Tank Setup?

[torbett]

Hey all, I'm setting up a 90cm (about 48.7 gallon) tank. I don't have anything in it right now besides crushed coral, but I'm going to be droping about 8 to 10 pds of live rock and 5 damsels in it tonight. I know I need more rock, and need to give it plenty of time before adding anything else. BUT, I'm wanting to get a head start and start researching coral and other fish to go in the tank.

Could anyone give me some colorful corals that are hardy, and easy (I know coral isn't easy) to maintain, along with some ideas on fish that will look great, and do well in a new tank? I was thinking of a foxface, but that is about all I have right now.

All ideas are welcome, since I'm rather new at this, and I'm just trying to gather information.

Thanks

Torbett

 

[hgbarwick]

Be patient. How long has the tank been set up? You can never get a godd head start in salt water. I think I would wait on the corals and wait on thedamsels. If you get 5 damsels you couldn't have any other fish in your tank. IMO a fox face will get to big for a 48 gallon.

 

[torbett]

I'm getting ahead of myself? I'm gathering information on what I can do with the tank. I agree, I'm afraid a fox face would get to big for the tank, depending on the bioload of the tank. If anyone has any other opinions, please post them.

 

[hgbarwick]

I would not add 5 damsels as those would b the only things that you can keep in your tank. How about adding 3 or 4 chromies? Also I would let the tank cycle begore adding ay coral. If you are looking for coral xinea and other soft corals. You could do leathers and mushrooms. Those are easy to keep corals. What type of lighting do you have?

 

[torbett]

I've got a 250 watt 14K MH on it. By everything I've read, that will be perfect lighting for the tank. The reason I added the damsels is cause they are really hardy, and I already had them in a nano reef that I had setup. I wanted to upgrade, and they cycled my nano really well, and survived some ammonia spikes and PH fluxes. I'm going to let the tank cycle for about a month, then see if it is ready, or needs to cycle more. I'm using already established LS, and I'm going to be adding about 30lbs of LR. Like I said, I'm just information gathering right now. Thanks for the advice though, I don't know much about corals. Keep the posts coming, I need all the information and opinions I can get.

 

[hgbarwick]

You cna keep any kind of coral with tha lighting. Some coral is harder than others.

 

[torbett]

I don't want to have to put a lot of chemicals in for the reef, but I know I'll have to put a few in. Any suggestions on what types take care of themselves for the most part?

 

[hgbarwick]

Xinea and soft corals.

 

[torbett]

Awesome, any fish recomendations on eating green algae? I'm starting to get hair algae, and would rather get a fish to eat it than use PB. I would also like to see the fish in an image or something. I havn't had the time to learn what every fish looks like yet.....hehe. Thanks for your help hgbarwick.

 

[hgbarwick]

You should get a emerald mithrax crab for your hair algea.

You should laso do a Bicolor Blenny. Those guys are very comical. But if you get damsels tehy will fight with any fish you put in their so I would ot get the damsels.
Get 4 chromis instead. They are very hardy, colorful, school, and they are great for new tanks.

Here is a blue chromi

Here is some pics of a Bicolor Blenny