Anthias in this aquarium?

[t5Nitro]

Is it OK to have 3 or 5 dispar anthias in a 125 with a powder brown tang, yellow tang, 2 true percula clowns, foxface, and a blue star leopard wrasse? If so, the MH will only be on for about 6 hours and good enough for maybe 2 feedings in those 6 hours?

Any experiences you have with the dispar such as hard to keep and go with a different anthias?

Thanks.

 

[dfs/la2]

t5Nitro,

These are excellent questions. Regarding your question on feedings, two feedings a day within the six hours, should be fine. Entering three to five Dispar Anthias at the same time would be great for the health of the Anthias!

Your only concern may be with the compatibility of the fish already in your tank as we usually recommend adding the peaceful fish first. This way they are able to establish their territory before adding the more aggressive fish. Depending on how long your Tangs and the Leopard Wrasse have been in the tank, they may be aggressive towards your Anthias.

All Anthias require additional attention to thrive in the tank. They require more frequent feedings but given the right tank environment, they make a colorful and active addition to any tank!

Sincerely,

Gwen S.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[t5Nitro]

Thanks for the information! Right now I have the 46 up and running with just a yellow tang and 2 true percula clowns. When the tank's cycle is done would it be smart to get 5 dispars and put them in there alone for 3-5 days or so?

The tank's nitrites are at 2.0 yet, any idea how long it will stay there? Ammonia just dropped to zero a few days ago, I bought some base rock so unlike before in my 46 gallon, I bought fully cured LR from the Rhinelander store and got no cycle at all.

So when nitrites hit zero then, put fish in at this order?

1. Go get some dispars (5)
2. Get a leopard wrasse (or is this wrasse not a good choice?)
3. Transfer the 46 gallon tank (2 clowns, 1 yellow tang)
4. Get a foxface
5. Get a powder brown

Is that a good order to go with? Would you recommend keeping the 46 up for a QT? After all of those fish are in and put a powder brown in last there is a good chance for ich right? I just never really understood how QT worked, because it goes from the store to a tank to the display tank, while the QT is much smaller, less natural habitat for what's in the tank, not much algae, and then if it got ich and then got rid of it, you catch the fish again and transfer it/acclimate it to another tank?

Should the powder brown go in before near the beginning because of this?

 

[t5Nitro]

Is that fish load way too much for a 125 with 40 gallon sump (maybe holding 20 gallons?) Would it work with chaeto in the sump?

If that fish load is just too high, what would you recommend getting out of that fish load, and the 2 tangs/2 clowns I want for sure/have, probably the foxface too.

 

[dfs/la2]

t5Nitro,

Thank you for your prompt response and detailed tank information. The fish you have listed should be fine in your 125. The length of the cycling process will vary depending on how high the ammonia spike was in the beginning. The general time frame is between three to four weeks.

When the tank is fully cycled with no ammonia or nitrites, and the nitrates are low, you may add the five anthias. Since these fish do better in an established aquarium you may wish to feed them three times a day in the beginning. The foxface should be the next fish added since it is also peaceful. We would add the tangs last along with the wrasse. Adding the tangs at the same time will help prevent aggression between them. As long as you are giving every new addition time to adjust to their new surroundings and watching the water parameters you aquarium should run smoothly.

The 46 gallon will make a great quarantine tank! This will allow you to quarantine new arrivals while also preventing the introduction of parasites or disease into your show tank. When purchasing fish, parasites and other illnesses are not always detectible. If a sick fish is entered into you show tank any illness may spread throughout the tank.

Your 125 gallon will be a great show tank with these fish and your quarantine will give them a safe place to become acclimated. We wish you great success with your new tank!

Sincerely,

Gwen S.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[t5Nitro]

Thanks again for the reply. The ammonia spike in the new tank was .50 while nitrites were 5.0 before they dropped. They were 5.0 and stayed for a while, now 2.0 and is also staying for a while, so hopefully they will just drop to 0 soon. I am curious, if I order something from the liveaquaria.com, is it next day arrival? I would like to get it this week if I can and hope the tank cycles before that.

Do you know any hints as to keeping dispars? I heard they are a little harder to keep? Do you know why?

Thanks.

 

[dfs/la2]

t5Nitro,

It sounds like your aquarium has almost completed the Nitrogen Cycle. To eliminate any additional stress on the fish, we recommend waiting to place your order until the cycle is complete finished. Our fish are shipped FedEx one day air.

By entering the Dispar Anthias first into your new aquarium, you are allowing them to choose their territory. This will reduce the stress and make acclimating easier. Water quality is very important and should be monitored closely. The Dispar Anthias are known to be more difficult because when first introduced it may be difficult to get them to start eating and require two or more feedings a day. If you have trouble getting the fish to eat, you can try using Garlic Xtreme and a vitamin supplement to help coax them into eating. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our LiveAquaria Department at 1-800-334-3699, via email at customerservice@liveaquaria.com, or PM us.

Sincerely,

Gwen S.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[t5Nitro]

Alright, yes, I will wait for the cycle to complete. What I was saying is that I hope the nitrites drop to zero from 2.0 within this week because then I can order and recieve them in a day. So one male and 4 females will work? How do I order them as genders, I looked on liveaquaria.com and just noticed anthias from different areas in the world.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=48&N=0

I do have a variety of food too consisting of formula 2 flake, formula 1 pellet, frozen brine shrimp, and zooplankton along with 2 bottles of garlic xtreme.

Thanks for the help.

 

[dfs/la2]

t5Nitro,

We understand why you wish to have only one male Dispar Anthias sent along with four females, and apologize that due to varying availability we are not able to guarantee gender. When you place an order you may request one male and the rest female and we will try to fill your order per your request. Dispar Anthias are hermaphroditic and if all females are received, the largest most dominant will take on the role of the male. However, there may be aggression issues if more than one male is entered into the same tank.

Sincerely,

Gwen S.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[t5Nitro]

If two males ended up arriving with the group of 5, does will the store or liveaquaria cover the damages done by aggression if there is any and ends up to being a loss of one?

 

[dfs/la2]

t5Nitro,

Good Morning! The only marine fish that are shipped more than one per bag are damsels and chromis. Any compatibility issues that arise during shipping are completely covered by the guarantee. If we can be of any additional assistance please contact our LiveAquaria Department at 1-800-334-3699, via email at customerservice@liveaquaria.com, or PM us.

Sincerely,

Gwen S.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[t5Nitro]

Does LiveAquaria ship overnight Friday and come in Saturday? I am hoping to get my tank's nitrites down to zero but it just is not happening. It seems it is stuck at 2.0 for the longest time. I am hoping to do 2 more water changes quick and see if the nitrites go down. I really would like to get the fish in this week because that is when I would be able to recieve them the next day, unless LiveAquaria or FEDEX can arrange it somehow to deliver it at a later time in the day?

If nirites are stuck at 2.0, how big of a water change do you think would need to be done to bring the levels to 0? It is a 125 tank with about 20 gallons in the 40 gallon sump underneath.

Thanks.

 

[dfs/la2]

T5nitro,

Thank you for your inquiry. LiveAquaria offers Saturday Delivery, where available, through Fed Ex. The cost for this would be $22.50 in addition to our normal Overnight shipping charges. We generally recommend not changing water when your tank is cycling, as this may disturb the beneficial bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate.

We would recommend patience, as the level of nitrites should decrease once bacteria are cultivated for conversion. Waiting until your tank has cycled would be in the best interests of your aquarium. We hope this information helps you in making an educated purchase.

Nate M.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster & Smith