Best decorations for FOWLR Tank?

[agunn6997]

Hey! I have a stack of live rock, pebble substrate, and 1 huma (picasso) triggerfish, 1 blue tang, 1 clownfish, 1 yellow longnose butterfly, 1 orange tail puffer, 1 firefish goby and 1 flame angel. I cannot add any live coral or inverts, since the previous owner dosed the tank with copper, and levels remain at .25ppm. I want to make the tank more colorful, and also provide more hiding places for my fish, especially my poor flame angel, who has trouble getting in the rock. Can anyone recommend a specific fake coral or other ornament which adds color and that fish will actually use? I bought a fake elephant ear mushroom coral, but the fish avoid it. Will they use it with time, or is it just not appealing to them?
I appreciate your input, as this is my first saltwater tank, and I really do not want to kill any fish. I want them to all feel secure in as natural an environment as I can provide. Thanks!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by agunn6997 http:///t/394940/best-decorations-for-fowlr-tank#post_3515506
Hey! I have a stack of live rock, pebble substrate, and 1 huma (picasso) triggerfish, 1 blue tang, 1 clownfish, 1 yellow longnose butterfly, 1 orange tail puffer, 1 firefish goby and 1 flame angel. I cannot add any live coral or inverts, since the previous owner dosed the tank with copper, and levels remain at .25ppm. I want to make the tank more colorful, and also provide more hiding places for my fish, especially my poor flame angel, who has trouble getting in the rock. Can anyone recommend a specific fake coral or other ornament which adds color and that fish will actually use? I bought a fake elephant ear mushroom coral, but the fish avoid it. Will they use it with time, or is it just not appealing to them?
I appreciate your input, as this is my first saltwater tank, and I really do not want to kill any fish. I want them to all feel secure in as natural an environment as I can provide. Thanks!
Hi, welcome to the site!
Fake coral will only collect algae and look like crap in about a week. Set your rocks up in an attractive way and keep the calcium levels between 400 and 500, then purchase a rock with purple Coraline algae and use a new toothbrush (Mark it fish only) and in front of a power head brush vigorously the purple rock...that will spread spores of the nice purple Coraline color to all of your rocks and before you know it your tank will have colorful rock to add zip to the tank.

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/394940/best-decorations-for-fowlr-tank#post_3515518
Hi, welcome to the site!
Fake coral will only collect algae and look like crap in about a week. Set your rocks up in an attractive way and keep the calcium levels between 400 and 500, then purchase a rock with purple Coraline algae and use a new toothbrush (Mark it fish only) and in front of a power head brush vigorously the purple rock...that will spread spores of the nice purple Coraline color to all of your rocks and before you know it your tank will have colorful rock to add zip to the tank.
Hi and Welcome,
+1 with Flower.
Best decoration would be Live Rock with some great coraline growth.

 

[saxman]

I agree...if your LR doesn't have enuff caves, nooks, overhangs, etc., you'll want to re-stack it.
You could run live macro algae in the tank to give it color, movement, a place for the fish to hide/hunt, and for nutrient export.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by saxman http:///t/394940/best-decorations-for-fowlr-tank#post_3515543
I agree...if your LR doesn't have enuff caves, nooks, overhangs, etc., you'll want to re-stack it.
You could run live macro algae in the tank to give it color, movement, a place for the fish to hide/hunt, and for nutrient export.
LOL...my tank got so overrun with the pretty red macroalgae, that I was afraid to mention it. It does indeed do a good job to keep the water pristine, just keep up on the harvesting (removing the over growth). The critters love it.