55 gallon with shrooms

[clownfish]

Hello. I plan to buy a 55 gallon tank and stand in a few months. I want to use an Emperor 400 filter with live rock and live sand. For circulation, 2 penguin powerheads. I want to use one triphosphor and one actinic tube for lighting. I plan to keep a few mushroom corals in addition to some fish. I will have a coral beauty, a clown, a 6 line wrasse, and a few other fish. Could I put a yellow tang in there? What do you think of the setup?

 

[bobsingh1]

How much live rock are you planning to have ?
If you get double the capacity of your tank, not only will you have good bio process but also provide plenty of territory for fish. I have been making this mistake of putting too many fish before. I would not recommend more than 4-5 fish.

 

[clownfish]

I wanted to cycle with perhaps 10 pounds of LR and some cheap LS. I want to add more LR gradually. What do you think of the shroom idea? Would the lighting be enough? I was talking about NO tubes. The guy at the local reef store has a couple of soft coral tanks with NO triphosphor lighting. The corals are great, and there are 2 damsels in his 6 gallon tank and maybe 4 fish in his larger tank, which is maybe 20 gallons. I just want some soft corals, no anemones or Maxima clams, etc.
[This message has been edited by clownfish (edited 07-06-2000).]

 

[clownfish]

P.S. Would it be a good idea to have a damsel or two? I wanted a blue or yellowtail blue one. I don't want a striped one because I keep hearing how nasty they are.

 

[kmr]

I would buy VHO or PC lighting. Not all soft corals can tolorate low light levels. I have seen NO lights in a LFS, but they sell their stock fast. If they didn't most would die in about six months.

 

[jimos]

YOU MAYBE ADDING TOO MANY FISH.
I WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT ADDING DAMSELS. THEY ARE VERY TERRITORIAL AND WILL TAKE OVER A PART OF YOUR TANK.

 

[clownfish]

These 2 tanks with powerglo tubes belong to the owner of the LFS. The corals in the 2 tanks are not for sale. They are nice. Mostly shrooms, maybe a few others are in there. I also have visited a LFS with some similar setups. This place has some tanks with one daylight tube and one actinic tube behind it. I would be willing to have 3 or 4 tubes instead of 2.

 

[kmr]

Trust me. A good friend of mine manages probably the most knowledgable LFS in the northwest. People come to from hundreds of miles to shop there. You can keep shrooms under NO lights, but I'd bet he replaces any coral that looks bad for free or close to free. His tanks better look nice. Most LFS's don't want the electricity bill or bulb replacement costs from running anything but NO lights. Alot of people shy away from keeping a reef when they hear they need expensive lights and skimmers. Try to find a saltwater only store and compare the info given to you.

 

[clownfish]

Our local reef store is a saltwater only place. The other LFS I mentioned has both FW and SW fish and supplies. Would it be possible to keep mushrooms and a few other soft corals under NO tubes if I picked the proper types of tube? The reef store also uses MH, which are incredibly powerful, but I don't have that kind of money. When I'm older and have a fatter wallet, MH will probably light up the tank. What about VHO? Is there a VHO system that costs under $150? Could I even use VHO bulbs in a standard hood? I know they would only last 6 mos.

 

[krazzydart]

just remember to take it slow and if you add a tang make sure you add it last and quarenty him for at least a week in a Q-tank with copper to kill any ich he may be carring

 

[clownfish]

I could wait until christmas for lighting because my parents might get me a 400W, 20000K MH light for christmas. I wouldn't be limited to shrooms with a big old MH light, that's for sure!! I would be able to keep a sea anemone and other kinds of corals. Would 2 powerheads at opposite sides of the tank be enough circulation for anemones and LPS, etc?? Also, how big should my heater be? Would 100 watts do it in a fairly warm house like ours where 68 degrees is rare and 74-78 degrees is the norm?

 

[mr . salty]

400watt metal halite is overkill for 55gal. If you use that you wont need a heater, your fish WILL cook. I'm running 175watt MH in 125gal, and the heat from the bulb is noticable in the water temp.. STEVE

 

[mako]

yes on the tang you can give it a freshwater bath before introducing it to your tank to remove any parasites. but it will most certainly do just fine in a reef tank and with the fish you curantly have.
mushrooms are actully classified as a true anemone and true corals and will do well under a moderate light.50/50's
I like the power compacts and super high output flouresents the lamps last longer and they run much cooler than MH and even VHO but untill you get your 55 you would probly do well with 50/50's and a low wattage actinic blue they will fit most hoods and use a conventional ballast.
but on the other hand as you advance in this hobbie you will want more corals so do your homework and save your $$$ and get something that will let you advance as you want

 

[clownfish]

My parents could get me a PC system because of their concerns about electricity costs with the MH system. I didn't think 400W MH would be overkill, but I guess it would heat up the water. Thanks for telling me. I will purchase everything except the corals and light(s) in September. My parents will probably get me the lighting. I know the costs will add up fast, but I have a good job at albertsons and $320 already with plenty more to make this summer. I estimate that the tank and equipment will cost $500 minus the lighting. Oh well, cheap enough. Do I really need a skimmer? I was thinking about getting one when I get corals in there.