Yet another noob stocking list / question

[huhhh]

Title pretty much sums it up. I had this tank going for about 6 years or so before we had to move. It was sitting dormant for 5 years and now is back up and running. It is a 46 glass bow-front. I am running a Sun-Sun type canister (I know...but I have budget issues) it says it outputs at 525 gph. I don't know if it reaches that but it's definitely more than enough for a 46. I have an additional small power head.

It's been up for a bit more than 2.5 months now, all tests indicate cycling is complete (though there is some GHA in there now). The lights are LEDs, I don't have specific wattage with me now but they seem pretty strong and are adjustable.

Last time it was a FOWLR tank, now I want to try a few tough, easy to keep, corals as well; nothing to crazy just a bit of color.

Currently I have 1 percula clown and 1 small orange mushroom. They've been in for about 2.5 weeks and seem to be doing pretty good.

I was thinking:

lawnmower blenny
Valentini Puffer (I have no CUC, was hoping the blenny could handle it)
maybe a splendid dottyback
or Royal Gramma

Sorry that took so long, wanted to proved as much info as I could. I am open to suggestions, though I would like to avoid avid jumpers.

 

[Rover88]

Title pretty much sums it up. I had this tank going for about 6 years or so before we had to move. It was sitting dormant for 5 years and now is back up and running. It is a 46 glass bow-front. I am running a Sun-Sun type canister (I know...but I have budget issues) it says it outputs at 525 gph. I don't know if it reaches that but it's definitely more than enough for a 46. I have an additional small power head.

It's been up for a bit more than 2.5 months now, all tests indicate cycling is complete (though there is some GHA in there now). The lights are LEDs, I don't have specific wattage with me now but they seem pretty strong and are adjustable.

Last time it was a FOWLR tank, now I want to try a few tough, easy to keep, corals as well; nothing to crazy just a bit of color.

Currently I have 1 percula clown and 1 small orange mushroom. They've been in for about 2.5 weeks and seem to be doing pretty good.

I was thinking:

lawnmower blenny
Valentini Puffer (I have no CUC, was hoping the blenny could handle it)
maybe a splendid dottyback
or Royal Gramma

Sorry that took so long, wanted to proved as much info as I could. I am open to suggestions, though I would like to avoid avid jumpers.

I don't know enough about the fish to help you with that selection, but I am going to chime in that your blenny is not going to be a sufficient replacement for a good cleanup crew. My hermits and snails do a fair bit of legwork every day, especially in the rocks and places fish can't/won't care to reach.

 

[huhhh]

Forgot the picture

 

[kevin21]

Looks good, my suggestion though before you start stocking up is to make sure you research what your equipment is. Find out exactly what the light is, canister filters are not a good idea unless you just use it to run carbon. Corals need flow, and I agree with you that the canister is not putting out over 500 gph. I would ditch the canister, do weekly 5 gallong water changes and make sure you have good flow so you don't see any noticeable dead spots. As soon as you know all of that, especially the lighting, we can help you pick out some hardy corals such as softies and a select few LPS.

 

[huhhh]

I'm not so much worried about the corals. My plan is only to have a few mushrooms and zoa's or something. I don't have the system to support anything more delicate than that. Specs on the LED:
57 LEDs • 51x 10000K cool white • 6x 460nm Actinic Blue • Lumen :3420

 

[nereefpat]

Just to condense, a 46 bowfront with:

Percula clown
lawnmower blenny
valentine puffer
splendid dottyback OR royal gramma

That looks like a good list to me.

Dottybacks can be aggressive. Supposedly the splendid fairly easy going. An orchid would be the most peaceful. Or the royal gramma would be just fine. You could even do a pair.

 

[huhhh]

Specs on the filter:

Good for up to 150 gallon fish tanks

• Flow rate: 525 GPH (2000L/hr.)
• Pump Power: 55W
• 9 Watt UV sterilizer for controlling algae spores/bacteria and promoting clear water

currently running 3 filter pads (1 heavy blue, 2 lighter) ceramic rings, bio balls (I know, I may replace them with some rubble rock) and activated carbon.

