Hi. First Time SW Tank Owner.

[tkuhl]

Hi I just wanted to say hi to everyone and give a little info about myself. I'm new to this hobby and this forum and so far it has been overwhelming non stop research yet so satisfying. I have a 90 gallon FO tank with Carribean live sand, Base and Lace rock, Overflow Pro Clear sump, Marineland HOB duel Emperor filter and Marineland Skimmer. The HOB came with the tank, the skimmer and sump was purchased separate(Tank and all equip used found on Craig's list). I'm sure its not the best setup and people will poke holes at some things but hey that's why I'm here. Its been running for about 6 weeks now and cycle complete, I did add some Smart Start (LFS) advised before adding 2 small tank bred clowns. After a few weeks I added a 6 month old Blue Hippo Tang. Both the clowns and Tang seem to be very happy and doing great. I do have one question, Ive been feeding the fish 1/2 cube of frozen Marine Cuisine 2x day along with Algae Grazers 1x a day for the tang. Nori strips are on order.Is this enough and is it ok to give my tang the Algae Grazers until i get the strips, it says its primary Spirulina algae.The tang is about 5 inches long. I will post some pics later. But so far this has been a blast. Again Hi to everyone and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[luvmyreef]

I will start off by saying WELCOME to the site.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by TKuhl http:///t/393218/hi-first-time-sw-tank-owner#post_3496478
Hi I just wanted to say hi to everyone and give a little info about myself. I'm new to this hobby and this forum and so far it has been overwhelming non stop research yet so satisfying. I have a 90 gallon FO tank with Carribean live sand, Base and Lace rock, Overflow Pro Clear sump, Marineland HOB duel Emperor filter and Marineland Skimmer. The HOB came with the tank, the skimmer and sump was purchased separate(Tank and all equip used found on Craig's list). I'm sure its not the best setup and people will poke holes at some things but hey that's why I'm here. Its been running for about 6 weeks now and cycle complete, I did add some Smart Start (LFS) advised before adding 2 small tank bred clowns. After a few weeks I added a 6 month old Blue Hippo Tang. Both the clowns and Tang seem to be very happy and doing great. I do have one question, Ive been feeding the fish 1/2 cube of frozen Marine Cuisine 2x day along with Algae Grazers 1x a day for the tang. Nori strips are on order.Is this enough and is it ok to give my tang the Algae Grazers until i get the strips, it says its primary Spirulina algae.The tang is about 5 inches long. I will post some pics later. But so far this has been a blast. Again Hi to everyone and any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hello there....Welcome to the site!
Hippo tang.....6 months old and 5 inches in size already. My baby Hippo was the size of my pinky fingernail when I got it, and it was 3 years old it when it reached 5 inches. Any larger and he will need a bigger tank. The book I have recommends a 100g minimum.
Anyway, I have a 90g as well. I also run a sump with a skimmer and a HOB filter just for extra media to swap in a snap. So...LOL...your setup sounds good to me.
I always fed my fish 1X a day, there is more to eat on the live rock for them to hunt and peck at all day. The food you are feeding is fine...but younger hippos like a little meat, frozen mysis is what I would feed them, (be sure to rinse frozen before feeding it to the fish) and ASAP I would add some Nori strips or other green or red seaweed on a clip if there is no algae for it to graze on.

 

[tkuhl]

I have some pics here. I asked both an employee and the manager both said the tang was 6 months....so not sure about that. On a side note if anyone lives near a Kroger Groc. they have 8x8 5 pack Nori sheets (all natural) for 1.99. Let me know what you guys think about the pics......remember this is my first tank so take it easy. Thanks.

 

[flower]

Hi,
Not too shabby for a first tank.

You need some more rock. Build it up in the center of the tank with some caves, that way the tang can swim around the tank and feel like he has more swim room. Make sure all rock is flush on the bottom, not built on shifting sand. Also be sure the rocks are stable, you don't want a rock slide killing critters or breaking the tank.
A nice background will make the entire tank look much better. $1.99 for 8X8 5 pack...good deal, get a clip to allow the tang to pick at it.

 

[tkuhl]

Thanks, Ive tried a clip near the top but for some reason my tang wont go near it or even near the top for that matter. So I've just been tying it to a rock. There is a lot of caves and swim threws just cant see them in the picks, I didn't even know that fish sleep until i started this. As soon as the lights go out she goes in her Lil cave and literally lays on her side and sleeps, kinda crazy. But this has been a great challenge and learning experience.

 

[luvmyreef]

Sometimes it takes them awhile before they will eat off a clip. It took my yellow tang quite awhile actually. He was too afraid to go near it, but after I kept putting it in, he finally started to eat it. Now, he comes up to the front pretty fast when he sees me with it in my hand lol.

 

[geridoc]

My tangs eat nori from anything, but clips don't seem to hold the stuff adequately, and gets scattered all over the tank. I do better with nori rubber-banded to a rock after being rolled up. It lasts for up to 5 minutes then.

 

[florida joe]

I would add more live rock or non-live for that matter you want to establish algae growth on the rocks. Tangs are constant grazers