New to the hobby. Need some advice!!

J

joshnpowell

New member
Hello everyone! My name is Josh and I am pretty much brand new to the saltwater hobby. I have had freshwater tanks, and have researched saltwater tanks for several years and finally got up the nerve to take the plunge!

I have a 75 gallon tank with a 29 gallon sump tank with protein skimmer, etc. The display tank has a 1.5" or so sandbed, and around 70 pounds of live rock in it. It has been cycling for around 2 months and the water is where it needs to be and my LFS said it's ready for fish (it already has a cleanup crew).

I currently have the following fish in the tank:
2 Ocellaris
1 Red Firefish
1 Sixline Wrasse

I want to add a fish like a one spot foxface rabbit fish, or something like a Kole Tang.
Could I add both of those fish to this setup, or what should I do? Thanks so much for the help and be nice, I've read some threads where people get blasted for asking the wrong thing. I hope this isn't one of those! :thumbsup:
 
Hello and welcome. You've come to the right place to ask questions, we all have them. As far as the fish list goes I have never personally had a Khole tang, however live aquaria recommends at least a 70, assuming your 75 is the standard 4ft I would think you would be ok without any other tangs. I would not put a fox face in a 75 though, they can get upwards of 10". Keep in mind that the larger fish you keep the smaller your tank will look. Also I would keep an eye on that six line, they can get down right nasty.
 
Looking good. Sounds like you're doing the right thing and taking things slowly. Tell us a little more about your tank. Is it going to be a reef or FOLWR(fish only with live rock)? A kole tang is a algae eating monster..along with the fox face. Both have good temperaments and would work in your tank(one spot NOT a fox face lo). Not dive bombing depinchgonze here, but a one spot fox face(6-7") doesn't get as large as the fox face lo or magnificent fox face(10"+).
As also suggested, keep an eye on the sixline, they can be a real PITA. Most ocellaris and fire fish are very peaceful until the clowns begin to spawn..then you'll have fun:thumbsup:
 
I have a couple soft coral in the tank. A xenia and green mushroom coral and about 4 kenya trees that popped out of the live rock. I would like to have some soft coral in there just to make the tank look better, but I am definitely open to suggestions on what would be best.
 
Basically what I am looking for now is 1 or possibly 2 (would definitely like 2) "show fish" in my tank. A couple fish that when people look into the tank they say "wow, that's a nice saltwater tank". Up to now all of the fish in my tank basically look like they could be freshwater fish as well. So I want something where people know it's a saltwater tank. And yes I know the ocellaris should do that, but I'm talking about something that looks like a tang, angel, rabbit fish, butterfly or something like that.

Thanks again for all of the help!!
 
Well my show fish is a reef safe fairy wrasse. You have to have a decent budget for some of these guys. Divers den often has a few super males. They are active fish. Most would do best as the only wrasse in a tank of that size
 
I would avoid sixline wrasses, they tend to be bullies. I have a 180 gallon tank, and for my show fish I have a small group of 3 pyramid butterflyfish, a blue tang and a sailfin tang. I think the pyramid butterflyfish are great fish with a funny personality, here is a liveaquaria link. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+25+1853&pcatid=1853
they are perfectly reef safe, and never bother any of my corals. note: this is one of very few reef safe butterflyfish, almost all others are NOT reef safe. If you plan on having corals, avoid most other butterflyfish.
Tangs are also good, they get ich really bad so be sure to quarantine. (especially blue tangs)
Wrasses are also good, but not so much as a show fish unless you get a supermale like stated above. A flasher wrasse or fairy make a nice addition to a reef tank.
 
joshnpowell said:
Thank you to everyone for the suggestions!
Would the 75G be big enough for something like a Pyramid Butterfly?
Click to expand...

They are recommended for 125 gallons but it may work in a 75 gallon. I've owned a one spot foxface and they are beautiful fish. They also will eat algae so that's a plus.

I have a similar setup to yours and in my experience you may want that large centerpiece fish but people seem to really love the color and personality more than the type or size.

Since you already have a 6 line wrasse I wouldn't get any other wrasse in that size tank but if you can take that wrasse back there are many extremely colorful reef safe wrasse. I have a couple flasher wrasses in my mixed reef and people instantly are drawn to them. Mine almost act like dogs and do there flashing routine when people are gathered around the glass (I think they know they are going to get fed but who knows). Also my starry blenny gets a lot of love for his interesting personality and colors.
 
The sixline will bully the fire fish. If you opt to take the six line back, a great option is the pink streaked wrasse (aetenia). Looks like a small six line, and is totally peaceful. For you tank I would go with the one spot foxface...they don't get as big as the others.

But.....in my opinion...your tank may too new for a foxface. They are algae grazers...so unless you have a ton of algae in the tank, be prepared to add seaweed to a clip to you tank EVERY DAY.

My baby one spot goes through a nice sized square every day. I may actually add a second clip soon...Just a heads up on their dietary requirement. Look luck and welcome to reef central.
 
joshnpowell said:
If I do go with the one spot foxface could I add a Kole Tang as well since they are smaller too, or would that be too much?
Click to expand...

I've had that same exact stocking list and it would be fine but bigger fish make big bioloads. Are you using a protein skimmer and doing regular water changes?

If your like me and like to keep maintenance to a minimum I wouldn't put two large fish like that in a 75 gallon. It gives you more leeway to make mistakes without crashing your aquarium. Believe me, crashes are no fun.
 
joshnpowell said:
I am using a protein skimmer. How often should I be doing water changes?
Click to expand...

It depends. I only do one 20 - 30% a month and my parameters stay consistent and my nitrates stay really low. I would keep a log of your aquarium especially over the first 6 months to a year and take your parameters at least once a week. Your parameters should stay consistent from week to week. If you find your nitrates going up you need to be doing more water changes. For me and my light bio load I can go a month without seeing any difference in my parameters.

Some people won't even go a week without changing water but it depends on a lot of factors (Skimming, stocking, feeding, algae, filter media, ect...). That's why its extremely important as a new hobbyist to test your parameters frequently till you recognize the signs in your aquarium that things may be a little off.
 
Thanks for the great advice. As far as filtration media what should I be using? Right now I have spaghetti algae in my sump tank, the protein skimmer and I have some live rock in my sump too. Should I have something else in there also? Somebody once told me to get a canister filter. Is that necessary? Sorry for all the questions. I'm sure some of them sound pretty dumb. Thanks again for all of the help.
 
joshnpowell said:
Thanks for the great advice. As far as filtration media what should I be using? Right now I have spaghetti algae in my sump tank, the protein skimmer and I have some live rock in my sump too. Should I have something else in there also? Somebody once told me to get a canister filter. Is that necessary? Sorry for all the questions. I'm sure some of them sound pretty dumb. Thanks again for all of the help.
Click to expand...

There is all sorts of filter medium that you could make a thread just labeling them off. Its most important for you to monitor your nitrates religiously until your tank is fully stocked and running fully stocked for at least like 6 months.

If you find your nitrates spiking you probably overloaded your system or are not doing enough periodic water changes. Take it slow and do periodic tests and you should be fine.

Canister filters on saltwater aquariums are traps for detritus and nitrates. Do not get one.
 
I just tested my water and my levels are as follows:

Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 5ppm
Ammonia: 0.25ppm
Ph: 8.0
Salinity: 1.025

Are these levels okay?
 
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