Is it possible in SW to create a complete biological filtration system via plants as nutrient export and powerheads for filtration as it is in FW?
< That is what your live rock and sand will accomplish. Bacteria will be converting the wastes, and these make their homes in the rock and sand. > 2. Stocking all I have planned so far that I want to do is a maroon gold striped clown, and a mandarin dragonet I’m aware of their feeding habits, that’s part of my next question) Do I have room for anything beyond that? < You will have a hard time keeping anything else in a 30g with a Maroon Clownfish. This fish is very territorial and will likely harass anything else a tank of this size to death. A Mandarin is pretty much out of the question for your tank especially with the clown. > 3. I apparently did a good job picking the live rock I did get. I purposefully chose extremely porous live rock in medium pieces. It has deep caverns all throughout it deep enough to completely hide several limpets completely) When I checked the other night my tank was SWARMING with amphipods as well as a lot of other neat critters. < I just cant suggest you p