Having Second Thoughts

[ifusayso]

I am/was content with the FOWLR idea. But am thinking maybe in a few months once I am sure the tank is well established, I would like to add corals. Blame it on the pics of 55's like mine with beautiful corals and stuff. What do I need to do to make this possible? Could I do this sooner than say Feb/March? Here is what I can tell about my tank, let me know what I am missing.
55 Gallon
Live Rock: 52bs soon to add 20-25 more
Filtratrion/Substrate: Emperor 400, Whisper(?), live sand, to be added very soon protein skimmer
Inhabitants: 1 Maroon clown w/rose anenome, 3 Damsels to be traded in if I can catch them, 1 yellow tang(I know), 5 pep. shrimp, and 1 black brittle star. Plan to add six line wrasse, not sure about emerald crab, and possibly another clown type w/larger anenome.
Lighting:Coralife Lunar Aqualight has 260watts,4X65watt, Half 10k full spetrum daylight, half true actinic bulbs, 4 lunar lights.
Would the current water parameters matter? Only thing of some concern is my nitrates holding at 20 for a couple days now with a small cycle. Water change of 10 gallons tomorrow.
Nitrites: 0
PH: 8.3
Sp.Grav: 1.024 yest, hopefully with go up some with pre-mix water change tom.
Ammonia: not test for it yet will test at LFS tom.
Thanks for any advice/suggestions.
Heather

 

[sweetdawn]

snails

 

[mudplayerx]

20 nitrates is not going to be tolerated well by most corals. Make sure your test kit is working properly, and if it is you will need to get your nitrates down to zero before adding corals. I recommend that one you get all your water parameters perfect for corals, you wait at least a month or two to make sure that it is stable.
You are also going to want to test for calcium, alkalinity, phosphates. All of these need to be near perfect and stable before adding corals. Although fish can tolerate some instability and slightly unperfect water conditions, most corals will not.
Temperature: make sure that you try to get corals that originate from the same ocean. This way you can duplicate the temperature they need and they will all be happy. Temperature must also be very stable. A two degree fluctuatino per 24 hours is the recommended max. Four+ degrees of temperature fluctuation in a 24 hour period can be fatal to most corals.
Sorry I can't write more, but I have to close up my office and head home. I hope this helped some.
ps- get rid of the tang. It is a poop factory for a 55 gallon tank and is probably contributing to your high nitrates (let alone it is suffering as ya already know

)

 

[kdfrosty]

I think that you should focus on getting more LR. Also, you might consider getting rid of the damsels and the tang fi you want to add a sixline. I think that your tank is borderline capacity already, and especially for a reef.
Your lighting is good enough to keep most soft corals now, but you'll need to upgrade if you want to keep anything more.
You need to keep your nitrates at a minimum, if not 0....soft corals are more tolerant to low amounts of nitrates than other corals.
You'll also need to make sure that you own all the basic test kits (pH, ammonia, trites/trates) already, plus you'll need additional test kits for keeping a reef (alkalinity, calcium, iodine, etc).

 

[mudplayerx]

20 nitrates is not going to be tolerated well by most corals. Make sure your test kit is working properly, and if it is you will need to get your nitrates down to zero before adding corals. I recommend that once you get all your water parameters perfect for corals, you wait at least a month or two to make sure that it is stable.
You are also going to want to test for calcium, alkalinity, phosphates. All of these need to be near perfect and stable before adding corals. Although fish can tolerate some instability and slightly unperfect water conditions, most corals will not.
Temperature: make sure that you try to get corals that originate from the same ocean. This way you can duplicate the temperature they need and they will all be happy. Temperature must also be very stable. A two degree fluctuatino per 24 hours is the recommended max. Four+ degrees of temperature fluctuation in a 24 hour period can be fatal to most corals.
Sorry I can't write more, but I have to close up my office and head home. I hope this helped some.
ps- get rid of the tang. It is a poop factory for a 55 gallon tank and is probably contributing to your high nitrates (let alone it is suffering as ya already know

)

 

[ifusayso]

Thanks everyone. You fixed my second thought. I think I will not go the coral route. Too much of a change. My passion is really the fish and I better stick with that.

