PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[snorvich]

Hello all, I am sure none of you remember me

As I am the only person answering this thread, the odds of my remembering you is slim to none after doing thousands of these. But I am glad you are back in any case.


but I am still around. Last time I posted I was preparing to leave my tank for 8 months... guess what? it is still around! I attribute this only to having an under stocked and bare bottom system that basically just needs the skimmer emptied, filter sock rinsed and macro trimmed back. My gf did a good job at using the RO unit and giving the powder blue nori. Anyways to make a long story short instead of selling the tank I have decided to keep going and hope I can move everything with me in a year.

Current Stock in a 125 Gal BB tank with ~175 lbs of rock, system is two years old:

Powder Blue tang (5")
Pair of mocha clowns
engineer goby
neon yellow goby
sixline (well mannered)

and a mix of all kinds of coral

Here is what I would like to add to the tank(not all in one day...):

Flame angel

Pyramid butterfly PBT may have issue with this addition

Kauderns cardinal

lemon chromis be sure to rigorously quarantine any chromis as they are highly susceptible to uronema marinum

reef chromis be sure to rigorously quarantine any chromis as they are highly susceptible to uronema marinum

purple dottyback will be a problem with the sixline wrasse

court jester goby sixline may object

bulb nem


I know that is getting to the limit of a medium sized tank with no super fancy equipment, just a good ole' fashioned skimmer, filter sock on a drain hose, and a media bag of carbon and phosban once in a while. Tell me where I am wrong!

Thanks all,

Tanner

 

[burtner]

New tank stocking advice needed

New tank stocking advice needed

See profile for complete details of my setup, but I've got a 20 gallon tank with skimmer, GFO & carbon reactor, and 20 lbs. of live rock. I also plan on using live sand (whatever amount is recommended by you fine folks).

I'm letting my wife and kids pick the fish, and I'll be picking the coral when the time comes.

They've decided on a pair of very small (an inch or so) LFS tank-bred, tank-raised Ocellaris clownfish.

First of all, I'd like to ask if you all think that is OK. I think it is, but advice never hurts.

Also, in the future I'd like to add a clean-up crew that includes some hermits, stails, and at least 1 emerald crab. Any recommendations regarding clean-up crew compliment are welcome.

Finally, I've several ideas for fish, but I don't know how many to get. When I did freshwater tanks as a kid, we used a general thumbrule of 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. I don't think this applies to a reef tank. That being said, I'd like to add creatures from the following list: blenny and/or goby-shrimp pair, azure damselfish, and/or some blue-green chromis.

If there is a thumbrule for a reef tank like the one above, please advise. Also, let me know which/how many fish would be OK to add to my tank.

If it matters, I'll be adding as many corals as possible, and I'll be adding kalkwasser to my ATO reservoir (a 5.5 gallon cheap tank).

Thanks in advance for all the help/advice!

 

[snorvich]

See profile for complete details of my setup, but I've got a 20 gallon tank with skimmer, GFO & carbon reactor, and 20 lbs. of live rock. I also plan on using live sand (whatever amount is recommended by you fine folks).

I'm letting my wife and kids pick the fish, and I'll be picking the coral when the time comes.

They've decided on a pair of very small (an inch or so) LFS tank-bred, tank-raised Ocellaris clownfish.

this is marginally fine; keep in mind that once they are sexually mature, they will want to control about 25 gallons of tank space

First of all, I'd like to ask if you all think that is OK. I think it is, but advice never hurts.

Also, in the future I'd like to add a clean-up crew that includes some hermits, stails, and at least 1 emerald crab. Any recommendations regarding clean-up crew compliment are welcome. I would not do snails and hermits as the hermits will kill snails

Finally, I've several ideas for fish, but I don't know how many to get. When I did freshwater tanks as a kid, we used a general thumbrule of 1 inch of fish per gallon of water. That does not apply to salt water fish.


I don't think this applies to a reef tank. That being said, I'd like to add creatures from the following list: blenny and/or goby-shrimp pair, azure damselfish, and/or some blue-green chromis.

In your sized tank, a goby/shrimp pair would be marginally ok. However the others would not once the clownfish mature

If there is a thumbrule for a reef tank like the one above, please advise. Also, let me know which/how many fish would be OK to add to my tank. impossible to answer for any tank as it depends on behavior, bioload, and ecological niche

If it matters, I'll be adding as many corals as possible, and I'll be adding kalkwasser to my ATO reservoir (a 5.5 gallon cheap tank).

Thanks in advance for all the help/advice!

 

[burtner]

Thanks! I certainly didn't know the crabs would kill the snails.

I definitely want crabs; are there any better/best choices of crab that would help control algae in addition to other cleaning functions?

 

[snorvich]

Thanks! I certainly didn't know the crabs would kill the snails.

I definitely want crabs; are there any better/best choices of crab that would help control algae in addition to other cleaning functions?

Simply pick snails or crabs, just not both. There are more varieties of snails that are useful than hermit crabs.

 

[E46Twist]

I failed to mention that I am COMPLETELY rescaping my tank before new fish go in.

Is the dotty back an absolute no? The sixline has been a model citizen to all gobies and other small fish.

Surprised the PBT would mind a butterfly. I would use two different nori clips.

 

[kait_31]

Setting up tank for clown fish

Setting up tank for clown fish

Hello,

I recently bought a 20 gallon fish tank starter kit that includes:
Hood with LED lights
Top Fin power filter with cartridge
Adjustable 100Watt heater (ideal for tropical fish)
4 inch nylon net
Thermometer
Water test vial

I am wanting to set it up as a salt water tank to house a clown fish or two.

