5-1/2 Gallon with two small Damsels

[wingsnfins]

My little tank is doing very well. The lfs said the fish would die in two days in that small of tank. Baloney! ( so far ) They were hiding for the 1st 3 days, but now are active all day, especially when you go over and stare into their new home. They have established their own territories, with the Convict being the aggressor; Yellow Tail is more active, but docile. I feed them very little each day; they gobble it up in about 1.5 minutes I think that the ammonia may have peaked, who knows(?), 'trates and 'trites are on the rise but have held steady for the last few days. I am not able to increase the pH to more than 7.8 or so, according to Saltwater Master test kit. It reads higher on amm. than the dipstick test this other lfs performed for me. His read 0.5 and mine reads 2.0. He was kind of shocked. The filter is a Whisper 5-15, old Metaframe hood with incandescent 15 W grow bulb, 1-1/2 inches crushed coral bed, plastic and silk plants. Really, a cute set-up! Oh yeah, would having two of the same kind of Damsels have quashed the aggressiveness of the pair?
I could send a pic, or somehow figure out how to link it as in the Seahorse post.

 

[cosmosbasement]

Wings-Good to hear! I have a ten gallon mini reef and it's flourishing. All these books saying that it can't be done. Plus I have a maroon clown and blue damsel in my ten and they're fine. When the frozen food goes in the tank, with plankton for my corals, they fight over the bigger pieces sometimes but that's it. Damsel on the left, clown on the right. Tank looks awesome. I'm getting a digital camera and I'll post some pictures soon. Love it! I like it as much or more then my 55. I have a couple star polyps, botton polyps and leathers. The start polyps are flourishing! I think I'm going to propigate them and put some in my 55. Keep me posted on your mini. A definate reccomendation to anyone who is thinking about it.
peace
doug

 

[wingsnfins]

That's funny... my name is Doug, also!!! Oh, the lfs said the Damsels would do well eating my son's Tetra-Min that he has for his freshwater fish. They seem to like it. And the tank does have a heater...80 degrees.

 

[cosmosbasement]

Wings-Damsels are hardy fish, but to get the most out of them, I'd go get some saltwater flake food. A lot of foods out there for fresh or salt water lack minerals in each. Fresh is for fresh and salt is for salt. Not in all cases I'm sure, but to be on the safe side, I'd go get some flake for saltwater. Formula One flake is really good for saltwater
just my two cents
doug

 

[b_ball12_99]

I have a 5 gallon with a green chromis and blue damsels, 5 blue leg hermits, 1 left-handed hermit, and a cc starfish. All are doing great. And they said it couldn't be done. Anything is possible.

 

[wingsnfins]

Well, sounds like I need to feed them their own stuff. Hey b_ball, how long has your little tank been going? And Cosmos, what about your 10?

 

[cosmosbasement]

Here's my 10 gallon setup-about 8 months in the making, not done yet:
Equipment:
10 gallon tank
Aquaclear 100 for movement of water and mechanical filtration
Lee's mini skimmer
Home made flourescent lighting
1 actinic
1 power glo
15 lbs live sand
15 lbs live rock
5 scarlet hermits
4 turbo snails
maroon clown
blue damsil
1 strawberry crab
2 emeralds
1 Coral Banded Shrimp
2 Feather dusters
lots of little stars and mini crabs in my sand.
Corals:
2 Green Star Polyp colonies (one getting too big)
1 purple star Polyp colony
2 different types of botton bolyps(not sure of name off the top of my head)
2 different leathers
Blue whip (mostly for deco)
Various different types of mushroom polyps
Love it and wouldn't trade it for the world. Man I need a camera.
peace
doug

 

[b_ball12_99]

Been up since 1/1/01 . Good luck with your tank.

 

[noles1]

As far as getting the same kind to combat the aggression.I dont think it matters much,I have two yellow tails and they each have there own territory in the tank.Sometime they will swim together for hours other times they'll chase each other.Anyway Im hoping that by having two of them they will direct there aggression towards each other rather than any tankmates I add.