Kicking & Screaming Into Saltwater

So it's been about a decade since I've had a Saltwater tank. I had a 20 when I was 17 (pre-google), and it was a fast fail. A 90 a couple years later did rather well, and a couple 45s after that, but I got out of it due to the hassle of constant monitoring.
The wife wants an Ocelaris.
She also wants a Seahorse. I'm not entertaining that idea at this point.
So I've been contemplating putting a nano together...
I have a spare 29 gallon breeder (need to fix a crack first), and lots of odds and ends kicking around. Not sure about the Seahorse, I honestly don't know much about them.
The setup would include a powerhead-fed 7 chamber custom filter. 1 Floss, 1 o2 diffuser, 3lava rock, 1 Foam, 1 spare (empty) for chemical filtration when needed. I don't have a reef light kicking around, but I can build something. Canopy is a must (5 year old) but I can do screened lattice for the top.
So for stocking, my idea would be:
1 Ocelaris
1 Royal Gramma
1 Pacific Cleaner Shrimp
1 Pacific Oyster
1 Conch Snail
3 Bumblebee Snails
A small Mushroom Coral
Maybe a Finger Leather
Some Blue Ochtode
Maybe some Red Dragons Breath
Maybe some Green Chaeto

Any concerns/suggestions? I have a few months to stare at an empty tank first (after I build it with limited time/day), so I'm thinking by September.
Also, would I have room for a neon/blue Dartfish?
Edited to correct Siri, and for clarification and to update the list.

 

I would advise against a seahorse and leave them to experts because they are very difficult to keep. Especially if they are from the wild.

 

I would advise against a seahorse and leave them to experts because they are very difficult to keep. Especially if they are from the wild.

Ive heard that, which is why I'm iffy about it.

 

Yeah, just don't do it, please. It's not worth it.

 

Ive heard that, which is why I'm iffy about it.

Then let me help you further, seahorses are pretty boring and are not really the free swimming things you see in the movies. They tend to attach themselves to things and just sit there. The clownfish is a solid choice though as they are a very hardy fish.

 

Seahorses need an aquarium that has lots of things that they can hook onto and to make their habitat the aquarium will look very dirty and the chances of you seeing them are low.

 

While I do appreciate the list of excuses I can use for not getting her one, I'm more interested in feedback about the rest of the tank

 

Haha sorry about that. Name some other fish that you want other than a clownfish. Maybe make it a pair?

 

She likes the Royal Gramma and the Blue/Neon Darters... I've talked her out of pretty much everything else she likes based on size and aggressiveness.

 

That's funny because when I was deciding on livestock I only wanted aggressive, big fish. Grammas aren't too aggressive I think so you can get that. What else do you want you can maybe fit one more fish

 

If I have room, I like the Darter. I'm a Goby fan, they have such personalities.
Also thinking of some Bumblebee Snails, maybe 3?

 

Are you talking about the blue/neon goby because of so you can keep one in your tank

 

kicking and screaming into saltwater sounds like when they have the people go down in the cages surrounded by sharks!

 

Are you talking about the blue/neon goby because of so you can keep one in your tank

It was in the OP, though it was right after Seahorse... Can understand if you missed it.

kicking and screaming into saltwater sounds like when they have the people go down in the cages surrounded by sharks!

Pretty close. With the massive growth in the "affordable reefing" industry in the last couple decades, and YouTube (hey @UaruJoey), things like small DIY ATOs, and Protein Skimmers for under $200, its a lot easier now. Oh and Amazon Prime. Yeah, replacement parts in 2 days is a godsend. I remember waiting over a month sometimes. The anxiety is really unnecessary, its just memories of times past.

 

Are you talking about the blue/neon goby because of so you can keep one in your tank

Yeah, not sure what a "darter" is.

 

Yeah, not sure what a "darter" is.

Subspecies of Goby. Not a Gudgeon (what most people think of when you say Goby), but still a Goby.

 

It looks like it's more of a Brackish fish than saltwater.

 

Darters are actually freshwater and federally protected.

 

Ptereleotris species (DartFISH, sorry)

 

Ptereleotris species (DartFISH, sorry)

Ah, you were referring to firefish, tilefish or zebra, scissorail, etc. then. Beware that they can be easily bullied, very skittish and spend a lot of time hiding. My Purple and Scissortail spent most of their time in hiding.

 

Ah, you were referring to firefish, tilefish or zebra, scissorail, etc. then. Beware that they can be easily bullied, very skittish and spend a lot of time hiding. My Purple and Scissortail spent most of their time in hiding.

Blue Dartfish is my favourite, Neon Gudgeon Goby is a close second. I've had freshwater Gobies and I wouldn't expect a Saltwater species of the same genus to act much differently. My favourite Cichlid is the Acara, I don't mind shy fish. It makes it more special IMO than, say, the average fancy Guppy who spends all day flitting back and forth ("Hey! Look at me! Look at me!")