Just wondering where do I begin. I have done lots of reading and there seems to be many different options.

All I am wanting is the fish and possibly live rock to keep things simple.

 

[burtner]

Simply pick snails or crabs, just not both. There are more varieties of snails that are useful than hermit crabs.

OK. Thanks again!:reading:

 

[burtner]

Hello,

I recently bought a 20 gallon fish tank starter kit that includes:
Hood with LED lights
Top Fin power filter with cartridge
Adjustable 100Watt heater (ideal for tropical fish)
4 inch nylon net
Thermometer
Water test vial

I am wanting to set it up as a salt water tank to house a clown fish or two.

Just wondering where do I begin. I have done lots of reading and there seems to be many different options.

All I am wanting is the fish and possibly live rock to keep things simple.

I don't have ANY experience, so take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt, please.

Based on what I've learned thus far, I don't think live rock is an option for a healthy reef tank. Live sand is a good choice in addition to live rock, but not a replacement.

I think I'm correct on this, but hopefully others will add to this.

Good luck!

 

[snorvich]

I failed to mention that I am COMPLETELY rescaping my tank before new fish go in.

Is the dotty back an absolute no? The sixline has been a model citizen to all gobies and other small fish.

Surprised the PBT would mind a butterfly. I would use two different nori clips.

I gave you my best opinions. Dottybacks can also be a PITA except P. fridmani Of course, it is always your choice.

 

[snorvich]

I don't have ANY experience, so take what I'm about to say with a grain of salt, please.

Please Check Out Your Fish thread

This thread is only answered by Reef Central Staff, in this case, me. While we encourage you to participate in all other areas of Reef Central, we would appreciate your not answering in this thread. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

 

[snorvich]

Hello,

I recently bought a 20 gallon fish tank starter kit that includes:
Hood with LED lights
Top Fin power filter with cartridge
Adjustable 100Watt heater (ideal for tropical fish)
4 inch nylon net
Thermometer
Water test vial

I am wanting to set it up as a salt water tank to house a clown fish or two.

Just wondering where do I begin. I have done lots of reading and there seems to be many different options.

All I am wanting is the fish and possibly live rock to keep things simple.

This thread is only about marine fish compatibility and is only answered by Reef Central Staff. Best information can be obtained by submitting your own thread in New to the Hobby where you will get lots of general help.

[welcome]

 

[Yellym]

Hey guys,
I just started my reef tank a week and a half ago and I have a few questions I hope you guys can answer!
First off, I have these little white things (I don't really know how to explain them) that are on my cured rock. I have approximately 4 of them and I have no clue what they are, any ideas?
Also, my salinity level is 1.0275 and I don't know how to lower it to a salinity level good enough to put fish in.
Please help!!
Thank you

 

[burtner]

Please Check Out Your Fish thread

This thread is only answered by Reef Central Staff, in this case, me. While we encourage you to participate in all other areas of Reef Central, we would appreciate your not answering in this thread. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

No problem. Sorry.

 

[snorvich]

Hey guys,
I just started my reef tank a week and a half ago and I have a few questions I hope you guys can answer!
First off, I have these little white things (I don't really know how to explain them) that are on my cured rock. I have approximately 4 of them and I have no clue what they are, any ideas?
Also, my salinity level is 1.0275 and I don't know how to lower it to a salinity level good enough to put fish in.
Please help!!
Thank you

This thread is only about marine fish compatibility. For answers to more general questions, please start your own thread in New to the Hobby. Thanks.

 

[jdjp]

80 gal 48"x24"x16"tall. With screen top.
Adding first fish to my first aquarium.

Pygmy angelfish
Yellow tang
2 firefish
Lawnmower blenny
Cleaner shrimp
Peppermint shrimp
Assorted hermits and snails

Maybe move the shrimp to the refugium and get a spanish hogfish and valantini puffer?

Also would like to have soft corals zoanthids etc.

 

[ColinAbi]

DT: 60 Gallon 48x15x15
Sump/Fuge: 60 Gallon 48x15x15
Have:
2 Ocellaris Clowns
2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 Serpent Star
1 CUC
1 Pincushion Urchin
1 Starry Blenny
1 Blue Dot Sleeper Goby
Want:
1 Sixline Wrasse

Any problems?

 

[snorvich]

80 gal 48"x24"x16"tall. With screen top.
Adding first fish to my first aquarium.

Pygmy angelfish not coral safe
Yellow tang needs a much larger tank
2 firefish will become one over time
Lawnmower blenny
Cleaner shrimp
Peppermint shrimp
Assorted hermits and snails it is best to choose hermits or snails since hermits kill snails

Maybe move the shrimp to the refugium and get a spanish hogfish and valantini puffer? yes, they are not shrimp safe and a spanish hogfish may not be safe for smaller fish

Also would like to have soft corals zoanthids etc. pygmy angel will disrupt that

 

[snorvich]

DT: 60 Gallon 48x15x15
Sump/Fuge: 60 Gallon 48x15x15
Have:
2 Ocellaris Clowns
2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 Serpent Star
1 CUC
1 Pincushion Urchin
1 Starry Blenny
1 Blue Dot Sleeper Goby
Want:
1 Sixline Wrasse not shrimp safe and aggressive towards many small fish; otherwise, fine

Any problems?

 

[ColinAbi]

DT: 60 Gallon 48x15x15
Sump/Fuge: 60 Gallon 48x15x15
Have:
2 Ocellaris Clowns
2 Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
1 Serpent Star
1 CUC
1 Pincushion Urchin
1 Starry Blenny
1 Blue Dot Sleeper Goby
Want:
1 or 2 Yellowhead Jawfish or 1 Court Jester Goby

Any problems?