need help getting started

B

barb

Guest
Just starting a tank. 55g. Have cycled with damsels. Ready to get rid of them. Here's the list of fish I'd like to include and the sizes they'd be when ordering............
Humu Humu Trigger...............................2-3in
Volitan Lionfish......................................3-4in
Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish...............................2in
Hawaiian Blue Puffer...............................2-3in
Dogface Puffer.......................................4-6in
Porcupine Puffer.....................................2-3in
Had five damsels in tank. Water levels are all good. Tank is ready for new fish. What can I add first. Can I add three or four at once if I pull out the damsels. Dogface and Porky are not in stock, so I can't order them right now. Could order all the rest and need $75 order to order anything.
Also the tank contains about 30 lbs of live rock. Mostly Florida except one piece of Figi (9 lbs). Is there any difference in the rocks when it comes to filtration ability???????
Appreciate any help or advice. :help:
 
moraym

moraym

Active Member
Do you have any other filtration on the system other than the LR? skimmer? pumps?
Also, no matter what the filtration, that many fish sounds like too much for the bioload. Drop it by a couple fish. Many of those fish will get big quick, need some space, and need adequate filtration due to their natural waste and the added problem of not being able to keep inverts in there to help with clean-up.
I'd nix the volitan and keep the dwarf lion, a 55g tank would cramp the volitan already, but with a bunch of other fish it would be even worse.
To start, let us know your priority order of the fish in your list, and we'll help you determine what would be the best arrangement for you and the fish.
Welcome to the board.
 
B

barb

Guest
undergravel filtration system + pumps.
1 humu humu
2 porky
3 volitan
4 dogface
5 fuzzy dwarf
6 hawaiian blue
7 valentini puffer (would be smaller, might work better)
(order of what i want most)
also do intend to get larger tank eventually and keep this one as a reef tank. husband likes reef tanks. i had a humu humu once before alone in a 10 gallon tank and loved him dearly. really mean ex killed him. have wanted another ever since. (have wonderful new husband now)
More questions..........Does anyone know what full adult size will be on each of these fish? How big would my next tank need to be to hold them all comfortably? Can they all live together? Which would eat which? How long before I'd need that new tank?
 
B

barb

Guest
Would it work if I just put in the Humu Humu, Hawaiian Blue, and Fuzzy Dwarf together. Also, could I maybe put a Cleaner Shrimp and a Cleaner Clam in there. Would that be ok for starters??????
Do I need to take the damsels out or leave them in. There are four of them left, one black/white striped, two blue w/ yellow tails and one plain blue. They are really mean to each other.
 
cdubbs

cdubbs

Member
the shrimp wouldnt last a second, Crabs and snails probably wont work either.. I had a few snails and crabs in my tank with my dwarf fuzzy and my niger trigger and there were all gone in a few days. I would just notice pieces of crabs all over the tank and empty snail shells. Dont waste your money
 
tony detroit

tony detroit

Active Member
Barb please listen to what I am about to say, I have been doing this for a while now, and only mean the best for you so you do not repeat the same mistakes I did. Find a local used goods trader for your area and buy a 125-180gal tank or larger and then go shopping for the fish you want. They're usually called the tradin' times and are by the door in gas stations,

[hr]
's, etc.
I only see 2 fish on your list that would be ok in a 55gal for more than a year and one with good filtration at that. Please go with a bigger tank, and better filtration.
Read up on undergravel filters, they are pretty much the bottom of the list for saltwater aquariums. To really do things right you are going to have to spend some money. You will be much more successful with a good skimmer, wet dry, uv sterilizer, RO water and a bigger tank.
-tony
 
moto757

moto757

Member
i agree with tony most would say the same about all those fish in one tank and about the filtration system also
 
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