrower safe, but who knows.

So far,for stocking, I'm thinking either a yellow watchman with a tiger pistol OR a high fin/black ray goby with a shrimp OR a dracula goby/shrimp combo and a black clown. I would love a starry blenny but I think they get too big for my tank. And of course, I'd love a Mandarin, but I know I couldn't possibly keep him fed. Basically I want an appropriate goby/shrimp combo and one or two other fish. Mainly, I'm in it for the reef.

I'd like zoas, shrooms, pulsing xenia (I hear a flower pot won't thrive in my conditions?), green star polyps and frogspawn. I would love feedback and stocking suggestions.

Do you reccomend a protein skimmer for what I'm doing?

I have about 10 years in freshwater experience, so I'm not a complete goober.
Thanks so much![/url]

 

[TimSchmidt]

:welcome to Nanotank!
The black sand will do fine. No real change, from the pictures I've seen your colors will *pop* more but detritus and suck will be more noticeable. So, no negatives. no substantial affect on lighting. Grain size is the only think you should pay attention to. This goes for any color sand you get. Different fish prefer different grain sizes. Your choices for fish seem very in line with a suitable choice. I love clowns, but please read up on your particular choice as some of them can get quite nasty. Flower pot is a bit tougher, wether it thrives depends quality of specimen and your husbandry of the coral. True for the mandarin. I personally LOVE ricordias and yumas, you might like them too. I don't think you need a skimmer. Most LPS (large polyps stony) corals actually seem to do better in a higher DOC (dissolved organic compound) water in my experience.

LOL I think I should get off my soap box!

 

[Schismgrl18]

Climb back on that soapbox, cuz I will take as much info as I can get!
I heard that tiger pistol shrimp can get a tad feisty. Are there any other goby/shrimp combos that you think would be more laid back or suitable? I love them all, so I'm stuck. The yuma and ricordia are beautiful! I will definitely research them more. Thanks so much for your time, and if there is any particular info you need to pass on to a newbie, lemme have it!

 

[TimSchmidt]

I don't have the personal experience with the pistols so no help there.
Um newbie info:
do regular water changes.
Prevention is WAAAAY more important than curing (quarantine things....seriously....).
Top off with fresh water, not more salt water.
Have fun.
Take lots of pictures.
And GOOOO SLOOOOOOOW.
Only two things happen quickly in salt water: problems and empty bank accounts.