 

[ifusayso]

Originally Posted by mudplayerx
20 nitrates is not going to be tolerated well by most corals. Make sure your test kit is working properly, and if it is you will need to get your nitrates down to zero before adding corals. I recommend that one you get all your water parameters perfect for corals, you wait at least a month or two to make sure that it is stable.
You are also going to want to test for calcium, alkalinity, phosphates. All of these need to be near perfect and stable before adding corals. Although fish can tolerate some instability and slightly unperfect water conditions, most corals will not.
Temperature: make sure that you try to get corals that originate from the same ocean. This way you can duplicate the temperature they need and they will all be happy. Temperature must also be very stable. A two degree fluctuatino per 24 hours is the recommended max. Four+ degrees of temperature fluctuation in a 24 hour period can be fatal to most corals.
Sorry I can't write more, but I have to close up my office and head home. I hope this helped some.
ps- get rid of the tang. It is a poop factory for a 55 gallon tank and is probably contributing to your high nitrates (let alone it is suffering as ya already know

)
I am conflicted with the tang, here's why. I once had one for several years in a 20ish gallown saltwater aquarium that seemed to thrive, until power when out while on vacation and something odd happened and killed everything. Now I have a 55 gallon and this tang(that was a gift) and am in love with it again. Other than what is said about size of tank and tang on here, I see my tang eating well, swimming freely, and very playful. I agree with the poop thing, saw it happen yesterday. It is probably 3 inches now, how big will it get over a year or so?

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by ifusayso
Thanks everyone. You fixed my second thought. I think I will not go the coral route. Too much of a change. My passion is really the fish and I better stick with that.
No, you can still go reef. It is possible. The others failed to mention though; you cannot add another clown unless they are the same kind and 1 drastically smaller.

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by ifusayso
I am conflicted with the tang, here's why. I once had one for several years in a 20ish gallown saltwater aquarium that seemed to thrive, until power when out while on vacation and something odd happened and killed everything. Now I have a 55 gallon and this tang(that was a gift) and am in love with it again. Other than what is said about size of tank and tang on here, I see my tang eating well, swimming freely, and very playful. I agree with the poop thing, saw it happen yesterday. It is probably 3 inches now, how big will it get over a year or so?
I think it will die before it lasts a year.

 

[ifusayso]

Originally Posted by KDFrosty
I think that you should focus on getting more LR. Also, you might consider getting rid of the damsels and the tang fi you want to add a sixline. I think that your tank is borderline capacity already, and especially for a reef.
Your lighting is good enough to keep most soft corals now, but you'll need to upgrade if you want to keep anything more.
You need to keep your nitrates at a minimum, if not 0....soft corals are more tolerant to low amounts of nitrates than other corals.
You'll also need to make sure that you own all the basic test kits (pH, ammonia, trites/trates) already, plus you'll need additional test kits for keeping a reef (alkalinity, calcium, iodine, etc).
Damsels should be getting a new home at the lfs soon. I would keep them if they were not so mean(worse than previous ones). I think I am going to forget the reef idea, rather keep the focus on the LR and fish(my true passion). I really want to add the six line to enhance the clean up crew.

 

[ifusayso]

Originally Posted by sweetdawn
snails

Oops, forgot them, yes I have only maybe 4-5 turbo. Probably need some more anyway.

 

[ifusayso]

Originally Posted by hot883
No, you can still go reef. It is possible. The others failed to mention though; you cannot add another clown unless they are the same kind and 1 drastically smaller.
I really would like to only integrate maybe a couple easier to care for corals. Just to add some different textures/colors. It's not a must, just a thought.
I am so glad you mentioned the clown thing!! Was thinking of perculas or sebae/clarkii. So I should stick with the marroon, can I do like a different color variation maybe? Mine seems to not look like any of the marrons on this site.

It is a darker of the colors, with the stripes not completely top to bottom, but have the hint of yellow to them. He's special, yeah that's it.

I am interested in making sure this one would have a host anenome in the lfs and buy together. My current one is of course quite protective of its rose although the anenome is a bit small for it. I wanted to get another type of anenome that is much bigger, would that be ok? Any suggestions of type.

 

[ifusayso]

Originally Posted by hot883
I think it will die before it lasts a year.

Pretty sure fish store won't take it back. I will keep it as long as I can. What is the smallest tank it could be in, 75, 90? Maybe I can try to do that before he...

. RIght now I just cannot afford it. Mine is only a little over a year old and took me forever to get enough money for it.

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by ifusayso

Pretty sure fish store won't take it back. I will keep it as long as I can. What is the smallest tank it could be in, 75, 90? Maybe I can try to do that before he...

