42Hex's Diary - tell me what you really think

rebeccabut

rebeccabut

Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
I did have a fishlist earlier, but then I saw that you already had one, so I took mine off. Mine was similiar to yours, except I had a fuzzy dwarf lion on mine. I took that off because you could not have the lion with the shrimp. That would be the only problem with that idea.
I think you should nix the royal gramma and do a pair of purple firefish. You will see these guys a lot more, and they are nowhere near as territorial as the gramma.
The clown gobies are one of my favorite fish, so I like that idea a lot!
I also think you should replace the mandarin with a fairy wrasse. There are a ton of nice fairy wrasses out there.
I am not sure what you mean with the clowns though.
I want a black and white clown paired with a nemo-type clown. (in a rose bubble tip anemone, if possible.) someone was saying its not good becuase its mixing clown types, and thats taboo.
... but they're both called percula clowns, does that mean that they're the same type and therefore OKAY to piar?
will the rose bubble tip work as a host (or do i just have to try and see)? ... with MH, of course.
Do you have any more suggestions, based on my 'color scheme' and what aboure more black and white fishies tat would work. and you said about how many fishes would be good? ... that's mostly why i wanted to see your fish list, because you were helpful on types AND NUMBERS of the fishies.
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
I would look to get about 6 to 7 fish in that tank (making sure most are smaller if you go with that many fish). I would only recommend that many fish as long as you get more live rock as well. With enough live rock, your tank can handle 6 to 7 fish in there.
My stocklist (keeping in mind you want shrimp):
-2 percula clowns
-purple firefish
-gren clown goby
-yellow watchman with pistol shrimp
-coral beauty angel
-banggai cardinalfish (nice black and white fish)
The black and white percula will not work with the orange percule because they are a different species. You will have aggression problems between the two.
Perculas do not typically host in bubble tip anemones. Perculas prefer carpets, ritteri's, and sebaes. The clowns that host bubble tips are maroons, tomatoes, red saddlebacks, and clarkiis.
If I think of anymore black and white fish or ones that work with your scheme, I will let you know :happyfish
 
rebeccabut

rebeccabut

Member
thanks for the clarification!
and thanks, theappe. It helps that the guy that picked out the rock for me (LFS guy), I, and the guy that helped me put it in my tank (bff ) ... we all have architecture-related drgrees!
 
rebeccabut

rebeccabut

Member
thanks for all the suggestion. I think the firefish would be a good addition! but those cardinal fishes are boring. they just float there. and they look like creepy spiders, just waiting around. i mean they're cool looking if you like spiders, but nil personality. but maybe that's just me.
really though, keep the ideas coming. you're being a huge help!
I'm trying to take advantage of other peoples' catalogued fish knowledge as i'm trying to acquire my own. ... categorized by color, type, size, temerment, personality, and combatimibilty with every single other organism in the catalogue.
 
sinful

sinful

Member
one thing I noticed that you might be interested in doing is putting the heater in the sump, that is if it will fit.
 
rebeccabut

rebeccabut

Member
thanks for the tip! I tried it, though. It's a tight fit. I'd have to angle it and shimmy it and twist it around the pump to make it fit. I'm just happy we found that the wet/dry would be enough for my tank AND fit inside the stand. I might make the back panel black, eventually, and get a black overflow that my LFS custom makes. That way, the equip won't be so garish. For some reason i'm hesitant to do all of that right now.
The light fixture on the top is 19" and has one flourescent light in it. makes it kinda blue inside the tank. I'm dying to geta new light, but don't want to encourage nasty algae before it cycles. I'm still researcing on the lights. In a bit, I'll post what I find, and ask yall's advice. Its really priceless
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Okay, so I found you a light set-up that would definitely work. It is a 20 inch fixture that has one 175 watt metal halide, 2 power compact bulbs, and 2 moonlights.
It puts out a total of 223 watts of light, which would give you 5.3 watts per gallon of light.
On top of that, it is regularly priced at $240, but right now, it is on sale for $150.
If you want the link for that or just want to discuss different things with me, email me at Ry84@MSN.com.
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
Oh, and I forgot to mention earlier that both the Kent's Coral Vital and TLC are both junk. They are not worth the money. They are fine to add to your tank now that you have them and are using them, but I would not waste your money on buying them again.
Marc Weiss' Coral Vital is a lot stronger and works a lot better. As far as biological bacteria additive, SeaChem's Stability works very well.
 
rebeccabut

rebeccabut

Member
Thanks for the help - I shot you an email.
I have 2 choices af lights right now, and I think one of them is the one you are talking about.
I am totally at mercy with the LFS when it comes to chemicals. And the 2 LFS give contrasting advice. That stinks. We should have some sorta sticky that explains the chemicals and what they are for, and the preferred brand. etc. But I am not volunteering for the job to write it. I just find it all confusing, its worse than pool chemicals!
 
lion_crazz

lion_crazz

Active Member
That is a good idea, maybe I will take you up on that one. (I do tank maintenance on people's aquariums, so I have first-hand experience of what products do what and which ones actually do what they claim.)
I would ask on here before you buy a certain chemical. Many LFS can mislead you and tell you to use things that you definitely should not be using (pH buffers, additives, medications, etc.)
I did not get your email yet, so I will keep checking. If you want to resend it, that is fine also.
 
rebeccabut

rebeccabut

Member
Update:
I've completed my cycle! I've had a few rounds at the LFS purchasing new members for my cleaner crew here are pictures of a few.
Sting - the Staghorn Hermit being extremely photogenic

Yauch - the smallest of my three red-legged or scarlet hermits?

... and then my usually shy Emerald Crab - Bob Marley decided that it was his turn to pose with Sting.

...or rather clean the food off of him... a new odd couple forming in my tank.

Gwen - the snail at the top with some interesting hitchiker on her. Looks like a tiny featherduster and is sensitive to light. Lemme know what you think it may be (its kinda reddish in the center and white radiating parts - hairlike). Also Grohl the blue legged hermit is hanging out on the rocks as well.

Coyne - My speediest blue legged hermit

I've also started a 10 gal quarentine tank that is cycling! It's got the roman coliseum inside.
 
rebeccabut

rebeccabut

Member
I know it's been a while, and there have been lots of additions to my tank. My levels have been great, and real stable. I'm dealing with a bit of an algae problem, but I have shortened my lighting time, and am feeding less often. I hope that helps.
Anyway, some pictures to bring you up to speed:






 
michael_t

michael_t

Member
Howdy, Rebecca,
Where in Texas do you live?
I’m in Austin.
I read that you are in an apartment. Do you have renters insurance? Might be a good time to get it. If you do have it, call and see how/if aquariums are covered.
What’s your clean up crew consist of?
Are your nitrates still high? Last report says 80!!!
Michael
 
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