 

[kevin21]

If you absolutely insist on keeping the filter, I would recommend cleaning it weekly in order to limit build of of gunk/detritus (nitrate factory).

 

[Mr. Eel]

I have heard that dwarf puffers can be prone to nipping at soft corals and other inverts, just a thought.

 

[Pandagobyguy]

I have come to believe that canister filters are very underrated in salt. They do not function well as mechanical filters. I would strongly advise taking out the filter floss or changing it out every few days. I run ff in my canister about every month for about 3-4 days total.

Here is why it is underated though:
Think of it like a sump.
LR rubble. Ceramic media. Biopure are good bio filtration choices.
Carbon. GFO. Purigen. Matrix. Phosgaurd and any other non tumbling media work perfectly.

On mine I run carbon, purigen, phosgaurd and ceramic rings in the lower two compartments.

The threat of trapped detritus is real but overinflated. I would not run any mechanical to avoid this. I actually wash any build up off of my media bags as well because they act like a not all that effective filter sock.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

 

[huhhh]

I knew I was gonna get some blowback for the filter. I realize it's not perfect but I have neither the space or $$$ for a sump. It ran before with a Fluval 405 without any real parameter problems. I'll just keep an eye on it and rinse when necessary.

 

[kevin21]

Not saying you need a sump either. I know plenty of successful tanks that are sumpless, skimmerless, and filterless. Weekly water changes were dealing with the maintenance just fine. Not arguing with you, with proper care, I assume you can make the canister worth it. But we all know life happens, you get busy, forget about it, and 3 weeks later the gunk caught up in the filter is an issue. Then you wonder why hair algae, cyano, and other algaes pop up. Just something to think about.

 

[Rover88]

I knew I was gonna get some blowback for the filter. I realize it's not perfect but I have neither the space or $$$ for a sump. It ran before with a Fluval 405 without any real parameter problems. I'll just keep an eye on it and rinse when necessary.

Personally, I ran a Eheim cannister filter for a little while but the lines got all filled with crud and everytime I cleaned it I'd be blowing crud into the tank for hours just from moving the lines around. Bleh. It was ugly.

But it was just annoying to clean and take anything out of it. If you can persevere with it, go you go

 

[huhhh]

Ok thanks guys. I will keep a very close eye on the filter. Now: for the fish...

 

[twitchy]

I had a valentini for a while and it was a great fish, looking to get another one now. He would only pick at corals and CUC the first day or so after they were added and then he would lose interest.

As for the dottybacks, I've had a couple of them, orchid and bicolor, and they were both almost damsel level mean, even to fish larger than them. I had to pull the bicolor because it was nasty to my clowns and got an orchid and he wasn't much better. I would really consider the royal gramma over the dottyback, that's what I ended up with after the dottybacks and it was a great fish, lots of personality.

 

[huhhh]

My biggest concern with the puffer is having to become a dentist. If there's enough algae on the rocks will picking at it keep their teeth down? WILL they pick at it for that matter? and if they do will they also pick at a blenny doing they same thing?

Also: do I really need a CUC? I never had one before...but I did a lot of dumb/expensive things before.

 

[twitchy]

I never had to do it, but I fed a mixed diet of hard pellets, mysis and occasionally frozen krill and I'd smash a snail and let him eat the meat off the shell pieces to try and keep them filed down.

Get a CUC, it doesn't have to be large, or have any crabs, but having an assortment of snails really helps, especially if you get the Toby, they are really messy eaters

 

[Diana A]

I have had dottyback, royal gramma and orchid...they were so mean to my clown fish.

Here is a list of peaceful fish to consider:
goby
chromis
yellowstriped or pajama cardinelfish
Mc Cosher flasher wassae
blenny
clown

 

[huhhh]

Lots of good feedback. Should the puffer go in last? I think the clown is getting used to having the place to herself, I'd think putting something bigger than her in next would be good.

 

[Diana A]

The spotted puffer is going to eat your fish