new biocube 29 help!

[KidNano]

I have two blue damsels and they leave my other fish alone..... I'm thinking becuase the rest are all bigger then them.... however they attack me now when I put my hand near their area. I doubt the damsels ate your blenny.

you definitely need to do a water change. If you have the means to make sure that your temp, PH and salinity match then do a large water change. If not then do a few smaller changes a couple hours apart. Fish need time to adapt to different SG levels more then anything else from what I've read. stop by the pet store or home depot and pick up some clear plastice tubing. I use 1/2" and I can change 5 gallons in about 30 seconds with it. Gotta stay on your toes.

you want to do atleast 10% water change every week. preferably more depending on what's in your tank. I don't know much about the requirements of a FOWLR. Anyway more frequent smaller changes I've heard are easier on the inhabitants.

Do you have any coral?

 

[CLUELESSBIOCUBE29]

update:

I lost another snail. so far my mortality rate two weeks after adding live stock.

2x snails
1 hermit crab
1 blenny (still have not found remains)

still in tank:

2x snails
2x damsels
2x hermits.

I tested my water levels for first time since adding livestock.

Nitrite/Ammonia were immeasureable
Nitrate was about 10ppm
Ph was a little high around 8.4
Salinity was perfect using hydrometer.

I plan on doing a five gallon water change this weekend. I am going to mix my own salt water with RO and Oceanic salt (what is usually the most best/cost effective salt water: the boxed pre mix, mixing your own, or buying pre-mixed from a LFS?)

I also want to add something new this weekend after the water change: was thinking a peperming shrimp or cleaner shrimp. I noticed these run about $25 so I def. don't want to put it in if its going to die on me.

a pic of my tank:

 

[CLUELESSBIOCUBE29]

new additions:

I added a pretty big emerald crab and three new hermits (I now have five)...these guys are great workers cleaning up algea. the emerald crab is especially fun to watch.

 

[KidNano]

I had an emerald for about 4 months. one day I just found up belly up behind one of my big rocks. We named him a*s*h**e becuase he'd try to grab anything that came near him. he was just a jerk. Don't miss him..... I hope you enjoy yours though.

 

[CLUELESSBIOCUBE29]

damsels...

I would like to add either a dwarf lionfish and or a moray eel (small snowflake) and maybe a watcher goby to my cube. Guy at the LFS told me he would let me get a credit if I bring back the damsels. I like the damsels but I'm afraid to put anything else pricey in the tank because they will peck at it. I am also interested in some small dog faced puffers...I already wish I had a bigger tank.

How much stuff that I mentioned above can I put in the biocube29?
What is easiest to care for (hardy)?

 

[CLUELESSBIOCUBE29]

update...

did my first tank clean. changed out five gallons with aged mixed saltwater, rinsed/cleaned off carbon filter, scrubbed sides with brush and picked up some patches of algea with turkey baster.

tank looks great, all livestock appears to be still alive and kicking it.

tested only salinity which was on point. should I test water for ammonia, nitrate etc. shortly after water change or wait a while?

My plan for continuing maint. of my cube:

bi-weekly five gallon water changes.
weekly full water tests (ph, nitrate, ammonia, nitrite)

Does this sound sound?

Also, I've been readin CR Brightwells book on nanos, it appears that mushrooms are the easiest corals to maintain. Do you think I'm ready for some mushrooms? They have nice clams at my LFS for $15 can I safely but a bivalve in my tank this soon?

 

[KidNano]

mushrooms would do fine in your tank. It's a great way to start, and/or zoanthids.

What kind of clams? is it an electric clam or flame scallop? If that's what they're selling then stay away from them. garanteed to die.

I don't have any answers for your questions on the fish. Don't know anything about the dwarf lions, snow flakes or the gobby.