Schools 70g ideas for new school year.

[tangboy]

Since my attempts failed pretty miserably to set up our 70g RR tank as a reef tank, I have decided this year to set it up as a predator tank.

Easier maintenance, don't have to run coral lights etc.

The few frags I had still alive I put in my 8g BC in my classroom and I have the LR cooking in my 35g trashcan in my classroom.

So my thoughts are...

Lionfish
Eel of some sort?
Puffer?
Trigger?
Ray?

So what would be easy to manage and cost effective?

I need to get a larger skimmer because the CPR Bakpak just isn't doing a good job at all. Just tossing thoughts out there to get some ideas of what people are thinking.

 

[Runner]

No real experience or comments here (even though I think a puffer and snowflake eel would be a pretty interesting combo tank -- I always like that setup at Aquarium). But you might want to rethink the liability issue of having a lionfish in a tank in a school.

 

[Flavum]

I like the lionfish idea, The school could institute a whole new way of behavior correction. Replace the paddle with the lionfish

hehe no really umm I think you should run with the puffer idea. no one can resist the puffer charm. would make a great animal for kids to be intrested in.

 

[cee]

70 is kinda small for some of those on your list. Stick with the smaller species.

 

[imsqueak]

Dog faced puffer. Kids would love it!

I've seen an eel I thought was called a wolf eel, wolf fish, but after googling them, that must not be the name or it's another fish that should never be sold at LFS. It's green and has an almost dog looking head.

Angelfish! which most will outgrow your tank eventually.

 

[tangboy]

Well the cover of the tank is about 50-65 pounds and the tank is in the principles office so there is no issues with people tampering with the tank.

I think so far the list is as follows...

Puffer
Eel (snowflake, greenwolf eel, something along the smaller versions...)
Lionfish
Larger Wrasse?

 

[tangboy]

Doing some research on the sponsers pages...

Puffer (possibles)

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+39+244&pcatid=244&N=0

or

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+39+250&pcatid=250&N=0

Eel (possibles)

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+29+131&pcatid=131&N=0

or

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+29+135&pcatid=135&N=0

so a puffer and eel and what else? Come on give me some ideas

 

[Runner]

How about 20 or 30 damsels of various types? That would be a pretty aggressive tank.

 

[tangboy]

Ohhhhh.... like 2 of every type of clown that Matt has, some yellow tailed damsels, school of chromis, 4 domino damsels... this could be fun!

 

[Runner]

Heh. Fun if you like cage matches.

The remaining two can be named "The Joker" and "The Dark Knight".

 

[tangboy]

I need to go and check that movie out when I have a spare moment... we'll see.

 

[tangboy]

Alrighty...

Picked up Scotts old repaired Berlin Turbo skimmer and have that sitting in the sump.

Have sent in the request for more salt from our salt sponser in CA.

Have 75g of water in the tank and sump with a powerhead keeping things moving.

LR has cooked all summer long in my 35g trashcan with a powerhead.

Need to replace 4 PC bulbs in one of our hoods (not using the other ballast since we're not worred about coral) because they have dropped in spectrum due to age.

Now all I need is for salt to arrive, toss in LR and some new LS to cycle.

Anyone have any Koralia 3s or 4s for this bad boy? Only have a K2 right now and a Piece of junk something or another.

Then to order a pair of Fuzzy Dwarfs to start the tank.

 

[acrodave]

fuzzys kind of hide alot..and are hard to get to eat dead things

 

[tangboy]

Hmm may have to shoot for a single Volitan? I do know they can get rather large.

 

[edwar050]

I would go with a small saddle puffer like the valentini.

Others I would consider
Dwarf Volitan Lion though I stills say a bit to big and liablity
Hawkfish "interesting personality"
bluethroat trigger though borders max tank size
just tons of color, what about chromis "cheap and active" and a wrasse or two with the valentini "you could then go reef later?"

 

[tangboy]

Trying to stay away from reef again this year, more of a hassle to pay attention to the corals needs as well as fish. I just want some reliable fish that are pretty hardy and interesting for the kids.

Reef was fun last year but I need 4 new PC bulbs which are going to eat up a lot of my funds for the year so I'm pretty limited.

Still waiting on salt to come in so I can get the cycle going.

Dave I'm going to probably swing in to the CR in the next few weeks to get some sand for the tank, so expect to see me a bit in the next few months!

 

[acrodave]

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