New to the forum

[Ryan]

Hello my name is Ryan. I just set up a 30 gallon salt tank with sand and liverock. It had the sand in it for around 2 1/2 months. I have been adding the live rock to very slowly. Last Thursday, I added two clowns and I'm wondering what my next step is? Can I add more live rock to my tank?

[daugherty]

welcome to the reef. and yes you can keep adding rock to you tank as long as it is cured. just wait before you add anymore fish. start thinking about what you want for a cleaning crew. with a tank that small you are very limited on the fish that you can put in it. i would only put in one more fish at the most but it will have to be a small one.

[Ryan]

Thanks. I bought the Biocube protein skimmer which I was told mixed reviews about. Will this one do for now?

[Bifferwine]

Hi and welcome!
Go ahead and add more rock, but do it slowly, like one or two pieces at a time. Live rock has the potential to spike your parameters a little bit, but clowns are hardy and should be fine if that happens.

Do you have a cleaner crew? If you don't already, that would be your next step. I recommend a variety of snails such as astraea, nassarius, trochus, cerith, and for a tank that size, one Mexican turbo. One emerald crab, and either a brittle star or serpent star would be good too. Maybe a cleaner shrimp or a pair of peppermint shrimp.

[Bifferwine]

On a small tank like yours, there really aren't any GREAT protein skimmers. But any protein skimmer is better than nothing. The one you bought should be just fine, as long as you keep up with regular water changes.

[Piggy]

Welcome to the Reef. The above has you covered.

[SSalty]

Make sure you check your nitrite/ammonia levels before adding inverts. Inverts are very sensitive.

[reeffreak]

Welcome to the site!

[Ryan]

Thanks guys!

Tonight I went and bought a 65 watt 50/50 straight pin compact fluorescent lamp for my lighting (Coralife). I also was given a 32 watt Smartlite Retrofit (PowerCompact) Can anyone tell me if I have enough lighting or need to get more? My local store said that this should do for the size of the tank. Right now I have both going and it seems to be working very well.

Thanks,
Ryan

[yote]

Welcome to the reef.
Your light should be fine for most soft corals.