leaf fish tank

[rayn]

Im guessing a leaf fish tank would be a low flow tank. What all is needed or wanted for one? I got the go ahead for a species tank for these guys. I have a stand all ready and it will hold a 29 perfectly. With sand and live rock how many would I be able to keep together? I would think a hob skimmer would work with the LR rather then a hob filter. Also are these guys good with corals, and a cuc?

 

[namxas]

Leaf fish are substrate-huggers, and don't swim very much at all except for the occasional "long hop" from one place to another.

I wouldn't say they're "low flow", but you just don't want to blow them around, so perhaps keeping the flow lower near the substrate may be a good idea.

Also, remember that leaf fish may or may not wean, so you may need to give them live ghosties, guppies, etc. for life (they do train pretty readily to a net, IME). Finally, those pretty red specimens often fade to a creamy pink in captivity. They're pretty entertaining little fish tho...they definitely learn about the food god, and will come hopping over to beg.

Coral and a snail/scarlet reef hermit CUC is fine with them.

 

[rayn]

I just got the yellow one and have it in a 40b. I had a k3 in there before i placed the fish in and it jist seemed to much. Wife said it would look cool in the living room in a 29 I have so it will probably get it own species tank here soon. Your pic of the red one faded to pink is cool and I like the coloring of it. As for food I bought two dozen ghosties and will work with them and then change over to guppies and hopefully frozen guppies with a net. Just waiting for him to settle in first.

 

[namxas]

a 29 species tank would be a nice little display. You could have a trio of leafs in that setup. You could also keep waspfish or a smaller "normal" scorp in that setup.

I've heard of larger leafs taking down damsels, but I'm not sure how big the damsels were, so even tho they have small mouths, you'd need to watch "size differential" (I must sound like a broken record with that phrase!).

 

[rayn]

I'm thinking a leaf only tank. Maybe three like you said and was my original thought. It would be a cool tank just sitting there. If it gets really boring a might think about a swimming fish, but only if need be.

 

[namxas]

I really don't think it will be boring, because IME, each time the fish spot you, they'll come crutching/hopping over. I think it would be really cool to have three different color morphs in the same setup.

 

[rayn]

My thoughts exactly on the colors. Yellow I got, redish to pink would be nice, then live aquaria says they come in blue?! That would be awesome to have that color combination.

Guess we are string the tank up this coming weekend and getting it cycled. Pretty soon I'm going to rival you, I'm up to a total of 8 with a large build started too.

 

[rayn]

I figured I would post some pics of my new leaf...no the powerhead isn't on either
FTS

couple of the fish

don't know if the filter box in the background help show the size, might help though

 

[rayn]

He ate tonight. Five ghosties then three more. Most I've seen him move so far.

 

[rayn]

Out at the lfs getting meds for a different fish and tank. Walked back just to look see and my eyes caught another leaf. Mostly yellow again, but some pinkish red spots too. Would two work in the QT or feeding tank till the actual leaf tank is ready?

I moved live rock in and have a hob filter going for the QT. It is also a 40b so it is big enough to handle them.

 

[silentcivilian]

you'd need to watch "size differential" (I must sound like a broken record with that phrase!).

Nooo.... Ive never seen you type that before... ever.. its not like my scorp fit a whole tusk in its mouth...

But yes, listen to Namxas, he knows his stuff on scorps for sure.

 

[psykokid]

if you can manage to find a really good deal on a tunze nano wavebox and have some macros in there for them to "hide" near it would look quite nice. waveboxes are nice because the fish sway with the current, def lots of fun to watch..

 

[rayn]

I hadn't thought of the wavebox, but I had the macros. I really need to read up on them and figure out what would look good. Two or three leafs in there with live rock and macros for them to hide in would be cool.

 

[rayn]

Out at the lfs and they have another leaf in, but yellow again. It does have some red to it, but nothing major. They said it was between this one and a more expensive one from their distributor. Would the more expensive just be a different color, maybe a red one? I have them on the hunt for a red one now too.

 

[namxas]

It was likely coloration...I've seen red leafs going for as much as $90.

 

[rayn]

Maybe that was it then.
I got the yellow one to just about walk into the net last night. Almost there, then the shrimp decided to walk out and into his mouth.

 

[namxas]

Cool...that's how it goes. It's pretty funny to see a fish rushing INTO the net, isn't it?

 

[rayn]

Cool, funny, weird! Most fish swim as fast as they can away, this guy hops right up to it. Hopefully in it soon.

If I get this guy and hopefully more soon to be trained on a net, what is the best way to feed multiple ones?

 

[namxas]

just give each one its turn at the net...they'll get the hang of the routine. We actually had one leaf that ate off the stick and another that wouldn't make the jump from the net. I guess with leaf fish, we're 2 for 1 at stick training.

 

[rayn]

Back to the issue of flow in this tank. What would be enough, but not overkill? I have a k3 available to use now, but I'm afraid it is to much. Maybe one of the new koralia 750? Or would I be looking at something smaller and maybe two of them.

Currently there is a penguin hob filter rated at 150 gov till I get my skimmer on there for any flow.