40H big enough for a Huma Huma

[sco999]

I am just starting a saltwater aquarium in a 40 High. I would really like to have a huma huma, some damsels, and maybe a tang. The lady at the lfs said this would be a big enough tank to accomodate what I have just listed. I am using a cascade 700 canister filter. If this tank is not large enough what size would I need? Also would I need additional power heads and a protein skimmer as well? This will be a fish only tank.
Thanks

 

[nicetry]

Your lfs has given you some bad advice. A 40 gallon tank is not near large enough to accomodate either a tang or trigger. Both grow large and are active swimmers. Cramping them contributes to stress, aggression, and immune deficiencies that can lead to illness/death.
A very small specimen of one of those fish would be okay for a few months, but if you don't forsee an upgrade to a tank in the 90 gallon range or above, pass on these fish and stick with small, rock hugging species.

 

[ophiura]

PLEASE do not listen to the LFS.
They are trying to get your money.
And if the fish dies, they will get more of your money.
The tank is DEFINITELY not suitable for a tang for long term. How long is the tank? In general, we aim for a minimum of a 4' tank for a small tang, but long term a 6' tank is needed. They are open water active swimmers and will be stressed in a small tank. Stress = death.
A trigger, too, will be especially cramped in that tank.
There are many options for other fish (though I would not get damsels which get pretty large and nasty).
We would be more than happy to tell give some ideas if you tell us what you are interested in...eg color?
How are you cycling your tank currently?
Yes, you will most likely need additional powerheads. A skimmeri is arguable, but I think people who have not had one, and then used one, will see the difference. A good skimmer definitely helps.

 

[sco999]

I have not yet added substate or water yet. I was thinking of cycling it with a raw peeled shrimp which I read about on this site. The tank was previously a freshwater tank with a aquaclear 300 hanging power filter. Could I use this filter instead of the cannister? The lfs said I needed a cannister because my current filter would leach out some of the salt. Also they sold me crushed coral should I use that or something else like live sand, I really don't want to spend $300 dollars on sand! I like unique looking fish like the huma huma, and naso tang. Lionfish are cool as well as clowns. What would you suggest for powerheads?
Thanks So Much for you much needed help.

 

[ophiura]

Well you've got questions here suitable for 3 forums...so you may want to hunt through "New Hobbyists, Aggressive and Fish Discussion" to review some answers.
The cycling with raw shrimp is good - in the new hobbyists forum there is a thread at the top about info for new hobbyists. Great review.
IMO, don't use crushed coral. But you can - you will just need to siphon it. But there are alternatives. You can get some sand (CERTAIN types of playsand at home depot) and then seed it with live sand (eg find out if there is a local reef club). But research this as not all playsand is suitable (eg silica based sands).
YOur filter may be OK...many people will just use it for circulation. You do not need a canister filter at all, but a hang on skimmer and powerheads may be in your future.
Lionfish, triggers and clowns are not compatible. You will need to decide where you want to go with the tank within the limits of the tank size. Triggers may nip at lionfish fins, lionfish will eat clowns...and some triggers may mess with clowns. But again you have a small tank anyway.
You MAY be able to do a dwarf lion with some larger clowns...but a lion will eat anything it can get in its VERY LARGE mouth.

 

[sco999]

How much play sand would I need and how much seed (Live Sand) would I need for the 40H dimensions are 36"x12"x24". Would this eliminate the need for vacuming the substrate? What size additional power heads would I need if I keep the hanging power filter?
Thanks Again