another fish list

[taznut]

i want one more fish... could i get any suggestions...
this is what i have...
chocolate chip star
fuzzy dwarf lion
7 turbo snails
8 hermit (5 w/ red legs 3 w/ blue)
blue damsel (can go if needed)
sebae clown
LTA
fox coral
molly (aclimated from freshwater, just wanted to see if i could)
i know that cc stars arent coral safe... i watch him... and most of the hermits are too big for the lion to hurt (he is small also)...
29gal...crushed coral...17lbs of lr...good protein skimmer... power compact lights 130w (i know bad for LTA found this out to late... he is doing okay now though)... all water levels good...set up about 2.5 months...
Thanks....

 

[beadmaker]

Honestly, sit back and enjoy for a while. Keep an eye on your nitrates, the crushed coral may get you into trouble. If you do get a new fish quarantine it.

 

[taznut]

the lfs suggested that i use cc... i wish i would have found this site first... if i use a gravel vac every week when i do water changes will this help the problem with the cc and nitrates??? still looking for a fish... i will wait awhile to get it though...

 

[beadmaker]

Yeah. I had the same problem. My LFS was brand new to saltwater when I started. Seriously I would consider either covering up or switching out the cc. Unless you really like to do weekly cleaning. My first real fish (after the damsel program) was a coral beauty despite what they say about needing an aged tank. Very pretty color, very active swimmer, and seems hardy. Has tolerated all of my learning curves.

 

[taznut]

i really like the coral beauty but is my tank big enough??? i just read about qt tanks and had a couple questions... if i set one up can i keep shrimp and/or damsels in it so that its not just an empty tank??? i have 2 fresh water 10gal i could convernt one of those... and with your last comment beadmaker, if i use the gravel vac every week during water changes will the cc be ok??? i dont want to change it out if i can avoid it... my levels have been good since it cycled (although i know this doesnt mean a lot)... thanks for the help... will check this in the morning im goin to bed...

 

[beadmaker]

The book says 30 gal. Yes to shrimp no to fish. I like 2-3 cleaner shrimp as they help clean your fish while in QT. 10 gal will work for QT however the coral beauty will probably pace alot. Keep the outside edges open for swimming. (put any rock in middle) Vacuming the cc will work but nitrates will never be zero which is ok if you don't plan to add corals or anemome. Another thought for both tanks is Macroalgae. Its pretty, helps use nitrates, and good food for fish and hiding places for microfauna (miniature shrimps and stuff that hitchhike in from the live rock, also food for fish) I like calpera prolifera, red kelp aka red grape, and "blue ball".The way I did my quarantine was buy a fish QT for 45-60 days move to display leave QT fishless for same amount of time before next fish. (45 days is life cycle of ICH) ... to be continued...

 

[gdavies]

Originally Posted by taznut
the lfs suggested that i use cc... i wish i would have found this site first... if i use a gravel vac every week when i do water changes will this help the problem with the cc and nitrates??? still looking for a fish... i will wait awhile to get it though...

As a side note, be extremely careful when using the gravel vac not to actually go into the gravel and get all the "stuff" out. A lot of what is in the gravel is beneficial bacteria!

 

[taznut]

ok what if i just want another fo tank... my girlfriend wants a p. clown (nemo) but i tried putting it in my dt and the sebae chased it so i took it back... can i have a 15w light on a fo tank... what all would i need... 10gal with live sand some lr and a fliter and heater??? is that good for a small fish only tank??? and in my dt (if you can call a 29gal that) has an LTA which is been iffy lately, doing better though... and a fox coral that is better looking than any i have ever seen most days... so right now i think its working for may coral... im not sure that i need a qt just wanted an excuss to set up a fo tank... i only want one more fish for my dt... if i scoop out the cc can i use that for the 10gal fo tank??? let me know if i need anything more for a fo i dont have enough $ to get into setting up another salt tank unless its cheap and i can use what i have... thanks again... and im really going to bed this time...

 

[taznut]

and this site says coral beauty should be kept in 50+ gallon... i only have a 29... had my hopes up for a second...

 

[jesses89]

IMO.... you should change the cc with ls.... will save you problems and big time hassles in the long run.
you should try a cherub angel. Stay real small and are fun to watch. always busy busy.

 

[beadmaker]

That sounds like a plan scoop the cc for the 10 gal. set it up for nemo. I would still get a pair of cleaner shrimp for him. For FOWLR 1 light is ok. preferrably a reef or saltwater type bulb. not regular flourescent bulb. For added light you can buy an extra light canopy. pull off the front part of your hood.and set the extra light in place. it doesnt open as nicely as the original but not a big problem. This is still less light than inverts need but it will improve your chances for long term survival.what is LTA? anenome? 3-5 watts per gallon. 130 should be ok.

 

[taznut]

long tentical anemome... and i was told 3w per gal when i bought it but everyone that responed to by post about my purple sebea dieing said the light wasnt good enough... people kept saying to get metal halides (T5)...

 

[taznut]

Originally Posted by gdavies
As a side note, be extremely careful when using the gravel vac not to actually go into the gravel and get all the "stuff" out. A lot of what is in the gravel is beneficial bacteria!
i thought this was the point... so the nitrates dont spike??? im confussed now...

 

[taznut]

bump...

 

[debbie]

May I give you my thoughts and experiences with the lionfish. I had a dwarf fuzzy lion in my 25 gal, short story I would not put anything else in that tank. I lost my lion 6 months after having him. I truly believe even being a dwarf lion they need a much bigger tank. Water quality is the utmost importance with them and mine ended up having a bacteria problem which ended his life quickly. My water was changed religiously and the tank is 3 years old too. Hope this helps.
As for the coral beauty, I now have one of those and absolutley love this fish. Some people believe they should be kept in bigger tanks and others have them in 25-30 gal tanks. I have never had a problem with mine and is very attached to my maroon clown. Those two are inseperable.
I had CC when I first started, had nothing but troubles and would highly recommend sand for sure. But each to his own and what works for one does not work for all.
Good Luck....

 

[mauiman84]

A coral beauty will be more than fine in a 29 as long as it is established. I've seen the recomendations for a coral beauty be anywhere from 20-50 gallons.

 

[taznut]

thanks... i might get a coral beauty sometime in the future... i hope to get rid of the cc sometime but it will take awhile... about the 10gal... will 40w of light be good with a fo tank and some inverts?

 

[taznut]

bump...

 

[beadmaker]

crabs and shrimp yes. may be marginal for anemone, also you will want zero nitrates.I would use some of your cc and lr from the big tank as a starter, or just use the cc and buy new rock and let it cycle. A ten gal you will only want 1-2 fish.