. RIght now I just cannot afford it. Mine is only a little over a year old and took me forever to get enough money for it.
90 gal. min. like 6 feet long, they do very well. Some ppl have great luck (in smaller tanks) , most don't because they get so stressed very easy. I have a 55, had my yellow tang (2 1/2") for about a month then got a LTA and it moved into the tang's hidey hole. Freaked the tang out, next morning covered in ICH, died next day. QT all the rest of my fish and now all is happy. I am slowly adding softies, mushrooms, rics. zoos. etc. Adds alot of color. Bought two lime green rics. Got them in the mail today, split during shipping, I now have 3. Bought 1 orange ric, recieved 2, WOW what a great gift day. Ha!

 

[hot883]

A recent pic. Getting ready to tear it all down, change out CC/ls mix and add 40 more lbs. of rock.

 

[ifusayso]

Originally Posted by hot883
90 gal. min. like 6 feet long, they do very well. Some ppl have great luck (in smaller tanks) , most don't because they get so stressed very easy. I have a 55, had my yellow tang (2 1/2") for about a month then got a LTA and it moved into the tang's hidey hole. Freaked the tang out, next morning covered in ICH, died next day. QT all the rest of my fish and now all is happy. I am slowly adding softies, mushrooms, rics. zoos. etc. Adds alot of color. Bought two lime green rics. Got them in the mail today, split during shipping, I now have 3. Bought 1 orange ric, recieved 2, WOW what a great gift day. Ha!

"LTA" not sure what that is, but OUCH doesn't sound too good. I definitely monitor every little occurance in my tank when I am home...its not a hobby its an obssession.
In no intent to not value your advice...I value yours very highly. You have given me great information and have saved me several times. I found this article on the web about yellow tang species specifying a 55 is the minimum with the right water conditions of course. Its not from this site, so I am not sure if I can link it or quote it. But it is a site much like this one.

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by hot883
I think it will die before it lasts a year.
Now I WILL disagree with this one from you hot!!! That would be in your opinion. I had my yellow tang doing quite well and growing in my tank. It has been said that a minimum sized tank for a yellow tang would be a 55. He had ich when he first came to me, but I took care of that and it has not returned. They need good water quality and they don't like to be picked on, even though mine picks on others instead...lol...Well, more like little kisses to the trigger, They're BEST buddies, they do everything together. But like I've said before in many other posts, we are upgrading our tanks to 125+ gallon. But IMO the yellow tang is FINE in a 55 for now. :happyfish

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by hot883
90 gal. min. like 6 feet long, they do very well. Some ppl have great luck (in smaller tanks) , most don't because they get so stressed very easy. I have a 55, had my yellow tang (2 1/2") for about a month then got a LTA and it moved into the tang's hidey hole. Freaked the tang out, next morning covered in ICH, died next day. QT all the rest of my fish and now all is happy. I am slowly adding softies, mushrooms, rics. zoos. etc. Adds alot of color. Bought two lime green rics. Got them in the mail today, split during shipping, I now have 3. Bought 1 orange ric, recieved 2, WOW what a great gift day. Ha!

well, I just read this one, sounds much better! :happyfish

 

[acrylic51]

I have to disagree totally with the comment made about the clowns...... Maroon clowns are very territorial and I would advise Strongly against putting 2 in the same tank....your asking for trouble.....Now if your talking about pecula or the more friendly clowns go for it, but not 2 Maroons no matter what size they are in time you will have a problem.....Plus they seem to have a tendency to host with stuff you don't want them too....My Maroon which is about 3 1/2-4" long hosts with my green tree which when left alone stands about 15"-16" tall.
Equipment wise I would opt for an upgrade in your filtration system going away from the Emperor and a wise investment with any tank be it a FO, FOWLR, or reef is a skimmer....
A good test kit, and a refractometer!!!!!!!! HTH

 

[puffer32]

I think the only real change is get a skimmer, and 2 good PH's. I would also advise getting your ammonia tested, to see if your nitrates are really 20, mine read 20 for a long time with corals in my tank, and i went crazy trying to lower it, the whole time my test kit was wrong. a 55 gal is a bit small for a tang, i have kept "happy" tangs in a 75, same length as a 55, but more water to "poop" in lol! I use a 400 for a mini fuge and carbon, so keep that going. When all test read perfect, add some easy corals for color, you won't have problems with them! Good luck.