Looking to convert current setup to a pipefish tank.

[FishF00d]

So with not having the time I use to to search and research these boards for hours like I have in the past can I get some advise on what direction to take.

The bottom line is I don't have the cash or time to maintain my current set up. SPS dominated 60 gal tub with a few sps. I currently have a blue stripe pipefish in this tank who has been doing fine for the last year. My skimmer pump went out a few months back and the bulbs need to be changed and I just don't have the cash to dump into this thing. My sps have been going downhill.

What can I remove from the system and still maintain a decent tank for pipefish and a few other calm fish. I currently have a royal gramma, two damsels and a yellow assessor. I will likely sell off most of the rock as they are covered in SPS and look to get a few new branching pieces. I'm going to sell off half of my lights to maintain a low light environment so the blue stripe comes out more often. I was also thinking of ditching the skimmer all together and getting some macro algae growing. I'll remove all the fish but the assessor as well.

Its either this or go back to where I was 12 yrs ago and sell of everything and put in some tetras

 

[Jan B]

Pipefish can get pretty expensive in terms of feeding. You need a tank that is well seeded with pods. You also might want to think about culitvating them, because it gets pricey continuing to purchase pods. They also eat freshly hatched bbs. I have had luck getting blue striped pipes to eat frozen mysis, but not the dragonfaced pipes. Alligator pipefish are larger and can be trained to frozen mysis as well. What kind of pipefish were you thinking about?

 

[dputt88]

just culture pods, it will cost nearly nothing and take very little time.