PLEASE check out your intended fish purchases here first!

[smande00]

I'm about two or three months out from actually stocking it, but will have the following tank setup: 180 gallon with 75 gallon sump/refg. I'm considering bare bottom because I'm afraid of a sand bed becoming a nutrient sink with the messy eaters I'd like to stock(especially the puffer which will also munch on clean up crew members, or so I've read) Am I being too paranoid here? I really do like the look of a sand bed if it's not that hard to maintain.

I'm positive I'll have a puffer (either dog faced or porcupine) and will be raising soft corals with it.

Other tank mates I think would be interesting would be a snowflake eel, a couple of clowns (maroon), flameback angel, pacific blue tang, yellow tang and possibly a sailfin tang (I'm assuming 180 gallons is enough to keep the multiple tangs together?).

I'd like to put in a lion but I've read that not only will the puffer harass it, but it would eat the clowns & angel. Would a fuzzy dwarf lion make it in this tank? Any other suggestions to round out this tank?

Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

I'm about two or three months out from actually stocking it, but will have the following tank setup: 180 gallon with 75 gallon sump/refg. I'm considering bare bottom because I'm afraid of a sand bed becoming a nutrient sink with the messy eaters I'd like to stock(especially the puffer which will also munch on clean up crew members, or so I've read) Am I being too paranoid here? I really do like the look of a sand bed if it's not that hard to maintain.

I'm positive I'll have a puffer (either dog faced or porcupine) and will be raising soft corals with it.

Other tank mates I think would be interesting would be a snowflake eel, a couple of clowns (maroon), flameback angel, pacific blue tang, yellow tang and possibly a sailfin tang (I'm assuming 180 gallons is enough to keep the multiple tangs together?).

I'd like to put in a lion but I've read that not only will the puffer harass it, but it would eat the clowns & angel. Would a fuzzy dwarf lion make it in this tank? Any other suggestions to round out this tank?

Thanks!

Unfortunately my expertise is reef tanks and reef fish not aggressive fish such as puffers and lions. Those questions can more readily be addressed here in the aggressive fish forum Puffers and lions do not do well together and lions will try to eat anything that will fit in their mouth.

Your three tangs may get along together but it is a roll of the dice and also depends on whether they are introduced together or in what order. If I were to guess, I would say it is less than certain. Remember that these fish occupy the same ecological niche and will not be happy with competitors in a relatively small tank (I know 180 gallons does not seem small)

 

[smande00]

Unfortunately my expertise is reef tanks and reef fish not aggressive fish such as puffers and lions. Those questions can more readily be addressed here in the aggressive fish forum

Thanks, I will definitely take a look over there too.

Your three tangs may get along together but it is a roll of the dice and also depends on whether they are introduced together or in what order. If I were to guess, I would say it is less than certain. Remember that these fish occupy the same ecological niche and will not be happy with competitors in a relatively small tank (I know 180 gallons does not seem small)

Good to know thank you! After reading backwards through this thread I've seen that you favor the Chevron tang a lot (which I had never heard of before, but is a beautiful fish). Would the Pacific Blue & Chevron be more compatible combination than the other tangs?

I appreciate the help!

- Steve

 

[snorvich]

Thanks, I will definitely take a look over there too.



Good to know thank you! After reading backwards through this thread I've seen that you favor the Chevron tang a lot (which I had never heard of before, but is a beautiful fish). Would the Pacific Blue & Chevron be more compatible combination than the other tangs?

I appreciate the help!

- Steve

I favor Ctenochaetus tangs because their personality is relatively mellow and I like Chevron's (which is a Ctenochaetus tang) because of their personality and because I like how they look. Yes your Pacific Blue and Chevron would be more likely to get along.

 

[Janh]

Not sure if I should be posting this here or in new to the hobby. I am interested in getting a flame scallop but have gotten mixed messages when doing research on them. Some say they are really easy and others say they should not be purchased because they are impossible to keep and they will starve to death in a tank. Which is true, I don't want to get something that could starve to death in my tank. I have a 36 gallon reef tank, 45 lbs live rock, hob, skimmer. Inhabitants are firefish, cardinal, peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs and snails.

 

[partydiver]

Not fish but Corals

Not fish but Corals

29 cube with clown and 2 shrimp. Also some stars.

I was thinking on

• Green acan brain coral
• Blue xenia zoas
• Rasta zoas
• Bam Bam zoas

 

[snorvich]

Not sure if I should be posting this here or in new to the hobby. I am interested in getting a flame scallop but have gotten mixed messages when doing research on them. Some say they are really easy and others say they should not be purchased because they are impossible to keep and they will starve to death in a tank. Which is true, I don't want to get something that could starve to death in my tank. I have a 36 gallon reef tank, 45 lbs live rock, hob, skimmer. Inhabitants are firefish, cardinal, peppermint shrimp, hermit crabs and snails.

Well this thread is about fish, so it would be better posted in the Other Invertebrates forum where it will get appropriate attention. The short answer is, however, that this animal is a filter feeder that most new aquarists will not be able to keep because it will starve to death

 

[snorvich]

29 cube with clown and 2 shrimp. Also some stars.

I was thinking on

• Green acan brain coral
• Blue xenia zoas
• Rasta zoas
• Bam Bam zoas

Again, this thread is about fish not corals. Your questions about zoanthids would be well answered in the zoanthid forum. By the way the fancy name is not really a scientific differentiation, they are still just zoanthids with different colors with names someone created to justify charging more for them. For your brain coral question, best answers will be gotten in the LPS forum.

