Help out a newbie?

[Aslan]

I have a 65g. I have one of those sumps with the place for bioballs that I filled with liverock. I have a Remora skimmer, refugium, cannister and UV. I bought the system as a whole unit used.

I have 120 lbs of LR for my display tank that is in a bin in the garage.

I want to get a leapord wrasse (the blueish one with spots) for sure. Wondering what other fish would be good to keep with them.

Can I get a powder blue tang, or a cheveron tang? Any other cool fish I should look at? How many fish can I put in there? I don't want to have to upgrade tanks.

What about corals? I think some of the LPS is cool and those mushrooms with bubble things are neat. Can I keep them with these fish? I have T5 lights and PC's.

Oh last thing, what's a good place to get fish from?

Thanks for your help. Just trying to learn.

 

[hgbarwick]

Don't put a Powderd Blue Tang or a Chevron tang in a 65 gallon. You mabey could get away with a yellow or kole tang. I would get a midas or a Bicolor Blenny.

 

[Aslan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7775113#post7775113 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hgbarwick
Don't put a Powderd Blue Tang or a Chevron tang in a 65 gallon. You mabey could get away with a yellow or kole tang. I would get a midas or a Bicolor Blenny.

Why is it not a good idea to put in a Powder Blue Tang or Cheveron, but alright to add a yellow or kole. Is it because of size? I will have over 100g in the total system.

The Kole is very pretty though. Can I keep it with a leapord Wrasse.

 

[hgbarwick]

Powder Blue Tangs and Cheveron Tangs need alot of swimming space. 6 foot tank for them. Yellow tangs are smaller and do not swim as much. Same goes for koles. It dosen't matter if you have 100 gallons including your sump it is the 65 gallons of swimming space that counts. I think you could keep a kole with a lepord wrasse.

 

[Aslan]

Oh thanks. My tank is not even close to six feet. It is only 36 inches long, and it's like 24 inches tall. I do think the kole is more unique looking then the yellow. The yellows are just so common, I want something different.

What else could I keep with them. I suppose Angel Fish are out?

 

[hgbarwick]

Yup if it is a reef. I would get a midas blenny or a bicolor blenny.

 

[Aslan]

Right now it is a nothing but a pile in the garage. I am trying to decide what I want so I can make a good home for my new fish.

Could I only get those three fish? I really want a lot of fish, but want to be responsible too. I just don't want the tank to look empty with nothing going on.

How many fish could I put in a 65g with that big of a sump and all those filters and everything?

Does the inch per gallon rule apply to salt water fishies?

 

[hgbarwick]

I would do a kole or yellow tang then stick with small fish. You could always leave the tang out and do lots of small fish. Like do about 5 small 3 inche fishes. Inches per gallon do not apply to slat water.

 

[Aslan]

Is there a rule of thumb or no?

I really would like some typeof tang and the kole seems pretty. I had my heart set on the powder one from the LFS but if it's not a suitable tank I can't get it.

Can I keep a lionfish with wrasse?

Sorry so many questions. I do appreciate your help.

 

[john37]

any tang would be hard to keep in there but if you must i'd get a yellow tang.

for a 65 gal here would be my fish list in this order.....
first
-yellow accessor or sunburst anthias
-blue green chromis (just one)
a month later
-any small fairy or flasher wrasse
-yellow watchman goby or midas blenny
a month later
-flame angel or some other dwarf angel.
a month later
-yellow tang

you aren't going to need 120lbs of rock either, leave some open space for the fish to swim.
a good place to get fish from is liveaquaria.com

gluck w/your setup

 

[Aslan]

Really my only must is the leapord wrasse.

Can I keep multiple reef safe wrasses?

I went to liveaquaria. WOW what a great site. Is the information on the different species there accurate?

For LR I have 90 lbs of rubble I planned on putting in the part where the bioballs go and then an extra 120 lbs I was planning on putting in the display. If I keep the 90lbs in the sump then how much would I need for the display?

I thought I needed 2 lbs per gallon so I figured with my sump volume that I'd be extra safe with more. I will have about 100g of water total when all is said and done.

So if I get the wrasse, and then some smaller fish like gobies and dwarf angels (I don't like the chromis), maybe even some anthias (saw some really cool ones), what kind of clean up crew am I looking at? Are there any restrictions? I do want to keep some LPS, and maybe a clam or two. I also like the xenia that pulse.

I bought a book today to by Goerman or something like that. IS a good read so far.

I would like to start setting the tank up in September and start adding fish by Thanksgiving. Do you think this is going to be possible?

Any good books you recommend?

I really do appreciate all the help from everyone. Direction when you first start is always a good thing.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Aslan]

Oh I forgot, if I order a pod culture and seed my tank with it, then wait six months could I get a manderin goby? Would it be O.K. with the wrasse I want?

What about pipe fish with a leapord wrasse? There are some great pipe fish out there?

 

[john37]

yes you can keep multiple reefsafe wrasses. the leapord wrasse is not an easy wrasse to keep, they're very hard to get to eat.

liveaquaria's info is somewhat accurate but not totally...if you want to know about a fish or coral it's better to ask around.

it's really hard to estimate how much LR you'd need because it's not about weight but more about surface area so that the bacteria can colonize.
As for bioballs, don't use them...that's why you have liverock. especially for a reeftank.

as for anthias' you might be limited because they require multiple feedings and will cause a big bioload on your tank.

i'd keep the fish load to about 9 fish for a comfortable bioload.(only if you have a large sump making 100gal of water) if it's only the 65gal i'd stay w/about 6 fish.

Scott Michael has a pretty good book called reef fishes.

depending on how cured your lr is if you set up in sept. 2 months should be enough time. You really should find an experienced person in your area to get a little more help while setting up.

 

[secrest]

I have to second john37 the leopard wrasse is definately not a fish for people new to the hobby. They need a huge population of pods in the tank to support them, something not too common in a newly set up tank

 

[hgbarwick]

Yeah you should just get a flasher wrasse.

 

[Aslan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7777386#post7777386 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by secrest
I have to second john37 the leopard wrasse is definately not a fish for people new to the hobby. They need a huge population of pods in the tank to support them, something not too common in a newly set up tank

The liverock I purchased has been part of a running system for 5 years. The rock is in tubs now but it has a Maxijet 900 and a Mag Drive 3 to create flow. I do feed the rocks every couple of days. Do you think the pods that were there would die? Pods are those flea like things right? I have tons of them.

Once the system is setup it will have a 45g refugium with keeto and prolifra. If I buy some pods would I be able to have enough in a few months to help the wrasse? You can buy pods no?

I really want the leapord wrasse the rest is just gravy. I don't mind doing the reading so I can get the fish I want. Want to be prepared to give it a good home. How long do you think I would have to wait?

Oh my brother has fish tanks and said he would set it all up for me. I got the system from him. I just wanted to show him I did some research too.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

 

[hgbarwick]

If you add pods to your tank you may be able too have enough of them after 4 months mabey?

 

[john37]

oh, the pipe fish isnt really easy to keep as well.
Do a lot of reading on both if you MUST keep them. To give you a better shot, make sure they're taking food at the LFS or where ever you get them. If they're eating there then your chances are a lot better.

 

[hgbarwick]

Yes pipe fish are like seahorses