Hello to all....

Pinrod33

New member
Hey guys and gals, my name is Danny and I just wanted to extend my hello to everyone since this is my first time posting on RC. If you notice, my sign-up date is a year ago, but this is actually the first time I have written anything on here.

I am relatively new to the hobby, and I should probably be more knowledgeable for the amount of time I have been doing this, but I am getting better every day and well..... I rely on Bernie a lot to help me through my trials and tribulations.

I currently have a 30 gallon bowfront that I actually bought from Bernie and have been maintaining it now for 6 months or so. I have two LTA's in there, a "wild" Orange Perc, a Mystery Wrasse which I just bought at a mega discount and now he refuses to show his face, and I will be receiving a Golden Tonga Blenny in the next couple of days. I plan on rounding out the stock list with a Flame Dwarf Angel, a Red Mandarinfish and the last spot is up for grabs, but I don't want to crowd, so i think I might end up trying to pair up the Perc with a Black Ocellaris and if they don't pair up hopefully they just stick to their own nem and that should be a sight to see.

Anyway, I'm always hungry for info, I have a pretty tough skin so feel free to call me out and correct me if need be. Glad to be aboard and I am at work right now so I will be able to post some pictures tonight when I get home.
 
Welcome! Please post some pics when you have a chance. Since you have tough skin (he he), keep in mind that your tank is small and your livestock list may be a little full with 2 nems and 6 fish (eventually).
 
yea, I had actually been trying to convince myself for 7 fish, but that was before getting the second nem, now after seeing the wrasse in there (it's almost full grown), I have seen how 7 definitely won't be possible, and 6 will probably be pushing it.

That's why I was thinking the clown, not because I think the load will be much less, but because if it does pair up the male will stay pretty small and they stick together like glue. I actually already had that pair before but the female became too aggressive and I had to split them after months of no issues. I won't throw everything in there at one time, so I guess it will be a step by step trial. As mentioned before I also have bernie's help and I wouldn't do anything without asking him 500 questions. Worst case scenario, the ocellaris is out and I have a nice looking (in my opinion) stock list of 5 very different fish. I'll get those pictures as soon as possible
 
Lol... poor Bernie (j/k). I'm not one to talk about livestock as I am attempting an all false percula reef. Currently I have 19 percs of different ages in my 144 half circle tank. It's good to keep an open mind in this hobby and have a good friend who knows his $hit.
 
Welcome. Like you I have been lurking around central and reefsanctury, and was just informed of FMAS' existence when I bought some equipment from MikePowell; so I am new here.

So far everyone is nice and knowledgable.....so, welcome!
 
Hahaha, I actually bought my first tank from Mike. He sold me a modified 5g nano cube with an overflow. That's actually were I had my first nem along with the two clowns. Even bernie was surprised that I was actually able to keep the nem alive in there, and he's well and kicking in the 30 gallon. I bought the second nem as part of a $40 rock that had amazing blue mushrooms on it and it was probably a couple inches across when I brought it home. Needless to say, it's now making my original nem look like a dwarf. They both seem to be regular LTA's, but the body of the original nem is a khaki color, while the newer one has a rose pink body. Again, I'll post the pictures tonight, cause it's a little hard to explain
 
ladybug, I think I actually saw the pics on your tank. Bernie told me about it and sent me the links to the thread you started. It looks amazing. Bernie has been my Obi-Won. He's been absolutely great and never shoots my ideas down, like some of the "tards" at the fish stores that act like they got it all figured out. He actually started the egg-crate vs. bird netting thread for me. I'm scared crap-less about the wrasse being in there because I don't have the lid now, so I need to take care of that immediately. It's I think mandatory to have someone like that to help you along the first few months, because I would have never imagined the amount of details invloved in having a salt-water tank.
 
I dont think I've posted pics of my tank (this one anyway). There is someone else on here with a half circle tank, so that may have been it. I'm a bit skeptical and afraid to "jinx" myself (stupid, I know), as every time I post pics I have some type of problem.

Anyways, I have been in this hobby quite a while and I am still learning. There is always something new, or better, to employ. My husband complains and asks if I will ever be done, and all I can answer is "this is a never-ending hobby". So, it helps to have trust-worthy friends that share your interest. Also, keep in mind that most LFS are out to sell you something, but your friend doesn't care if you drop cash or not, he's doing it for the sake of helping not selling.
 
I'd reconsider a mandarin in such a heavily stocked 30 gallon. Without a pretty large pod population, it's probably going to waste away...

BTW, welcome!
 
I can actually see the pods running around EVERYWHERE. I put one of those bottles of live pods in a fuse that Bernie had created for the tank, and I have no chiato (no clue how to spell that), so they are running amock in there. he was just telling me that I need to get some of the chiato to keep them more controlled and have a slower flow of them going into the main tank
 
I must have a different tank in mind ladybug. It was about filling an entire 100+ gallon tank with Percs. It looked amazing. I have heard of the so called "Madden Curse" of posting pics on here. My tank is almost empty now so I think I can risk it, but I heard I have to be careful with feeling confident enough to post pictures. hahaha
 
Wait until the mystery wrasse gets established. They are VERY efficient pod predators and it's unlikely that a 30 will be able to support both the wrasse and a mandarin. Usually, you want a mandarin in a 4' tank minimum, so that there is enough of a population for them. They don't usually eat prepared foods, so once there is no more natural food in the tank, the mandarin will be a gonner...
 
On a side note, is there a minimum amount of posts before being able to have a personal avatar? Not that I have any problems with a picture of the greatest super hero of all time, but I would like to personalize it a little more
 
Fwiw I had a mandarin I got on a tank tear down buy and he ate everything including cyclopeeze pellets but that was by luck. Superstretch may be right and you'll risk losing it even if it looks like it's doing ok. Mine died when I switched to the 144.

I've heard about that thread with the clowns but Ive never been able to find it. My tank does look cool with them swimming all over though.

And yes, you need 50 posts to put a personal avatar.
 
Thanks Bernie, I finally found it yesterday and read the entire thing. Pretty impressive. I hope I have the same luck as she does.
 
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