 

[fredg89]

Have a 45gal corner pentagon tank with 40 pounds of ls and 40 pounds of lr. Also have a 10gal sump that I have nothing in but will add some dry rock or some lr from an established tank.

I was thinking:
2 clown fish
2 firefish
2-3 chromis
and I want something like a blue hippo tang or angelfish or butterflyfish...something that has that shape and is reef ok that doesn't need wide space.
Also a peppermint or 2 and cleaner shrimp.

 

[snorvich]

Have a 45gal corner pentagon tank with 40 pounds of ls and 40 pounds of lr. Also have a 10gal sump that I have nothing in but will add some dry rock or some lr from an established tank.

I was thinking:
2 clown fish
2 firefish Must be a bonded pair or one will not survive
2-3 chromis In a smallish tank, will likely result in only one
and I want something like a blue hippo tang or angelfish or butterflyfish...something that has that shape and is reef ok that doesn't need wide space.

Our recommended tank size for a hippo tang is 240 gallons and no tang will do well in your sized tank. You could do a dwarf angel but they are not necessarily reef safe. There is only one reef safe butterfly and that is the pyramid butterfly but that would get too large for your tank.

Also a peppermint or 2 and cleaner shrimp.

Cleaner shrimp are likely to be more visible and interesting

 

[snorvich]

Have a 45gal corner pentagon tank with 40 pounds of ls and 40 pounds of lr. Also have a 10gal sump that I have nothing in but will add some dry rock or some lr from an established tank.

I was thinking:
2 clown fish
2 firefish Must be a bonded pair or one will not survive
2-3 chromis In a smallish tank, will likely result in only one
and I want something like a blue hippo tang or angelfish or butterflyfish...something that has that shape and is reef ok that doesn't need wide space.

Our recommended tank size for a hippo tang is 240 gallons and no tang will do well in your sized tank. You could do a dwarf angel but they are not necessarily reef safe. There is only one reef safe butterfly and that is the pyramid butterfly but that would get too large for your tank.

Also a peppermint or 2 and cleaner shrimp.

Cleaner shrimp are likely to be more visible and interesting

 

[fredg89]

Cleaner shrimp are likely to be more visible and interesting

Thanks. I knew about the tangs but I wanted something that would have the shape that could work in my tank. What about wrasse (good and the bad).

 

[snorvich]

Thanks. I knew about the tangs but I wanted something that would have the shape that could work in my tank. What about wrasse (good and the bad).

While your tank is a bit smallish for wrasses, flasher wrasses should work. I would definitely not do any "lined" wrasse as they are very aggressive

 

[fredg89]

ok thanks, could you recommend any other fish that have a different shape than the standard fish...(I cant figure out a way to explain it). Like butterflyfish SHAPE...get what I'm trying to say?

 

[snorvich]

ok thanks, could you recommend any other fish that have a different shape than the standard fish...(I cant figure out a way to explain it). Like butterflyfish SHAPE...get what I'm trying to say?

Ok, got the concept. How about a tank bred Kaudern's Cardinal which is a highly sought after fish because of its ease of care, attractive color pattern and distinctively long and elegant fins. The Kaudern's Cardinal, also known as the Banggai Cardinalfish or Longfin Cardinalfish, is metallic silver highlighted by rich black stripes and white, celestial spots on the body and fins. This sophisticated color pattern of the Kaudern's Cardinal makes it a visual striking and memorable addition to most saltwater aquariums.

A 30 gallon or larger aquarium with cave-like rockwork and peaceful tank mates is ideal for this slow and methodical swimmer. Due to its aggressive behavior towards conspecifics, the Kaudern's Cardinal should not be kept as more than a single or as a bonded pair.. With a M + F pair, the Kaudern's Cardinal is relatively easy to breed in the aquarium setting. Once spawning has occurred, the male carries the eggs in his mouth to protect them.

The Kaudern's Cardinal should be fed a well balanced diet of meaty foods such as feeder shrimp, marine flesh, bloodworms, and depending on its size, live feeder fish.

 

[fredg89]

I've been thinking about cardinal fish...

 

[goby1kenobi]

I have a 5" long green spotted puffer and am thinking of adding two yellow-tailed blue damsels. Tank is a 55g and I'm planning on setting up a 20g as a sump once I figure out what return pump to get.

 

[snorvich]

I have a 5" long green spotted puffer and am thinking of adding two yellow-tailed blue damsels. Tank is a 55g and I'm planning on setting up a 20g as a sump once I figure out what return pump to get.

Although this is a fish thread, my expertise is reef fish not aggressive fish. Those questions can be asked and answered here. I normally do not recommend that new to the hobby start with aggressive fish as the interaction complexity is greater. Equipment questions can be asked and answered here. Generally, I would suggest Eheim pumps although that is not part of this particular thread.

 

[Rjstubby]

My boyfriend and I are thinking of starting a sw system in my 55 gal tank. We were thinking of doing a polyp tank for now since he lives in an apartment and will eventually move. My thought was polyps might be hardier and less expensive to replace if they did accidently die during a move. Any advice would be a huge help!

 

[snorvich]

My boyfriend and I are thinking of starting a sw system in my 55 gal tank. We were thinking of doing a polyp tank for now since he lives in an apartment and will eventually move. My thought was polyps might be hardier and less expensive to replace if they did accidently die during a move. Any advice would be a huge help!

Although this is a fish thread, I would have to agree with you about zoanthids and related corals. (polyps)