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[mvl]

hI, my name is Mark. I need some advice. I have had a 70 gallon SW tank for about 2 1/2 years, still learning a lot. Recently left town for a week and my babysitter didn't notice that the overflow tank quit, I lost most of my fish. I have been getting advice locally, but now realize that they only tell me some stuff. For example, they sold me a yellow tang for a 70 gallon tank. anyway, I have some questions-
1. If I start fresh, is liveaquaria ok to buy from?
2. I was thinking 5-6 fish- a 2 spot tang, 1-2 clowns, red mandarin, hawkfish, lionfish (dwarf). Too many?
3. I have been using saltwater multipacks as food, 4 cubes daily. Is that about right, do you feed them every day?

Tank is all set up, still healthy with adequate live rock.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[OrQidz]

Hi Mark, welcome! Sorry you lost your fish, that's a bummer. Do you have FOWLR, or any corals?
Clowns are good. Hawkfish is good, although it may eat shrimp and hermits. The lionfish will eat anything it can fit into its mouth, including the clowns so I would be cautious, especially if the clowns are small. Dragonets (red mandarin) only if you have adequate pods. I'm not sure on the tang; 70 gallons may be on the small side. What are the dimensions? Swimming space is important for tangs.

Liveaquaria is good, and they have really helpful guidelines for what size tank a fish needs that a lot of folks go by.

I'm not sure on the amount of food. I feed less but I have fewer fish. If your fish are plump and you don't have algae outbreaks you are probably ok.

Good luck with the restocking!

 

[Sk8r]

For a 70, here are some possibilities: yellowtail damsel, 3; one dwarf angel if you have no corals; yellow watchman goby; shrimp gobies (they're ok together); tailspot or starry blenny if you don't mind maintaining some film algae; royal gramma or chalk bass; dartfish (with lid); cardinals; lion would eat all the rest; hawkfish can also be a problem, as can dottyback. Jawfish, 1. Those are some of my favorites. Damsels, which I have, generally require a 100 to quiet down, but yellowtails are mild.

 

[mvl]

I did get an algae outbreak. Consistent green thick algae. Does that mean too much food?

 

[Cliving1]

High in phosphates most likely (could be from overfeeding) Test your water and if they are high do a water change to bring it down.